Pots and Planters

Choosing the Right Pots and Planters for Your Garden

Think about the plants you want to grow and the look you want to create. For taller shrubs and specimen trees, large plant containers or garden pots provide the depth and stability needed for strong, healthy root systems. If you’re planting bulbs or compact perennials, garden troughs and rectangular plant pots help create neat lines and organised displays. For a more modern aesthetic, square plant pots bring structure and symmetry to patios and doorways.
Wooden planters add warmth and work beautifully with herbs, climbers and mixed seasonal displays. Garden plant pots made from lightweight materials are ideal if you like to rearrange your plants, especially when using planters for garden spaces that change through the year. If you’re on a budget, cheap plant pots still offer great style and practicality when chosen carefully for their drainage and durability.
Most plants will thrive if you match their size to the right planter. As a rule, fast-growing shrubs, small trees and structural plants need plant pots large enough to allow expansion, while bedding plants and alpines are often happy in shallower garden trough planters or smaller pots and planters placed together for impact.

How to Plant and Care for Outdoor Displays

Good drainage is key. Choose plant pots with adequate holes or add a drainage layer of gravel before filling with quality compost. A bulb planter is handy if you’re layering bulbs into a container for seasonal interest. Water new plantings regularly as they establish, then adjust as the weather changes. Plants in containers often dry out faster than those in the ground, so a consistent watering routine keeps displays fresh.
Feeding is essential for long-term performance. Use a slow-release fertiliser in spring or apply liquid feed through the summer to keep leaves green and flowers abundant. Replenish the top layer of compost each year and repot when roots become crowded. Wooden planters may benefit from an occasional protective treatment, while lightweight garden pots are easy to clean and move into sheltered spots during extreme weather.

Designing with Pots and Planters

Pots and planters let you shape your garden with layers of colour and height. Big garden pots anchor a patio and create instant focal points. Garden troughs bring style to pathways and frame steps or seating areas. Large outdoor planters help soften walls and fences. Mixing sizes, shapes and materials adds depth and keeps displays interesting across the seasons.
For smaller spaces, group a few garden plant pots together to create a miniature border that changes through the year. Combine tall grasses with trailing plants to add movement, or use wooden planters filled with herbs and evergreens for a rustic feel. Rectangular plant pots work beautifully in balcony gardens, while square plant pots offer symmetry beside doorways or gates.