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Do this before reusing a planter |
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Now is the time to pull out all your wintered garden tools, & garden planters. But, before you start repotting your new seeds & starter plants, there is a important step you need to implement to make sure your growing season starts off on the right foot.
Its time to wash those pre-used flowerpots and make sure they are totally clean and ready to go. This step is very important and not one you should pass on. Why you ask? Well bacteria or fungus can be in that favorite flower planter and you may not even be aware. How about pest eggs or larvae? Nobody wants to pot up fresh seedlings in that garden planter do they?
So, you think it's hard to clean your outdoor planters? Well think again! Start by gathering all the pottery you want to clean. Grab a hard bristle brush and get after it. Clean the inside of the garden containers looking for dried dirt, old roots or any debris that could still be attached.
Then fill a clean bucket with a bleach & water solution. One part bleach and eight parts water. Or if you want to go more natural use equal parts vinegar & water. Then soak the pots in either solution. Make sure after 20 mins or so you rinse them off completely. You can hose them off and leave them to dry in the sun.
That's it. They should look, & smell clean and ready to plant in. It may sound like a unnecessary step but it really does help your new plants thrive and survive in clean garden planters.
Read More: How to keep fresh flowers fresher longer.
Read More: A few helpful planter tips.
clean pottery, wash flowerpots, scrub used planters, dont reuse planters without washing, arizona pottery
Clean Planters, Wash Garden Containers, Scrub Used Flowerpots, Garden Pottery, Planters Pots
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By Arizona Pottery
Post Last Updated: 6/10/2025 3:26:42 PM |
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Garden Statues In the Yard or Garden |
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At Arizona Pottery, we like to believe that every landscape, patio, garden or yard should have a sculpture.
When placing art in your landscape or garden you are bring a touch of drama, romance or artistic elegance to that area. There are a few tips that might help make that adventure a total success. If you start by looking at the area or space you are thinking of placing a Frank Lloyd Wright Sprite garden statue or any other type of art you need to think of it as a room. Do you like a room without art on the walls or tables?
Well, if you do then you will like a garden sculpture. A well placed statue completes a lovely landscape area. Many folks have certain looks they are going for. Are you Zen, Country, Elegant Frank Lloyd Wright Statues, Animal statues, Religious or Modern.
Do you want color or muted tones to blend into your outdoor living designs? Next consider size. Would a small dog statue laying under a shade bush be just want you were looking for to add a touch whimsy or how about a tall elegant Frank Lloyd Wright Sprite or Nakoma statue?
Remember, placement is everything. A garden sculpture should look like part of the landscape design instead of just sitting in it. Try to nestle them around tall shrub or plants, under bushes or out where the sun will catch it.
This doesn't have to be complicated. You know what you like. Have fun & bring a touch of art to your outdoor areas.
Read More..... Small Space Garden Center
Read More..... Cactus & Succulents in Garden Pots
garden, sculpture, statues, garden art, garden statues, outdoor statues, patio statues, landscape statues, frank lloyd wright statues
#Art #GardenStatues #FrankLloydWrightStatues #Sculptures |
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By Arizona Pottery
Post Last Updated: 6/10/2025 3:25:56 PM |
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Consider Climate when planting containers |
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Climate plays a role in container gardening because it depends on what you're growing and when your growing it. You don't need to worry about winter if you are into single-season containers. However its still important to know when the weather has warmed up enough in spring so it's safe to set out tender plants that can't tolerate frost.
If however, your containers are filled with permanent plants - perennials, trees, and shrubs - then you need to tune in more carefully to the regions climate. In most cases, winter temperatures are the deciding factor in what will survive in your climate.
A great tip to remember is that growing plants in containers allows you to grow plants that otherwise may not survive in your climate if you are willing to take extra steps to protect them in extreme temps - like moving them to protected spots.
As you already know, container plants are more vulnerable to extreme temps (especially cold) than the same plant growing in the ground. Soil temps rarely drop below the 20's but because of the soils residual heat. The soil in containers can freeze solid when exposed to cold temps. Temperatures that alternate between freezing and thawing post another challenge. On a sunny winter day they soil may thaw and then at night refreeze when the temperatures drop. Once soil freezes again it expands and push plants up out of the soil. This is the time that a ceramic or clay pay will crack.
