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Terracotta plant pots

Large terracotta pots are heavy, but this makes them stable and therefore less likely to blow over. Even if it has been fired to a high temperature, unglazed terracotta is nearly always slightly porous. This means water seeps through the container and can cause problems for two reasons. Firstly, the soil may tend to dry out. This can be overcome by lining the pot with plastic or placing a smaller plastic pot inside the terracotta one. When lining the pots, always remember to make plenty of drainage holes at the bottom. Secondly, water seeping into the terracotta in cold weather can cause frost damage. When the water held within the pot freezes, it expands and can cause the pot to crack or even shatter. Containers labelled frost-proof are less likely to suffer from this problem, but no terracotta pot can be 100 per cent frost-proof. In severe winters it is best to protect your pots with lagging. Glazed pots do not suffer from moisture loss but are not always frost-proof.

Stone and fake stone plant pots

Genuine antique stone containers can look amazing, but they also tend to be extremely expensive and heavy to move. Fake stone is made of a variety of concrete mixtures, most of which are frost-proof and can be made to age in a similar way to real stone by painting the surface with a coating of sour milk, yogurt or diluted manure.

Timber plant pots

All timber needs to be treated otherwise it will eventually rot and fall apart. Every three to five years the container should be emptied, dried and treated with preservative or paint. For this reason it is often easier to plant up a plastic container and put it inside the wooden one so that the plants can be removed easily when necessary. Alternatively, you can line the timber container with polythene to protect it. Barrels used for beer, etc. are sealed, but others may not be. Half barrels make extremely stable planters and are useful for windy sites where other containers might blow over.

Plastic plant pots

This is the cheapest form of container, and some can be very attractive and others can be disguised by trailing plants. An important factor to remember is that a bright terracotta pot will fade and mellow whereas a bright plastic pot never will. Plastic containers are also light and may need to be weighted down if in an exposed site. Although it is frost-proof, plastic becomes brittle if exposed to bright sunlight and will eventually crack.

Lead and fibreglass plant pots

Lead containers can look beautiful, but tend to be very heavy and expensive. Fibreglass copies are frequently more practical and many are so good that you cannot tell they are fakes until you touch them.

Other materials for plant pots

You need not restrict yourself to purpose-made containers. Anything that will hold soil and allow water to drain through it can be used. A wicker basket, for example, may only last as a container for a season or two, but could be very attractive. Before you throw away a leaking bucket or old watering can, check first whether it might look good planted up in the garden. If you are using a great variety of containers make sure they go together and do not look like a jumbled mess.

Whatever type of plant pot you decide to go for, make sure that it's part of a fantastic garden design plan.

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