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Plants and design to re-use chimney pots?

myclayjunglemyclayjungle Posts: 162
in Problem solving
After renovating, we have over 10 chimney pots I'd like to re-purpose. I was thinking of burying them at various heights, leaving a few on their side with trailing plants out the ends.  Ideally I'd like bee friendly perennials and some evergreens- but struggling to know what?  Lobelia, creeping thyme?  If you have any other ideas for chimney pots- I'm open to suggestions.  Thank you.
Coastal Suffolk/Essex Border- Clay soil
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Posts

  • RedwingRedwing Posts: 1,511
    Burying the ends in the ground leaving them at various heights is a great idea and planting things that would spill out and trail like prostrate rosemary or creeping thymes, floppy campanulas; lots and lots of possibilities.   Old chimney pots are lovely and often individual and carefully made.  We renovated and converted old buildings.  I love it when you can reuse materials to a new setting and purpose.  Good for the environment too. 
    Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
  • Jenny_AsterJenny_Aster Posts: 945
    Pinterest is always good for ideas https://www.pinterest.co.uk/search/pins/?rs=ac&len=2&q=chimney pot planter ideas&eq=Chimney pot planter&etslf=3290

    Maybe turn one or three into a light feature, having lights shining out from inside?

    Love these sort of questions. 
    Trying to be the person my dog thinks I am! 

    Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I have two with a slab of marble on top to make a table and one that I put suitably sized pots in for trailers
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited April 2023
    @myclayjungle Trying to find a plastic pot just to sit in the top of one isn't easy. They never seem right. They fall through or just sit on the top looking wrong! I love your idea will frost be a problem would be my only thought.
    Are you talking full sun, if so Nasella, Erigeron Kavinskianus,Rubus tricolor in a large pot.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    edited April 2023
    Wedge a plastic saucer in the chimney pot and your flowerpot can sit on that.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    My chimney pot has a trailing vinca inside. It is tricky trying to find a suitable size pot to fit inside but l got one in the end.
  • myclayjunglemyclayjungle Posts: 162
    Some great ideas, thank you. Strangely, I never considered putting a plastic pot in the end- I just thought I'd fill the whole thing with soil. That is a very good point re frost too.  I wrongly assumed that as they'd already survived 100yrs, they might last a bit longer, but I see the point re freezing soil.
    Coastal Suffolk/Essex Border- Clay soil
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    edited April 2023
    Using a plastic pot inside saves on the amount of compost you need. I found it helpful to wedge a brick or two on end to stand the plastic pot on. That way you can keep it just below the rim of the chimney pot.

    Plastic pots inside are also useful for planting bulbs in for a spring display, then replacing them when they've gone over with a different plant.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I have seen them standing on a path full of compost, over time it just runs out the bottom.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    edited April 2023
    You could lay them on their side and create two or three rows on top of each other filled with bamboo canes, fir cones etc to make a wildlife retreat in a shady part of your garden. 
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


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