Knowing the frost dates for your region is kind of like peering into a crystal ball. If you move your containers to a sheltered place for the winter, the plants may being sprouting earlier in spring than they would have had they wintered outdoors. Then, if you bring the plants outdoors before the last spring frost date the chances are good that the new growth will be nipped by frost. To be safe, if overwintering plants have begun to sprout in their sheltered spot, wait until after the last frost date to bring them outdoors.
To be totally successful, you really do need to keep an eye on the weather, especially in fall when cold snaps can threaten warm season plants. We advise you move small containers into a garage or enclosed porch, where temps stay a few degrees warmer than outdoors. Move them back when the threat has passed.
Cover large planters with old sheets, cardboard boxes, or anything that holds heat. Use stakes to prop up the cover to avoid breaking stems. Extend covering all the way to the ground, and secure it around the base of the container to help hold in the heat. Remove covers the next morning once temps warm up to the 50's.
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By Arizona Pottery
Post Last Updated: 6/10/2025 3:23:18 PM |
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Top 10 remedies for the container blues |
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If you've killed enough outdoor container plants to fill a small forest, you're not alone. To figure out what went wrong and avoid making the same mistakes next time, take a look at the top 10 most common remedies for container plants in decline:
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 More plants die from too much water than any other cause. While it may seem counter intuitive to let plants dry out, it actually benefits plants by allowing oxygen to pass into the soil. So let your plants take in a breath of fresh air once in a while. Use your finger to test whether the soil is dry 2 to 3 inches below the surface-that's when you should water. Also, when in doubt, check your plant's roots by gently lifting it out with the tip of a spade. Look for black or mushy tips, which indicate rot.
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 Try to avoid going to the opposite extreme and letting your plants dry out. Unless you're growing a cactus or succulent, it's not going to appreciate being thrown into the desert. To help find the right balance between too wet and bone-dry, consider buying a moisture meter. These inexpensive little gadgets take the guesswork out of watering by telling you when the soil is nearly dry, which is the right time to water.
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 All plants need light to survive. You probably knew that already but did you know that the most common cause of lack of blooms is insufficient light? In general, low-light plants such as impatients don't need direct sun. Part-sun or medium-light plants such as violas do best with three to four hours of direct morning sun and some dappled afternoon sun - light that's filtered through a nearby tree, for example. Zinnias, petunias, and other full-sun plants generally need size hours or more of direct mid-day or afternoon sun per day to do their best.
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 Believe it or not, plants can get sunburned, too. And until someone invents a sunscreen lotion for plants, it's important to avoid putting medium-or-low-light plants in too much scalding afternoon sun. Different seasons can also mean fluctuations in light intensity, so while a plant might have been happy with a few hours of direct sun in early spring, it may be getting too much sun once the dog days of summer roll around. One advantage container plants have over garden plants is that you can move them around as the seasons change. A good rule of thumb for low-light plants is to put them in dappled shade or a place where they will get early morning or late afternoon sun.
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 Plants in containers need to be fed more often than plants in the garden. Frequent watering causes nutrients to leach out of the soil over time, leaving impoverished soil. The solution is to feed all of your foliage plants about once a month during periods of growth. Feed blooming plants more often, since they require more energy for flower production-about once every two weeks while in flower. The rest of the time, you can treat them like foliage plants. If you're planning to overwinter your container plants, stop fertilizing completely by September so plants go dormant in time for winter.
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 Prevent pest and disease problems from rearing their ugly little heads by practicing good hygiene. This means disinfecting your tools with rubbing alcohol or a bleach solution after each use, rinsing out old containers with soap and water, and throwing out potting soil if it was previously home to diseased plants. You can nip most insect problems in the bud if you catch them early enough. Start by spraying plants with a strong stream of water and wiping the insects off with a damp paper towel. Disease pathogens thrive in wet conditions, so keep leaves dry and soil slightly dry.
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 Choosing the right container for your plant is almost as important as putting it in good soil. Since most flowering annuals don't have very deep root systems, they'll do well in containers that are wider than they are deep. If, however, you fall in love with a tall container and want to use it, fill the bottom half with a filler material such as packing peanuts or broken up shards of pottery, then add potting mix on top. This helps provide better drainage and prevent root rot. Use a container that is no more than 2 to 3 inches larger than the roots of the plant, so the plant doesn't drown in excess soil & water.
