Carla poses in an extra large size container at St Mary's Nursery.
Picking the
Above: Get creative. You can make a plant pot out of anything.
Right: Wood planters offer a country feel.
coated to prevent rust but will age faster. Cast Stone. Add physical and visual
weight to the garden with cast-stone planters. These sturdy giants can hold their own in gale force winds. Often used by cities for boulevard planting, cast-stone is durable and beautiful. These containers are only available in natural stone colours. Wood. Wood is versatile, inexpensive
and lightweight. You can purchase a wooden container or create your own in whatever shape you like. Why not use a piece of driftwood or old tree trunk? Wood is easily painted to fit your decor and increase its longevity. If you do not properly treat the wood it will deterio- rate rapidly. You can increase lifespan by placing plastic pots inside, this also works for metal planters. Plastic. Light,
cheap and cheery
sums up these planters. Once tacky and chintzy looking, today’s plastic contain- ers have upped the quality, colour and style quota for containers, amping it up further with a multitude of textures and the ability to mimic many of their alternatives. Available in a rainbow of colours to suit any decor they are also more difficult to break than other pot mediums. The non-porous nature of plastic makes these pots easy to clean and disinfect and more weather-resis- tant. It also allows them to hold water much better than clay, although this can be a problem for overwaterers and rainy periods, especially if your pot has
localgardener.net
no drainage holes. If you forget to water regularly or are planting in hot, sunny locations, plastic is a great choice. Many pots are made of recycled plastic and can be recycled again after use. Unfor- tunately lighter plastics offer no temper- ature protection, are easily blown over, and can become brittle and break. Note: Dark coloured plastics can
heat up from the sun and cause plant damage.
Self-watering planters. These wonders hold water in a reser-
voir which is drained by capillary action into the soil, allowing you plants to stay moist. More and more options, stun- ning designs and earth friendly brands are offering these planters in several mediums, although plastic remains the most common. Pro: you’ll use less water, reduce diseases like powdery mildew, prevent
fruit and vegetable
cracking due to under-watering, just fill the reservoir - fill it and forget it. Make sure that the container has an overflow feature to allow excess water from a rainstorm (or heavy hose hand) to flow away. Here are a few of our favourites: Lechuza. If you are looking for stun-
ning, look at Lechuza. These are the dream garden runway model planter, not cheap but very sexy, stylish and modern. EarthBox or GrowBox – Some of
the most popular self-watering planters around. They offer excellent quality and durability. q
C
right pot By Carla Hyrcyna
ontainer gardening can spark the enthusiasm of any garden- er. Considerable detail is given
to choosing just the right plants, but, before those plants are nestled into place the perfect container has to be decided upon. Style, colour, texture, weight, and size will help you narrow down your final selection. Favourites lately, are durable
containers able to withstand the seasonal changes in temperature. Size in proportion to weight is also a trending need. Homeowners love big, dramatic containers but they still want to be able to move them. Poly/ ceramic/fiberglass containers give the homeowner these options. Pottery that reflect natural woods and metals are a trending style this year as well. If you are seeking bright, bold or
classic styles in a full range of colours then steer towards ceramic pottery. These styles blend favorably to create groupings for larger displays – perfect for patio and pool side settings, balconies or in gardens where a “pop” of colour maybe needed. If you plan to grow root vegetables
in pots among your flowers look for depth. Carrots and beets should have about 12 inches to grow in. Choose your planters this spring
remembering shape, colour, texture and size are in abundance. Your choices will reflect the design style or theme you are creating. Carla Hyrcyna is the
co-owner of
St. Mary’s Garden Centre and former grower for the company.
Spring 2015 • 17
Photo by Brigitte Werner.
Photo by Andrew Bowden.
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