What You Should Know About Choosing and Caring for Garden Planters

Today, container choices offer almost limitless possibilities, ranging from virtually free to pricey and ornate ceramic bowls. Although these are the thoughts on most minds when purchasing (or 'creating') their planters, there is quite a bit more that needs to be considered in order to have the best suited one for your needs as well as the needs of the plants inside the container.

The first thing you will probably look for is the material. You understandably want to find one that suites your style; ceramic, clay, wooden, concrete, faux-stone... and the list goes on. What you should be considering though, as you decide on a style, is the maintenance and life of the planter itself and the possibility of it hindering or even preventing plant life. Ideally, the most striking garden containers blend well with their surroundings as well as meet all the needs of its growing vegetation

And so, the first thing you should consider is drainage and moisture needs. Make sure that the container has at least one hole in the bottom for drainage (or drill as necessary), only bog plants will survive in pots without holes. Moisture loving plants dry quickly in porous clay, paper pulp, or hanging baskets. Plastic, concrete, and glazed ceramic hold moisture better. The color of your planter can also affect the moisture, as extremely dark and black containers tend to absorb a lot of heat and dry out quickly while light colored tends to stay cooler.

You will also want to find one suited to the size and depth of the plants you intend to use. The container should be deep enough to allow all plant roots to grow without crowding, so use deep pots for deep rooted plants. Also, consider the full grown size of the plants you want to plant in each planter and choose the appropriate width. You may be considering transplanting as the plant grows, which is fine as long as you are prepared for it and the plant is capable of being moved. Along with these is the point of finding the right weight. If you plan to move them at some point, or have them on a deck, you may want a lightweight container. Also, heavy pots should be lifted off of the ground with pot 'feet,' bricks, or saucers to prevent decay.

While indoors this may not be an issue, containers purchased for the outside should be made for withstanding the elements. The best weathering is done with pre-emptive strike. Find out by doing some research or ask the seller if the container will hold through certain weather. Many planters, such as terra-cotta clay, will crack if temperatures drop below freezing, untreated wooden containers may rot, and colors (especially in plastic) may fade with extended exposure to the sun. It is best to just keep or bring these indoors through bad weather; store them in a garage or garden shed but be sure to remove any unused soil. For planters that you intend to leave outside permanently, I suggest weatherizing them by coating them with marine varnish or a similar protective clear coating.

Caring for garden containers is a reasonably easy feat. Most are extremely low maintenance and only really need to be cleaned once in a while for aesthetics; or before replanting to sterilize them. In the article A Guide to Container Planting, from the book Gardening Made Easy, they recommend using a solution of water with 10% household bleach and a brush to sterilize and remove mineral stains. Otherwise, simply examine them regularly for signs of wear and take the necessary steps to keep them in good condition. For example, check and reinforce supports for hanging baskets and window containers and watch for damage from outside sources (e.g. weather, pets and animals, unstable surroundings).

To help you choose the best planters and garden containers All About Planters has a great guide to all the different garden containers, there qualities, downfalls, and how to properly care for each at: www.all-about-planters.com.

Sources:
1. Gardening Made Easy, A Guide to Container Selection and Care, Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall
1. All About Planters, Container Guide, www.all-about-planters.com