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Adding potted plants to your yard can instantly elevate its appearance and make it more attractive. But do you know how to properly pot plants without damaging their health and destroying your home’s kerb appeal? If you’re uncertain, this guide is for you.
What Plant Potting Can Do for Your Landscaping
One great thing about having plants in pots is that they make your yard look more interesting. By giving your landscape depth and texture, they break up the monotony that greenery can bring and make the space look more interesting and nice to look at.
Of course, potted plants don’t just bring beauty and elegance—they also offer plenty of practical benefits. For one thing, placing plants in pots gives you more control over soil quality, which means you can ensure that each plant has access to all the nutrients it needs to grow and stay healthy. Since it makes your plants more mobile, you can easily revamp the look and feel of your landscaping simply by rearranging your pots and planters and moving them into different areas.
Compared to in-ground plants, potted ones often have fewer issues with pests as well as fungal and bacterial infections. You won’t automatically eliminate pests and diseases when you put your plants in pots, but you can at least give them a degree of protection and keep them stronger and healthier.
Choosing the Right Pots for Your Plants
Step inside the nearest garden centre, and you’ll realise that there are dozens of planters to choose from. This can make pot selection a bit daunting, but you can minimise confusion and eventually purchase the best possible pots and planters by taking note of these factors:
Size
Before you go shopping, list down the plants that you’d like to put in pots and find out how big their root systems would be. This way, you can look for pots that are big enough to accommodate each plant as it grows and will provide the root system with enough space to expand and fully establish. Generally, the diameter of the pots should be at least 2 inches wider than the root ball. If you’re working with a young plant, consider pairing it with a pot whose diameter is 4 inches wider than its expected root ball size when it’s fully grown.
Material
Choose a pot material that complements your landscaping design and won’t make your plants stick out like a sore thumb. For instance, if your yard is designed to be sleek and minimalist, you’ll want to buy terracotta pots since they have a modern look and feel. If your landscape has a rustic and cosy charm, consider getting Thai limestone pots that have an aged and earthy finish.
Don’t just think about how nice the pot looks, though. You should also make sure you’re getting high-quality pots and planters that will last a long time and not break easily. So, even if they’re often exposed to harsh weather, they’ll last for years, and you won’t have to replace them very often.
Weight
Make sure the pots are big enough to keep your plants standing if you live in a windy area or put them somewhere where they’ll be hit by strong winds. For plants that are tall and heavy at the top, this is especially important because they are easy for the wind to blow over. However, don’t buy pots that are too heavy, especially if they’ll be placed on the porch or balcony. Remember: you have to consider not just the actual weight of the pots but what their total weight would be when they’re filled with soil and plants and watered on a regular basis.
Drainage
Never buy a pot without checking if it has enough drainage holes. Remember: plants need good drainage since they can quickly develop root rot when they lie in waterlogged soil and their roots don’t have enough time to fully dry.
Glazing
Landscaping experts agree that it’s better to buy glazed pots for sale instead of opting for unglazed planters. This is because glazed pots are less porous, so they provide a strong barrier between the soil and the outside environment and prevent it from drying out too quickly. If you have plants that need consistent soil moisture levels, you’ll want to buy pots that are glazed and finished.
After Pot Shopping: What You Should Do Next
Selecting the right planters is only half the battle; once you’ve completed the purchase, it’s time to focus on other steps that will help you have a successful plant potting process. Here are some tips to use:
- Choose the right soil. When potting plants, don’t just grab some soil from your garden and call it a day. Garden soil isn’t recommended for potted plants since it’s too dense and won’t facilitate proper drainage. Instead, head into the nearest garden centre and purchase high-quality mix that contains important ingredients like peat moss (which helps soil retain moisture), pine bark (allows soil to facilitate air flow), and perlite (which helps with proper water drainage).
- Use fertilisers.Since potted plants can’t access nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that are present in ground soil, it’s your job to ensure that they’re supplied with all the nutrients they need. The best step to take is to apply fertilisers that are formulated with key nutrients for good plant health and growth.
- Pick the right plants. When putting two or more types of plants in a single pot, make sure they have similar light, water, and soil requirements. For instance, if you have plants that need hours of direct sunlight, avoid pairing it with plants that should be kept in the shade.
- Give plants enough space. When putting multiple plants in pots, you must ensure that they’re not overcrowded. If needed, separate them into several planters to give all of them enough space to grow. Otherwise, your plants won’t access enough water and nutrients, and they’ll become weak and vulnerable.
Start the Potting Process Today
Decorating your yard with potted plants is one of the best landscaping decisions you can make. Use these tips to successfully complete the plant potting process and boost your property’s aesthetic quality and overall kerb appeal!
