@Fire, @GardenerSuze no I couldn’t use metal containers here, I have to insulate (by double potting/lining) and/or shade ceramic pots as well. In the UK I think it would depend on the metal, it’s thickness, colour and location. Aluminium has a high heat conductivity, so a thin alu pot in full sun in would probably bake roots in summer and freeze them in winter. Lead has low conductivity for a metal so would protect roots better from extremes. Steel is somewhere in between, I think. Painting white or a pale colour helps to reflect heat out.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
@Latimer Hope you don't mind I also need to increase my pot knowledge. Thankyou everyone for your thoughts on metal containers for pots. This is a corner of my new garden. Raised beds to the right but the elephant in the room is the drain pipe. The landscaper drew a pot on the design with corten being an option fine on gravel but [not for paving as it can leave marks] I was unsure as this corner is south west facing and therefore hot.
The first thought was the tallest pot I could find, then a pot with canes for a climber. Whichever way the black drain pipe won't be disappearing! Also there is nothing worse than a wonky pot. I do have a budget asside for this as it is an important part of the garden.
My latest thought is a dark brown pot like the raised beds. If anyone has any thoughts on this difficult corner I would like your thoughts. Suze
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
I think you need a contrast in that corner @GardenerSuze to make the container and plant the focus, rather than the pot blending in with the brick wall. There are some nice lightweight containers available which might suit, either in faux lead or granite effect recycled plastic. I'd be inclined to match it with the drainpipe either in black or anthracite. You could experiment first by wrapping a black bin liner around a pot and seeing if the colour makes the drainpipe look worse or better! I'd also go for a tall, square shape for stability. If you added an obelisk, it would make a good location for growing some Thunbergia, maybe the bright orange or red one to light up that space.
Could you put a tall but narrow-ish trellis across the corner in front of the drainpipe? It would have to be removable I suppose, in case you need access for maintenance, but maybe a big pot of annual climbers would screen the pipe at least for the summer months?
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
@Fire Yes if only, it is the one place in the garden that you can fit a water butt and my conscience is nagging me to do so. At my old house there were three fifty gallon butts. It was by a back door and out of sight. Here a water butt will take 'centre stage' and it needs more of a focal point.[now I feel bad].
@Plantminded One colour I hadn't considered is black but worth a try. I have just purchased some more Ophiopogon for the other side if the garden so well worth a look. There is also the grey in the brick. I had hit a' brick wall' here with what to do, great to have more ideas, watch this space as they say. Black Eyed Susan should also be a perfect plant for me!
@JennyJ Yes a big pot of annuals seems to be the way to go. It could be a very hot corner. There will be two seating areas, in the winter months this area won't be seen from the south facing patio. However the other seating area faces east looking straight to the drain pipe. Thanks again time to experiment.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
@Fire Just taken a look had no idea that sort of thing was out there, especially with a planter on the top. For now it needs to be an open mind but not an impossible. Thankyou
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Posts
Thankyou everyone for your thoughts on metal containers for pots. This is a corner of my new garden. Raised beds to the right but the elephant in the room is the drain pipe.
The landscaper drew a pot on the design with corten being an option fine on gravel but [not for paving as it can leave marks]
I was unsure as this corner is south west facing and therefore hot.
The first thought was the tallest pot I could find, then a pot with canes for a climber. Whichever way the black drain pipe won't be disappearing! Also there is nothing worse than a wonky pot. I do have a budget asside for this as it is an important part of the garden.
My latest thought is a dark brown pot like the raised beds. If anyone has any thoughts on this difficult corner I would like your thoughts. Suze
It was by a back door and out of sight.
Here a water butt will take 'centre stage' and it needs more of a focal point.[now I feel bad].
@Plantminded One colour I hadn't considered is black but worth a try. I have just purchased some more Ophiopogon for the other side if the garden so well worth a look.
There is also the grey in the brick.
I had hit a' brick wall' here with what to do, great to have more ideas, watch this space as they say. Black Eyed Susan should also be a perfect plant for me!
@JennyJ Yes a big pot of annuals seems to be the way to go. It could be a very hot corner. There will be two seating areas, in the winter months this area won't be seen from the south facing patio. However the other seating area faces east looking straight to the drain pipe.
Thanks again time to experiment.