Pots are one of the simplest ways to add colour and interest to a garden. They can brighten up a doorstep, soften a patio, fill an awkward gap or give you somewhere to grow plants when border space is limited.
With so many different sizes, shapes and finishes available, choosing the right one isn't always as straightforward as it sounds.
Heritage Garden Pottery is a range we know well here at the Old Railway Line. You'll find everything from small glazed plant pots through to large statement planters, with plenty of colours and styles to choose from.
So, if you're trying to decide which pot will work best in your garden, we've put together some of our team's advice.
What is Heritage Garden Pottery?
Heritage Garden Pottery is a collection from Woodlodge, one of the best-known names in garden pots in the UK.
The range includes a huge variety of glazed garden pots in different shapes, sizes, colours and finishes. Some have a very traditional feel, while others are simple enough to work in a more contemporary garden.
It's probably this variety that makes them so popular. You can use a small pot for a seasonal display by the back door or choose a much larger planter for a shrub or small tree.
Start With What You Want to Plant
It's easy to fall in love with a pot first and then wonder what to put in it. There's nothing particularly wrong with that... we've all done it, but if you already know what you'd like to grow, start there.
Think about the eventual size of the plant and how much room its roots will need. A shrub or small tree is going to need considerably more compost and growing space than a few seasonal bedding plants.
Going slightly bigger can often be worthwhile too. Larger pots don't dry out quite as quickly during warm weather and give plants more room to establish.
Liam's Tip: "People often choose a smaller pot than they really need. If you've got the space, going up a size usually gives the plant more room and creates a better display too."
Choosing the Right Size Garden Pot
There's no perfect size that works for every garden, but thinking about where the pot is going can help.
Smaller pots are useful for herbs, alpines, bulbs and little seasonal displays. Rather than having lots of individual pots dotted around, try grouping a few different sizes together.
Medium-sized pots work well for perennials, grasses, bedding plants and smaller shrubs. They're a good all-round choice for patios and beside paths.
Large garden pots and planters are useful when you want a bit more impact. They're particularly good for shrubs, ornamental grasses and some smaller trees.
A larger pot can also help bring a big patio or entrance to life without needing lots of individual containers.
What Shape Should You Choose?
There's no right or wrong answer here. Much of it comes down to the style of your garden and what catches your eye.
Traditional rounded pots tend to suit most settings and are easy to plant up. Taller pots can be useful where floor space is limited and look particularly good either side of a doorway.
Wide planters give you more room to play with. Try one taller plant in the middle surrounded by smaller or trailing plants to create a fuller display.
If you're grouping pots together, don't worry about everything matching perfectly. A mixture of heights and shapes often looks more natural.
What Colour Garden Pot Works Best?
One of the nice things about glazed plant pots is just how much choice there is.
Blues and greens are always popular and sit naturally amongst garden planting. Darker greys and blacks work particularly well if you're after something a little more contemporary, while brighter glazes can add colour to a patio before you've planted anything at all.
Take a look at what's around the pot too. The colour of your paving, brickwork, fencing and nearby plants can all help you decide.
And again, everything doesn't need to match. A few complementary colours grouped together can work really well.
What Can You Grow in Garden Pots?
Quite a lot!
For spring, pots are perfect for tulips, daffodils, crocuses and other spring bulbs. You can even layer different varieties in one deeper container to give you a longer display.
During summer, bedding plants are an easy way to add plenty of colour. Geraniums, petunias and begonias are all popular choices.
Heading into autumn and winter, try cyclamen, heuchera, grasses, skimmia, ivy and winter bedding.
You don't have to replant every season either. Larger pots can be home to shrubs, grasses, acers, bay trees and other more permanent plants.
Liam's Tip: "Think about where the finished pot is going to sit. That will help you choose both the plant and the pot. Something that's going beside a front door might need height and structure, while on a patio you might be looking for lots of colour."
Using Pots on a Patio
If you've got a patio that feels a little bare, pots are probably one of the easiest ways to soften it.
Rather than spreading lots of small pots across the whole area, try creating a couple of groups. Three pots in different heights or sizes can look much more effective than three separate pots.
For a larger patio, one or two large outdoor planters can also help break up the space and create focal points around seating areas.
Don't forget to think about how much sun the area gets. A sunny, south-facing patio will suit very different plants to a shady corner.
Can Glazed Garden Pots Stay Outside in Winter?
Many garden pots are made for outdoor use, but it's always worth checking the individual pot before buying, particularly if it's going to stay outside throughout winter.
Good drainage is really important.
Make sure drainage holes aren't blocked and avoid leaving pots sitting in water for long periods. During freezing weather, water trapped in and around a pot can freeze and expand.
Pot feet are useful for lifting a container slightly off the ground and allowing water to drain freely.
There's also a difference between something being described as frost resistant and frost proof, so check the manufacturer's guidance if this is particularly important to you.
A Few Tips for Looking After Your Pots
Once you've planted your pots, a few simple jobs will help keep everything looking its best.
Keep an eye on watering, particularly through the summer. Plants in containers can dry out much faster than plants growing in the ground, and smaller pots will generally need watering more frequently.
Plants in pots will also use up the nutrients in their compost over time, so regular feeding during the growing season can make a noticeable difference.
Keep drainage holes clear and, if you've got particularly large or heavy pots, think about their final position before filling them. A large ceramic pot full of wet compost is considerably harder to move than an empty one!
Choosing a Pot You'll Enjoy for Years
Our best advice is not to overthink it.
Choose a pot you like, make sure it's big enough for what you want to grow and think about where it's going to live.
A good garden pot doesn't have to be the centrepiece of your garden. Sometimes it's simply somewhere for a favourite plant to grow or a way of adding a bit of colour outside the kitchen window.
And that's really the beauty of them.
If you'd like to have a look at the different options, you can browse our Heritage Garden Pottery and glazed pots online, or pop into the Old Railway Line Garden Centre in Three Cocks, between Brecon and Hay-on-Wye.
We normally have plenty of different shapes, colours and sizes on display, and if you're not sure what will work, just ask one of the team. We're always happy to help you find the right pot – and, more importantly, the right plant to go in it.