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 The soil around a plant's roots is its house, and just like the houses we live in, the soil in containers could use a little spring-cleaning every year. A potted perennial may live several years in the same potting soil. To keep that soil healthy,it's important to revitalize it every year. Take the root ball out of the pot and carefully remove some of the old potting mix from the sides and bottom of the root ball, then add new potting mix to the container and replant.
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 Look at a plant's place of origin to see if your conditions will be a good match for it. For example, violas and other woodland plants love shady, moist, humus-rich conditions resembling those found in their native environments. Plants from arid regions, such as many ornamental grasses and bulbs, prefer dry conditions and well-drained soils. Choose the right plant for the right place and you can avoid many ailments.
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 Annuals will die when freezing weather comes, and you can choose new ones next spring. But if you plant perennials in containers and want them to last through winter, check each plant's hardiness zone to make sure it will survive in your region. Plants in containers tend to be more vulnerable to extreme temperatures, so it's wise to buy plants that are hardy to at least one hardiness zone colder than the one you're in. For borderline plants, provide extra mulch or move them into an unheated garage in winter to keep them safe.
Read More: Stop animal from nibbling your plants.
Read More: A wonderful garden scheme to copy.
garden pottery, garden containers, flowerpots, garden landscape, pottery, planters, pots |
By Arizona Pottery
Post Last Updated: 6/9/2025 1:36:02 PM |
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Nasa & Houseplants - Who knew? |
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In the early 1980's, when NASA researchers were looking for ways to purify the air inside the space pods of the future, they didn't just look to engineer a pricey, high-tech filtering system. They also turned to the humble houseplant. As the months grow colder and darker, driving you indoors, take a cue from NASA and put your plants to work absorbing the air pollutants lurking in your home or office.
Bill Wolverton, PHD, who helped pioneer the NASA studies, selected a trio of potted powerhouses. (For freshest results, Wolverton recommends covering soil with a one-inch layer of pebbles or decorative gravel, which cuts the risk of mold and bacteria and keeps kids and pets from playing where they shouldn't.
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This thirsty, shiny mainstay is ideal for rooms that don't receive much sunlight (and aren't most rooms like that in November?) It's particularly adept at filtering formaldehyde, which is found in many adhesives and floor coverings.
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In cheerful reds, pinks, and yellows, there are lots of colorful plants that are a excellent filter of airborne chemicals such as benzene (emitted by gasoline, ink, paint, and pesticides) and ammonia (common in cleaning supplies). |
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"Just because you've only got houseplants doesn't mean you don't have the gardening spirit - I look upon myself as an indoor gardener". - Sara Moss-Wolfe
planters, flowerpots, garden containers, pottery, garden pots, outdoor planters, patio pots, yard pots.
pottery, planters, pots, garden pottery, garden planters, garden containers, pot tips, planter tips. |
By Arizona Pottery
Post Last Updated: 6/9/2025 1:34:36 PM |
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Fairy Gardens and Fun! |
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Everyone loves secrets! Wouldn't it be exciting to create a Fairy Garden that is full of tiny secrets? Here are a few suggestions. |
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Take a shallow garden pot, like a low bowl or a low cylinder dish and use that as the base for the Fairy Garden. Make it as large or as small as you like. We have even seen the top of a birdbath turned into a lovely display. Filling the base with soil, is the easy part. Just make sure you use a good potting soil and not garden dirt. It's better if the container has a drain hole but not totally necessary.
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Now comes the fun part. You can place a layer of green moss around the top of the soil to create a soft cushion for all the "Fairies" to lay on. Then start adding the fun stuff. We have seen miniature doll house chairs, clay pots turned upside down for furniture. Colorful glass marbles and decorative rocks. Plant mini greenery and small brightly colored flowers. Create a mystical and magical place for your fairies to come to. The possibilities are truly endless when creating something so innocent and sweet!
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Children of all ages love these types of garden/pottery projects. Hide the container in a secret place in the yard or garden. Place it on the patio or outside a kitchen window where you can watch for the fairies to land. Create a playful place for kids to go to and dream about. Be sure to take photos to preserve these types of memories.
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| Arizona Pottery is here to help made those magical moments happen. Shop our website and find the perfect piece of pottery for the base of your Fairy garden! |
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| Read more.....Let in Autumn |
Read More.....Container Gardening For Food.
fairy garden, diy fairy garden, pottery, planters, flowerpots, garden containers, outdoor planters, |
By Arizona Pottery
Post Last Updated: 6/9/2025 1:33:27 PM |
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