Pot Luck

Don’t throw in the trowel! Even “brown thumbs” can garden in pots. Get in touch with your inner gardener with these foolproof tips for creating an instant landscape — on the patio, near doorways, beside a bench or anywhere that could benefit from a spot of color or scent.

To make a small space seem bigger, use different sizes of one type pot; i.e., all terra cotta or stone. Plant trees in large pots; flowers in smaller ones. Underplant potted trees with a groundcover of flowers to tie the landscape together.
Turn a large area into several smaller areas by keeping the color and style of pots the same within each area, but different from those in other areas; i.e., glazed blue pots on a redwood deck, round wooden tubs on a flagstone patio. Using one color of flowers feels formal and polished; a jumble of colors feels casual and fun.
Repeating the same color plants ties together outdoor spaces. A white pot of red tulips at the gate and another on the porch links the entire area visually.
Stair-step a cluster of pots, with taller plants in the back and low-growing plants in the front. Raise back containers by setting them on bricks or atop a plant stand. The extra height balances the grouping and shows all plants to best advantage.

For pots that will give you years of use, try the following:

Terra cotta. Plants like terra cotta, which holds in warmth and lets roots breathe. Terra cotta acquires a mottled patina as it ages, giving a garden a lovely Old World look. To speed the patina along, brush buttermilk over the outside of the pot and set it in a humid, shady spot. Mist with a plant mister, and a mossy patina will appear within a few weeks.
Glazed clay. Glazed pots are traditionally used in Asian-style gardens. Their simple elegance is dressier than terra cotta, and they come in a wide range of colors to match your décor. Painted jardinières are more formal, complementing more formal plants, such as orchids or bonsai.
Wood. Wood barrels and tubs provide more insulation than terra cotta and are less likely to crack, though they can attract insects. Paint or stain the outside of the barrel to protect it and be sure to avoid wood treated with creosote or pentachlorophenol, which kill plants.
Stone or concrete. Stone urns add a classic feel to a garden, but they’re hard to move and can break easily, though cracks and chips only add to their charm. Old concrete and stone pots can be found in antique shops and used to make a garden look established.
Plastic or fiberglass. Synthetic pots mimic terra cotta in color and style, giving you a similar look for less. Fiberglass pots can be moved and cleaned more easily than clay ones, but plastic doesn’t let plants breathe freely and doesn’t gain a patina with age.
Cast iron. Cast iron or aluminum urns add an air of shabby gentility, especially with a light coating of rust, which occurs naturally over time or can be helped along by brushing on a ready-made rusting solution. If you don’t like rust, try the subtle green of verdigris.