Pots done well can bring their own element of style and art to your landscape, adding colour, coolness and life to your outdoor space.
Firstly, choose your pot
Colour…Go with a colour that contrasts well with the plants in it – white, copper or dark greys/black will make greens and greys stand out while keeping in tune with the surrounding space.
If choosing a feature colour… choose something that links spaces. By repeating a colour spotted around in décor, cushions, furniture – either drawing from inside or out.
Style and Texture…Repeated geometrical patterns work so well with plants, contrasting with their natural, flowing shapes. Repeated patterns add interest without stealing the show from your feature plant. Committing to a style in your garden is also important – if you have a tuscan style garden, go with pots that enhance this feel. This will avoid the busy feeling that lots of different colours and styles can bring to a space and will give your garden a comfortable unity.
Size and Space… A single pot or cluster of 3 different sizes will always look fabulous – make sure the pot or cluster is in scale with the area they are in – a small pot for a small space, a large pot for a large space.
Next, choose the plants
If you decide to go with a single plant, choose something that will grow at least the height of your pot, to keep it in scale. If you have the space, try adding a few contrasting plants – these, you can layer, for example, a larger plant with large luscious leaves, a smaller plant with contrasting silver foliage and a plant that trails over the edge of the pot.
And Lastly, positioning
Pots can fill an unused corner, divide an area to create a new space or add a new flow to an area. They can be used to screen an unpleasant looking fence, to draw our attention to part of the garden as a focal point, or add a stunning new sculptural feature.
