February 06, 2020

Plants in the outdoor area: potting correctly step by step

Would you like to decorate your terrace or balcony with pretty potted plants or add variety to your flowerbed? A good idea! In this article, we will tell you how to pot your plants and flowers outdoors and prepare them for the changing weather conditions.

Planter

Before you start potting, you need to ask yourself the following question: is the planter large enough for the plant to thrive and grow in it optimally? Some plants need a lot of space for their roots; other species don't mind if space is limited. On the contrary - some tubers and shrub plants bloom more readily if they are housed in a more cramped place in their planter. Before you buy the plants, find out how big the pots and planters need to be. In our example, which we use to explain the correct way of planting, we opted for the "Block" model from the manufacturer Pottery Pots. It is made from a material mix of fiberglass and rock powder and is therefore absolutely weatherproof. When choosing your planter, make sure that it is suitable for the different weather conditions. Thanks to its large volume, the model is ideal for a planting with several smaller plants and shrubs.

preparation

Before you can potted the plants, you need to prepare the planter. If the vessel does not have any holes in the bottom, you should add them later. Depending on the material, this can be done with the domestic drill. Holes in the bottom of the container are important because they allow excess water to run off, for example after a rain shower. Otherwise waterlogging in the pot will lead to mold growth and the death of your plant. We recommend 3-5 holes, depending on the pot size.

After you've made holes in the jar, it's time for the next step. For that we need:

Expanded clay
Root barrier fleece (needle film)
Substrate

First, we fill the vessel about ten centimeters high with the drainage layer. We recommend expanded clay, but you can also use other materials such as pottery shards or gravel. With higher vessels, gravel has the advantage of acting as an anti-tip device at the same time. So even strong gusts of wind cannot harm your planter. The drainage layer, like the holes in the bottom, makes it easier for excess water to run off.

After filling the vessel with the drainage, we put a root barrier fleece over it to prevent the soil from being washed into the drainage layer during watering. Cut the fleece carefully to prevent soil from possibly getting into the drainage layer at the edge of the vessel.

Now pour the soil onto the root barrier fleece. Quality soil from the gardener pays off here because, in contrast to cheaper material, it has a high proportion of minerals - your plants will grow faster and thrive better.

In the outdoor area, we also recommend placing your tub on a coaster - for example, as shown in the picture on the left, on one of our "Pot feet"Coasters, which are available in different colors. This allows the remaining water to flow out of the holes better and at the same time you avoid stale water, which can cause rot. You also remain flexible and can easily follow the plants with a hand truck, for example Position it to suit your taste - and you will be spared the heavy hauling. In addition, you can react quickly and flexibly to the weather with this method. In a rain shower, simply push the plant into a protected area, you can protect your plant from too strong sunlight .

plants

The planter is now well prepared - time for the planting. In our case we decided to plant for autumn. For this we choose the following plants:

Skimmia japonica - cultivar 'Veitchii' (Japanese Skimmia)
Calluna vulgaris (common heather or heather)
Gaultheria procumbens (shamberry)

These plants are particularly suitable for planting in autumn, as they do not shed their leaves, are robust and weather-resistant and, thanks to their colored berries, set colorful accents in dull autumn.

The planting

Arrange the plants according to your own taste and put them in the pot. Fill in the gaps with more soil and press it down lightly. Finally, you can add a few silver balls to match the season and cover the gaps with jungle moss. This layer protects the plants from the cold - and is also something for the eye.

Nothing stands in the way of your outdoor planting!

Your outdoor decoration for autumn is ready! Of course, you can also put together pretty arrangements for summer or spring. Make sure, however, that the plants used can survive outside in the appropriate weather conditions. Robust pots and planters can be found in our online shop at any time - feel free to browse through our range for the Outdoor area. And if you want to spruce up your home or office, we offer you the Indoor also a large selection of luxurious planters and vases.