@sophie.h I think your pots may have been there a while. If you have some soil you could tip the compost on there. Sometimes but not that often, you can get vine weevil damage particularly on plants grown in pots. Just something you need to be aware of but don't let it put you off your new interest. Fungus gnats are a sign that you are over watering not something that is common outside in a garden more likely plants in a greenhouse or grown in doors. You can create a lovely garden area with just pots . Enjoy.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Thanks, @GardenerSuze. Unfortunately, I don't have any soil to speak of. It's a rented property with a largish patio, so I'm planning on filling it with lots of pots. I won't let the beasties put me off. I've just been reading The Flower Yard by Arthur Parkinson, and that coupled with this forum has left me feeling inspired!
@sophie.h I think when that book was written when he only had pots and no garden as such, so a great place for you to start. I do know he likes to grow House Leeks as he was buying some at a Garden Centre near me.
Grouping pots is a skill, if you enjoy moving them around and creating different schemes depending on the seasons it can be fun. If you keep the area clean and swept, check your pots regularly, clear debris you are less likely to get beasties. Pots can be expensive but you will have less problems with larger pots drying out. So it may be an on going project. Groups of 3,5, or 7, work well, different sizes and heights make it interesting too. Choices are endless when it comes to plants but how much sun the area gets is important to check out before you buy plants.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
@GardenerSuze Ooo I'd love to spot him in the wild! I'm from Notts too so maybe one day
I'm lucky that family members have given me some unused pots and the previous tenants left a few. Most of them are relatively small though, so I think I'll have to invest in some bigger ones. It's a very open and sunny spot, south-west facing. I enjoy getting creative, so can't wait to get stuck in, although I'm sure there'll be a lot of trial and error for a while!
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Fungus gnats are a sign that you are over watering not something that is common outside in a garden more likely plants in a greenhouse or grown in doors.
You can create a lovely garden area with just pots . Enjoy.
Grouping pots is a skill, if you enjoy moving them around and creating different schemes depending on the seasons it can be fun. If you keep the area clean and swept, check your pots regularly, clear debris you are less likely to get beasties. Pots can be expensive but you will have less problems with larger pots drying out. So it may be an on going project.
Groups of 3,5, or 7, work well, different sizes and heights make it interesting too. Choices are endless when it comes to plants but how much sun the area gets is important to check out before you buy plants.
I'm lucky that family members have given me some unused pots and the previous tenants left a few. Most of them are relatively small though, so I think I'll have to invest in some bigger ones. It's a very open and sunny spot, south-west facing. I enjoy getting creative, so can't wait to get stuck in, although I'm sure there'll be a lot of trial and error for a while!
Thanks so much for the advice!