Alternative to terracotta pots for a woodland garden pathway

ViewAhead · October 2023

clematisdorset said:

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!

@clematisdorset, I would be quite wary of home delivery as these pots do seem to damage easily, so if you can get to a store, you could pick out the best on offer. Quite a few on display had chips and scratches and scuffs.

I will see if I can find an online link for the cube ones >>>

ViewAhead · October 2023

https://www.homebase.co.uk/plaza-cube-planter-in-white-44cm/12813286.html

This is the pale grey one. In my local store, the 10" cubes were about £12.50 and the 6" ones about £6.50. The black ones were the same.

Fairygirl · October 2023

If you want to use terracotta, you can always paint them. Masonry paint comes in various colours now, but the fence paint works too. I mixed some of the stuff I had to get a grey finish, and it's been fine on a large pot for a couple of years now, as well as on the wooden bench.

clematisdorset · October 2023

Thanks @ViewAhead, those cube planters, though modern, have a classic sort of look and the colour and material could work well. I see customers have mentioned them being heavy and sturdy, so I would need to factor that in. There are some other pots on the website too, they seem to have a very good selection!

It looks as though chipped pots might be an issue, so thanks for drawing that to my attention. Have you bought pots from them before? - and if so, were you happy in the long-term?!

amancalledgeorge · October 2023

These are much more in keeping with a more traditional looking garden @clematisdorset and they're nice quality when I looked at them a few months back but probably better to go into a store as they don't treat their pots very well.
https://www.homebase.co.uk/mayfair-antique-white-cube-30cm/12940008.html

clematisdorset · October 2023

Thanks @amancalledgeorge, I do like those very much and yes, they would fit the style in my garden with a more traditional look. It is a shame that their pots are treated a bit carelessly from what you and others have said. I would not mind too much. a few chips in the pots because I will be placing them amongst lots of greenery, but I suppose the pots could degrade or even crack further, once a small chip has occured.

clematisdorset · October 2023

Thanks @Fairygirl, that is an interesting suggestion which I had not thought of doing. I was wondering if painting them would affect their porosity? If not, I would like to try a 'paint wash' and then build up more volume of paint, if required.

amancalledgeorge · October 2023

Yes unfortunately Homebase is one of those shops you have to treat like TK Maxx...you have to wade through lots of rubbish to find the odd gem 🤣 but have had quite a few pots over the years and they have been decent quality for the bargain prices. Some of the ceramic ones are going for over ten years.

JennyJ · October 2023

If you find pots you like in Homebase (or any other similar sort of shop) but they've only got chipped ones left, ask for a bigger discount. The worst they can do is say no, and if you're wanting several they might be happy to get rid of them as we're late in their outdoor garden stuff season and they soon want to be filling up the garden centre area with winter stock (ie Christmas trees and suchlike).

Edit: maybe start by asking if they've got any undamaged ones or will be getting any more in - the answer will probably be no at this time of year but it shows you would have paid the asking price for perfect ones.

Butterfly66 · October 2023

I find that terracotta vary in how/if they age. The dark orange ones with an almost sheen to them never seem to weather down. Those with a “dusty” finish have aged better for us, but it does vary depending on situation with those in damp shade ageing more quickly.

I have some very dark green ceramic pots, which although they look very glossy and visually strong when viewed in the GC, seem to almost disappear when planted and in the garden.

Alternative to terracotta pots for a woodland garden pathway

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