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What is causing this damage to my terracotta pots?

andrew.readandrew.read Posts: 3
in Problem solving
I have several square terracotta pots on the patio that have patio fruit trees planted in them.
For the past 2 years or so, one of these pots has been damaged, with the edges seemingly bashed or chipped off (see pic).
I thought it was the kids at first, maybe cycling past the pots and accidentally knocking them. However, neither of them knew anything about the damage, and the pot seemed to only get damaged on the side facing away from the patio.
Now it has all four sides with large chips taken out of it.

We have seen blackbirds digging in the bark chippings and tossing them all over the place, but surely a small bird couldn't do this sort of damage could it?
The only other wildlife we regularly get in the garden are cats, but they wouldn't be able to do this either I wouldn't have thought.

Anyone have any similar experiences, or know what may be causing this damage?

Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Water gets into even hairline cracks and expands when there's a frost..
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Yes, that looks like typical frost damage to me.  That particular planter probably developed hairline cracks in the firing process whereas the other didn't.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • andrew.readandrew.read Posts: 3
    That's a good point, and it would explain the damage.
    However, the majority of the damage occurred last spring and into summer.
    The birds would also seemingly only target that one pot (out of four) to dig in and throw bark/soil about.
    Seems like too much of a coincidence to me.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    It can be a slow process with the cracks being expanded by the frost but the pieces may not break off until the pot expands in the warmer weather.  I doubt even a woodpecker has a beak strong enough to chip undamaged terracotta.  Although I love blackbirds, they are a bloody nuisance with bark mulches and actually seem to enjoy throwing it about!  :)
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • andrew.readandrew.read Posts: 3
    Understood. 
    I'll chalk this one off to water damage.
    Thanks for the swift responses!
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    In future, paint your terracotta pots and planters with 2 or 3 coats of clear acrylic varnish which can be matt, satin or gloss.  It will stop water being absorbed so readily and thus eliminate the flaking from frost damage and water expansion.

    Don't do more than 3 coats as it will go milky.  Leave 24 hours between coats and before finally filling and planting up..
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
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