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All Season Centerpiece Project.

8/25/2014

This simple centerpiece is easy to make according to BHG.com Simply wire together a 12" wire wreath form and a 12" floral craft ring. Poke kraft paper covered wire stems through each 4" clay standard flower pot and fold over the top edge, then secure at bottom of pot by twisting.

Anchor the pots on the wire frame by twisting more floral wire around the wire frame. Alternately angle the pots toward and away from the center of the wreath. Fill the pots with succulents and tuck in moss along the bottom of the wreath. Cute, easy and fun to make!

Centerpiece for all seasons

Project tips

Idea for planters pottery

By Arizona Pottery
Post Last Updated: 12/19/2016 10:26:50 AM

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Got A MInute?

8/22/2014

Enjoy these time-saving gardening tips from multitasking moms?

Can there possibly be such a thing as a mother with too much time on her hands? We don't think so. With work, play dates, sports practice, dance lessons, gymnastics and much more, time is more than precious. So, how can a mother who is pulled in different directions still have time to plant a potted veggie garden and at the same time teach her children about growing their own food? Here are a few tips that we hope will help.

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Start out by limiting the amount of vegetables that you grow. This is not the time to rush in with a huge variety that you won't be able to care for. It will also eliminate extra work on clean up. Start with good size planters and only planting one variety in it. Tomatoes are fun, easy to grow and great for the little one to eat. Use them in salads and tomato saucers. A little helper can pick and prepare them. Each year introduce a new veggie. Let them help you decide which vegetable to grow.

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Time doing things together is more precious than ever before. Instead of you watching them in extra activities, planting a potted garden will be relaxing and something you both can enjoy while spending time together. Gardening gets kids excited even at a young age and teaches him to be patient and gentle. Besides what kids doesn't enjoy digging in dirt?

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Lastly, try potting up some healing aloe vera. The next time your child gets a bee sting, a scratch or a burn, take them to the potted aloe and have them snip off a piece. Then apply it to their scratch and watch the healing begin. They will experience instant pain relief. Over time they will learn the value of having these types of plants around the house. Keep the small planter next to the kitchen door or in the back yard where these types of accidents happen.

Repairing Broken Containers!

8/19/2014

Well it happens to all of us. Moving a garden planter to a new home in the garden, or backing up in the car and hitting the pots flanking the garage door. Planters get damaged, mistakes happen, don't worry we offer a few tips to help.

If all of the pieces of the planter that was damaged fit tightly and you use the right adhesive, these tips should help. If none of the above are applicable, then plan on purchasing a new pot!

Choose an epoxy glue. You mix the two compounds before you cement the pieces. Always read the directions for mixing. Fit the pieces together and tie the pot so that it is securely held together. Use a cord or rope for large pots or painters tape for smaller ones. Just make sure that you don't use a dirty rope so that it doesn't damaged the surface of a clay planter. Wipe off excess glue that seeps out the crack. Use sandpaper after the glue is dry to remove any residue.

When you replant in the damaged container, try potting up a climbing vine that will drape over the sides of the pot and possibly cover the crack. If you can turn the planter around so the crack doesn't show, more the better. If you must hide the crack because it's visible on all sides try painting the pot or staining it with exterior grade paint or stain. This will not work with glazed planters but works on other surfaces. You will always have to seal the painted pot, inside and outside with a waterproof sealant.

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Having one of your favorite garden planters get damaged is always disappointing but there are options for trying to save it. Give it a go and let us know of your success!

Patio Designs for the 21st Century.

8/14/2014

Modern garden designs are very geometric, abstract, full of man made materials and often low on plant materials. They are contemporary and full of clean lines and obvious art pieces or large garden jars left empty for a naturalistic look and feel. Many garden and patio areas today are beautiful and traditional but in the blog post lets try to stick to the modern gardens.

Many modern gardens can be rigid, cold, and abstract, where potted plants are just a design element. You want to find a nice balance between hardscape materials and softscape plantings. It is a perfect marriage between two extremes that make a beautiful garden area versus an area that just happens. It shouldn't have any excess without necessarily being minimal. You should try to find plant materials that are a variety that are carefully chosen. Don't mush together a ton of different things, but still have some variety for interest.

Try to see your garden area as an art form. Use interesting materials like water features, garden benches, large pots shaped like jars or urns and always have a focal point. An area that draws your eye to where everything can be tied together and makes' sense. Whatever materials you use - whether they be steel, stone or plants have to make sense and incorporates the look and feel you want to your yard or patio area.

If you can plant for sustainability then even better. Try to create a landscape that works with the environment. For example if you can avoid a lawn and the water, fertilizer, cutting etc you will not only save time but money. If you need a lawn for animals or children then make them a minimal size, and if you don't need one then don't have one.

