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Garden Planters - 10 Things To Create A Showpiece
by Scott Gray of AllGardenPlanters.com
Ten Important Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing Garden Planters:
1. Is the planter going to be used indoors? If so, keep the size of the full-grown plant in mind when choosing the planter size, and pick a color and style in harmony with the room. Ceramic planters offer a great range of colors and designs, and light metal planters, like copper or cast aluminum, are good choices too.
2. If the planter is for an outdoor garden, will it remain outside all year? For year-around outdoor planters, select hardy fiberglass planters, heavy metal planters (e.g., wrought iron), cast stone, or cement so that you don't wind up with a cracked planter after it endures freezing and thawing conditions.
3. Is the outdoor location protected (e.g., under an overhang)? Protection from the elements means that your plants won't be watered naturally. Consider adding a self-watering system or plan to be very conscientious using that hose or water can.
4. Do you want to include a water garden or fountain on your patio, deck, or balcony? Glazed ceramic pots are perfect for water gardens and fountains because they are water-tight and eliminate the need for a liner.
6. Will the planter rest on the floor, ground, or be attached to a window frame or railing, or will it hang? Consider the weight of wet soil and full-grown plants as well as the planter if it is going to be in a raised location. A wooden planter resting on a railing or attached to a window frame may be fine, but if you use anything heavy and awkward for your hanging planters, start your push-ups and weight-lifting exercises right away so you can lift them down at the end of the season. Light garden planters are best for raised locations.
7. Do you expect to grow several kinds of plants in one planter or in the same area? For multiple varieties of plants within the same container, choose one that is at least 12 inches in diameter, and if you plant by seed, plan to do some thinning once everything has sprouted. Plants need lots of growing room. Patio planters that rest on the floor of your patio, deck, or balcony can be as large as you like, or you can cluster small pots and planters of different sizes and heights.
9. Do you want to coordinate your planters with an architectural style? Choose from rustic, quaint, whimsical, and elegant. Urns enhance formal homes; wood and wicker harmonize well with the informal or cottage look; standard flower pots made of natural or look-alike natural materials like clay dress up any environment; and metal adds a chic, contemporary look.
10. Do you want to coordinate your planters with particular kinds of plants? Delicate plants look best in delicate planters like ceramic; herbs and vegetables look best in informal planters like terracotta and wood; moisture-loving plants thrive in glazed ceramic planters without drainage holes; baskets are popular for colorful flowers and mixtures of plants (but have to be well lined to retain moisture and to avoid rotting the bottom of the planter); heavy plants need to be balanced by heavy-looking containers; and desert plants look good in terracotta, ceramic, or earth-toned containers.
For the widest possible choice and great sale prices, compare, choose, and order your garden planters safely and securely online for prompt home delivery. What could be easier?
The author, Scott Gray, is a garden enthusiast and freelance writer, currently consulting for All Garden Planters – a company that provides large plastic garden planters, white ceramic planters – in fact, all types of outdoor garden planters.