Alternative to terracotta pots for a woodland garden pathway

clematisdorset · October 2023

I was wondering what you might think would work well in a more shady area, with woodland plants by the path. The path is a pale white-grey in semi-shade. Do you think terracotta pots could look jarring? I think maybe something darker, maybe grey/blue/metallic even would work as a general idea. I am clearing the area so don't have a photo, but just wanted thoughts. I associate terracotta more with sunny, warm spaces, but am I being blinkered in my thinking?

Pete.8 · October 2023

A terracotta pot in a shady place will soon get some algae growing on it and other stuff to give it a weathered look. If you want to speed up the process some yoghurt lightly spread over the pot will get the process started.

I had a terracotta pot with ferns in a shady spot and barely noticed the pot after about a year.

philippasmith2 · October 2023

Terracotta will "age" over time when exposed to weather. I have some large urns which I bought in France some 30 years ago - all but one is now a pleasing shade of mottled grey.
If you already have the pots, you can help the ageing process by painting natural yogurt on the pots but it does take time and patience.
There are pots ( metal/stone) on sale but they appear to be rather expensive from what I've seen.
If you have some spare plastic pots you could always buy some of those Tester pots in various shades and paint them. Put them where you want the proper jobs to be sited and see what you think looks good. Then the "hunt" begins for the correct shade of permanent pot

Good luck and hope you find something to suit the area.

Plantminded · October 2023

I like terracotta pots and the way they age with time. If you’re not sure about them on your light coloured pathway, lightweight faux lead pots are worth considering. Both materials give a traditional feel to a garden, if that’s what you’re after!

ViewAhead · October 2023

I was looking at pots in Homebase this morning, and they have loads of grey ones, some plastic, some concrete, some stone-like. Their cube concrete planters (speckled black or speckled very light grey, almost off-white) are on offer at the moment, so more affordable than usual. (You would need a store nearby, of course.)

I like the blue ceramic pots you can get and think these would work well in shade. 😎

clematisdorset · October 2023

Thanks @Pete.8 , I had not thought about the algae. I would prefer a weathered look to a 'just bought brand new terracotta pot look' for this part of my garden. Maybe I have been viewing the wrong shade of pots though, as bright orange say would not work as well as lighter or darker terracotta shades. You have given me an idea so I think I will try your yoghurt tip on one of my pots, to see how that goes. When you said you have terracotta pot with ferns in a shady spot, I thought that sounded pleasant, so maybe it depends on the plants too. It sounds as though your terracotta is blending in to its surroundings in a good way.

clematisdorset · October 2023

Thanks @philippasmith2 , I don't know if I can wait about 30 years ☺️ ...however a shade of mottled grey would I think blend in well with the area by and on my path. I might try the yogurt idea on one of my terracotta pots, as that would give me an idea of the rate of 'decay' possible in my garden. The woodland bit is actually the most sheltered area, due to a high ivy hedge, dense planting and an orientation close to the south-west facing boundary, so it is possible the weathering process might be quite slow ( unlike elsewhere in the garden!)
I do like metal and stone pots, but you are right, they always seem to be expensive whenever I take a look. I think creamy stone that is weathered would work really well but the weight of stone would be prohibitive, along with the likely financial cost!
I like your other idea about painting spare plastic pots in different shades, I think I will try that too, thankyou!

clematisdorset · October 2023

Thanks @Plantminded , yes I do too I am just a bit unsure if they would detract from the woodland feel. I think your idea about lightweight faux lead pots would fit in very well, being lightweight and the sort of shade that would blend in. The woodland part of my garden recedes to the far boundary, so I would also like the pots to seem 'subtle' and therefore to seem to be in the distance. I think traditional, ancient, ageing is most certainly what i am seeking!

clematisdorset · October 2023

Thanks @ViewAhead , I will have a look. The stone-like ones I think I would be most interested in, but the concrete ones sound intriguing and less expensive. I think Homebase offers deliveries. I like the blue ceramic pots against dark green foliage and agree, the blue works well in shade....I will take a look, thanks!

Plantminded · October 2023

I have found that terracotta pots start to develop their character quite quickly. First you get salts leaching out to produce an attractive light grey deposit and pots in shady, damp areas soon develop a green algal growth. You won’t have to wait more than a couple of years before they start to weather. Try to find pots that have a frost proof guarantee as poor quality terracotta can shatter at low temperatures.

clematisdorset · October 2023

Those are good points @Plantminded, thankyou. Frost proof guarantee - yes that sounds worth checking. I do have some terracotta pieces in the garden (between 5 to 10:years) and so far none has shattered but neither have they weathered much either - possibly because they are in dry shade alot of the time, even in winter. I think I will move some of them before winter.

Alternative to terracotta pots for a woodland garden pathway

Posts