Dan's Papers - February 29, 2008

Container gardening is a great option for people who don't have the time to spend in the garden. The containers or flowerpots themselves can give a bit of art to the look of a patio, backyard or porch. Outdoor flowerpots come in countless sizes, shapes and materials and needless to say, some pots are greater suited for specific weather conditions and some pots are more efficient than others.

Linda Nelson of Linda Nelson Garden Artisan is a local go-to person for garden-design and practical questions. To begin picking out the pots that will sit outside a house, she recommends first looking at the space, not the pots. "It is wise to examine your property, deck, and porch area before purchasing anything," said Nelson. "Make notes as to whether these areas better lend themselves to having symmetrical container placement or offer an opportunity to create an interesting or edgy focal point," she said. "When in doubt, purchase an identical pair and two sets of nesting trios. By doing this you will be able to lay out the collections in a number of ways. Also, make sure your container placement has a purpose, be it accent, aesthetic visual balance, directing traffic flow, or camouflage."

There is an abundance of choice when it comes to style and material of gardening pots. Terracotta, brick-red clay pots, painted or left natural, look beautiful in a backyard. A concrete planter may be long and rectangular to accommodate a row of flowers. Window boxes are often made from wood, fiberglass, hayrack or wrought iron and add a cozy, traditional look to a home. Cedar hanging baskets can create a beachy feel on a Hamptons patio, and stone planters add an exotic look. But according to Nelson, style is not the most immediate concern when it comes to choosing the actual pot. "Generally, I would not be overly concerned with style," she said. "Your home may be very modern, but you can display grandma's quilt and craft worlywigs in a very contemporary way. It works. What you plant inside your containers will ultimately set the tone. And be consistent."

In addition to form, function and placement, trends also play into the choice of pots. "A lot of people are keeping it simple, clean and bold, such as using one large tropical, leafy plant in a container," said Nelson. "As a designer, I am comfortable with experimental combinations, breaking rules and taking risks otherwise, my designs will stagnate. But that may not be a comfortable choice for the ' do it yourself' homeowner."

As for the actual pots, weather conditions have to be considered. Otherwise, specific materials do better in the frigid weather. "Thick cement pots or wooden containers will fare best, but over time they will lose their strength," said Nelson. "It is best to empty all pots at the end of the season, with the exception of one or two by your front entryway for the winter holidays. These should definitely be cement, wood, or even better, something very inexpensive, like a basket," she added.

It is fun to paint pots cheerful colors or even paint them to match the plants. Terracotta pots are porous and require strong paints, but be careful to use something that will not harm the plant, as an all-natural powdered pigment. Homemade pots can be a fun project and they will work if done properly. "If you can drill a hole in it, you can plant in it," said Nelson. "A vintage kitchen colander already has the drainage issue handled. How easy is that?"