The one thing you need to add to your garden is your personality. Any good ideas specific to the gardener that aren't copies from magazines are really more exciting.

Cleaning Up Containers!

8/11/2014

Your garden containers are more than a pot to hold soil and plants. They are the plants' living quarters, and they decorate your home and landscape as well. That is why you need to make sure your containers are in good shape. Dirty planters can affect plant health, and faded or drab looking pots distract from the appearance of your arrangement. Read below for advice on how to keep your garden containers in great shape!

They are outside, they get wet, they hold dirt - so why should you bother to clean containers? The answer is easy. Plants grow better in a clean and sterile environment, and you lower the chances of having pests and diseases hanging around to harm your plants.

Start by getting rid of potting soil and debris by brushing the inside and outside of the container thoroughly. Use a stiff wire brush for the job and get better results. Wash small pots in a basin or bucket filled with hot, soapy water. You can also add a few drops of liquid household bleach to the water. Be sure to scrub inside and outside. Rinse the planters well and allow to air dry overnight before replanting. Remember to use fresh soil mix, to minimize insect and disease problems.

Awesome flowers in shabby containers or pretty pots on chipped and peeling plant stands don't provide the good looks that we bet you're going for. Naturally, containers exposed to the elements invariably fall into disrepair. Here are a few tips to help keep them looking great!

Inspect all planters at the start of the season for any signs of chipped or cracked paint.

Wash off any dirt and let them dry overnight. If you need to repaint the pot by sanding the surface first and then spraying the paint and letting it dry. Finish with a coat of clear protectant designed for outdoor use. If there is a crack then patch it before use. This will keep the water from penetrating into the crack and causing the pot to break down over time.

You can save work in the long run if you make sure that your containers are ready to withstand the elements before you begin planting.

Cleaning garden pots pottery vases containers planters

By Arizona Pottery
Post Last Updated: 12/19/2016 10:27:37 AM

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Body Terrific Summer Berries.

8/6/2014

Potting up a few varieties of berries can be both healthy, rewarding and tasty! When your sweet tooth rear up, pop a couple handfuls of fresh berries, their sweet-tart goodness helps you resist the urge to eat something unhealthy that's loaded with calories. How about a lush raspberry or blackberry? Both are full of healthy nurtients and easy to grow. Read below if we haven't convenienced your yet!

Blueberries - Toss a few into yogurt with a little honey for a great morning breakfast. They can make even the simpliest of meals special. Out of 60 fruits and vegetables analyzed by Tufts University, blueberries rated highest in the ability to destroy skin damaging free radical with powerful antixodiants like anthocyanins and vitamin C. And with only 80 calories and an impressive 5 grams of fiber per cup, it's no wonder they can help reduce belly fat and risk factors for metabolic syndrome and cardio vascular disease. Pot up a few, place them in a patio planter, and enjoy them.

Blackberries & Raspberries - Try a blackberry smoothie or a tasty bowl of oatmeal with berries. The berries help keep you focused on days when you need to perform and feel your best. Full of folate and vitamin K, blackberries help prevent nerve cell damage in the brain caused by oxidative stress and aging, which can result in memory loss. Potting up berries and placing them on a porch or next to a kitchen door is great for convenience. Raspberries are packed with the mineral maganese and contain 62 percent of the daily value in one cup. They assist the bodys metabolic systems, facilitates optimal thyroid function and regulates blood sugar. Berries are GOOD!

Planting a few berry bushes, in garden planters, is easy to do and a healthy way to keep your family happy. They don't take a lot of work, and the benefits are tremendous. The colors are beautiful and they are decorative and fragrant!

Moving Large Containers!

8/1/2014

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Consider carefully where you want large garden planters to go before you move them into place. If it's practical, move heavy containers into place before you plant in them because they will be lighter without the added weight of soil and plant materials. If you have to move large pots later on, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

For relocating large pots, tubs, and some barrels, you can buy our pot caddies that have wheels and can hold up to hundreds of pounds of weight. These are ideal for many planters, but you need to be sure they can hold the weight once the pottery is watered. And if you can plan ahead, hold off on watering to lighten the load when moving.

To move a large, heavy container like concrete or stone pots, try using an old piece of carpeting or throw rug. With a helper, tip the container and slide the end of a long carpet strip underneath. Slide the container so that it rests completely on the carpet; then you can tug it along as your assistant steadies it. Cardboard, blankets and large sacks can also work this way.

Sometimes an ordinary hand truck for furniture dolly can be useful. Take care to move long plant stems away from the sides as you balance the container on the foot of the dolly. A hand truck can work for long rectangular containers as long as you can balance them.

Lastly, if you have to go up or down stairs, use a pair of long wooden planks to form a ramp and tie the container to a rope. With a helper, pull up or gently lower the container slowly and securely. Err on the side of safety!