Container Gardening Complete

Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 28 6/5/17 2:34 PM
Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete
Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 29 5/24/17 10:54 AM

28 chapter 1

growth (which may or may not be a good thing,

depending on your sense of aesthetics). Terra-

cotta containers are available in a large range

of styles, shapes, and sizes, and those that are

fired and/or glazed are less prone to flaking and

cracking. Clay is porous, which means it dries out

more quickly than other materials, but it allows

for good air exchange for roots. Clay absorbs heat,

too—a definite plus in the spring, but not so good

in the summer when soil temperatures in the pot

can get overly warm.

Glazed ceramic. Made from fine-textured clay

that’s been glazed and kiln-fired, glazed ceramic

garden pots are available in many colors, styles, and

sizes. They’re beautiful, but they’re also breakable,

expensive, and very heavy. Though they’re less

porous than bare terra cotta, these containers may

still crack or flake in freeze-thaw cycles. The glaze

can easily chip, but these containers hold moisture

well and are very decorative.

Plastic. Plastic garden pots have come a long

way in the last few decades. Manufacturers now

use decorative colors and styles to make the

pots look more like other materials. Lightweight

and inexpensive, plastic containers are very

durable and are much less likely to crack than

terracotta or ceramic pots. With a variety of

different finishes, some plastic containers

are prone to fading, chipping, and cracking if

dropped or left outdoors during the winter.

Others are more resilient. Double-walled plastic

pots have good insulation properties, and all

plastic pots do a good job of retaining soil

moisture. Plastic pots that have faded can be

Wooden containers such as these raised planter beds can be painted, if

desired. They won’t last forever, but using naturally rot-resistant wood,

such as redwood, cedar, and locust, definitely improves their lifespan.

Glazed ceramic pots come in a

broad range of colors and styles.

They’re very decorative but will

crack or flake if left outdoors in

the winter.

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Getting Started 29

painted with a good-quality exterior paint to

restore their appearance.

Wood. Half whiskey barrels have been among

the most ubiquitous garden containers for many

years, but they aren’t the only wood planters you

can have in your garden. Wood planter boxes

are very affordable, especially if you’re willing to

build your own. The informal, natural appearance

of wood lends itself nicely to both cottage-style

gardens and suburban landscapes. Naturally

rot-resistant woods, such as redwood, cedar, or

locust, make the best planters, though pressure

treated lumber is also useful for planters where

no edibles will be grown. Wood planters will

eventually have to be replaced, but you’ll get

many years out of them before they do. Wood

is an excellent insulator, protecting roots from

fluctuations in temperatures during the heat of

summer as well as in winter. An upcoming project

will show you how to build a wooden planter box

of your own.

Resin. Most high-quality resin garden pots are

made from a low-density polyethylene composite

that’s poured into a mold and “baked.” They

can be made to look like granite, stone, or other

materials that give them a contemporary look.

Resin is maintenance free, very lightweight, and

crack resistant. Poor-quality resin planters may

fade with ultraviolet exposure. Containers made

of resin handle temperature fluctuations well and

some brands are made from recycled materials.

Fiberglass. Often molded into different styles

and patterns to look like concrete, stone, or glazed

ceramic, fiberglass garden pots are durable and

lightweight. But, because of their thin walls, they

can crack if dropped. They also tend to be fairly

Resin pots are made from a

polyethylene composite that’s

molded and baked. They’re easy

to lift and resist cracking.

Plastic containers can come in

some pretty wild colors. They’re

lightweight and durable, but

less expensive models are prone

to cracking if left outdoors in

the winter.

Fiberglass pots are molded into

dierent styles and can be made

to look like other materials.

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