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Pots of Gold

© Graham Leatherbarrow

An endless variety of plants can be grown in containers; you can even have a small pond in a pot, tub or wooden barrel. The advantage of containers is their mobility. Mix and match is the order of the day, when plants have finished flowering, you can move them from centre stage to a less prominent position. If like me, you grow one or two tender plants, these can be moved under cover easily in containers whenever severe weather threatens.

Types of Containers

Garden containers come in a wide range of material and shapes,with versatile plastic at one end, stone and lead at the other. The choice of container is of course a personal one and partly governed by the size of your pocket, but there are a few things to consider when making your choice. Simple, but essential requirements are: -

• they must large enough to hold sufficient compost for plant roots.
• they must have drainage holes (fairly obvious, but sometimes overlooked!)
• they must be reasonably stable.

Back to the choice of material. Plastic is without doubt the cheapest and easily obtainable container material and retains moisture well, therefore requiring less watering. Plastic containers are also easy to clean and are an ideal choice for rooftops and balconies, where weight is a consideration. Terracotta or clay on the other hand is porous and has more stability due to its increased weight; this is fine for permanent plantings, but perhaps not so good if you need to move them about. Also, this material is difficult to clean unlike plastic and unless fired at high temperatures, will shatter easily in frosty conditions. So, look for "frost-proof" terracotta or clay pots if the containers are to be placed outside for any length of time.

I have to admit to being somewhat biased here when it comes to terracotta and clay pots. I just love them! Plants of all kinds look so good in them and being porous they let plant roots breathe properly; you just have to remember to keep an eye on the watering, especially in any dry spells. Pots of glazed earthenware (which are non-porous) and easier to clean, don't tolerate frosts all that well, so planting and siting of these containers require a little more thought. Wood is a good choice and can last longer if treated with some sort of preservative. Stone (real or reconstituted) on the other hand is durability personified, is fairly easy to obtain and in a word - heavy.