Pots and planters—the portable garden

I love the versatility and accessibility of the portable garden.

For people who have limited space, want to make a statement or create a feature, are in rented premises, or just want the freedom and ability to change the garden around every now and then, the portable garden is ideal—and pots and planters are the essential ingredient. 

In general, pots and planters are the same thing, the main difference being that planters most often refer to larger, more permanent containers that often contain multiple plants, while pots most commonly refer to smaller, more decorative vessels.

One of the main things to consider—always—with potted plants is adequate drainage. Of all the complaints I come across, this would be the most common. Surprisingly there are hundreds of pots available in the market that don’t allow for drainage in the base. Always check for this when making your purchase and be prepared to drill a hole in the bottom and even raise the pot an inch or so off the ground if necessary.

Pots and planters come in a variety of sizes and materials, including: ceramic, terracotta, polished concrete, terazzo, reconstituted stone, metal, plastic and fibreglass.

Some styles to consider for your garden are:

• Bowls
• Cubes
• Jars and urns
• Tapered
• Troughs
• Oversized
• Hanging
• For more information and images see my book The Source Book Second Edition

The Patio by Jamie Durie range also includes a variety of decorative pots.