Seaside Garden Idea

Even if you live miles away from the sea you can create your own garden in a sunny corner with seashells and succulents.

Materials
Seashells
4 Terracotta Flowerpots of various sizes
Compost or potting mix
Gravel
Variety of plant materials

Glue the seashells onto the terracotta pots and leave them hardened overnight.  The next morning, pour some pea gravel in the bottom of the flowerpots.  This creates a better drainage situation for the plants. Try to cover the drain hole without blocking it totally.   You want the water overflow to easily drain out without taking a lot of potting mix.

Place the planting materials selected in the pots adding more potting mix around them and pressing down to eliminate air pockets.  Try grouping the plants in the pots to create an interesting look.  Once done place on a windowsill, out on a patio table or front porch stoop.

How to create classic potted topiary

Materials:

4 large terracotta pots
Bark Chips
Pottery Mix
Slow-Release Plant Food Fertilizer

4 – box trees in different topiary shapes, real or faux

Most topiary from a garden center or nursery will come in a plastic container.  We think that isn’t very decorative or nice looking so we recommend our Italian Terracotta Standard or European Style Pottery.  If you look on our website you will see both styles, come in many sizes and are shipped directly to us from the Italian factory.  This is not a cheap, easily damaged terracotta clay.  Each of these pots is fired in a gas kiln making the color even, sun-backed, and stunning.

The clean lines of the topiary are matched by the simplicity of the terracotta pots.  Since the eye is drawn to the outlines of the box plants, decorated or colorful pots would be a distraction.

Fill the bottom of the planter with bark chips.  This keeps the potting mix from coming out and the water able to run off.  You want to keep the drain hole free and clear for good drainage but not totally open so the soil runs out.

Remove the tree from the nursery pot and place it in the terracotta container surrounding it with potting mix.  Push down the side so there are no large air pockets.  Scatter the fertilizer over the top and then finish off with more bark chips.  Water well and position in sun or partial shade.

***Plant anytime of year!

Winter and Garden Pottery

Not everyone lives in the same type of climate.  Like us here in Arizona have pretty mild Winters. It does get cold but the sky is mostly blue, clear and sunny.  Back on the East Coast, we know that is not the case. Well, where you live can dictate what types of garden planters you choose to grow in and decorate with.

If you are one of the lucky ones that can move large or small containers into a garage or potting shed there are a few steps you need to follow.   Start by removing all plant materials and potting soil.  Now is a great time to compost but whether you do or not doesn’t make a difference. The pots need to be cleaned out!

Start by scrubbing the outside and inside with a soft brush and 10 parts water to 1- part bleach.  Let them dry completely.  Then move them for added protection.  It is not always possible to move extra large pots, so follow these instructions instead.  Clean them out if possible and lift them up off the ground with pot feet or wood boards.  This keeps them from freezing and cracking.

For large pots with plants that are not seasonal, you will need to lay a layer of mulch across the top. This creates a layer between the cold freezing weather and the potting soil, where the plant's roots live.  It also helps if you can wrap the planter with burlap or bubble wrap. This also creates a barrier of protection between the cold and the fragile planter.

Pots and garden containers can be expensive.  Unless you don’t mind replacing your pottery on a regular basis it’s best to provide any protection you can so that the pots will last and last for many years.

Terracotta is meant to retain moisture so these are the most likely to crack.  You need to keep them covered with a plastic bag so water doesn’t seep into the clay. If it does and the weather freezes then these types of garden containers will crack.  Materials that do well in Winter are concrete, sandstone, frost proof glazed planters or fiberglass and polyresin.  These materials are meant to repel water.  But, as a caution remember if a glazed pot cracks or chips, water will find it and seep in. Then it’s just a matter of time before the pot will break down.

So, hopefully, this information is helpful.  Take care, be wise and you will help your home and garden containers last for many years!

STEPS:

1. Cover the pot with white paint, using the foam brush. Let dry, about an hour, or longer.
2. Tape off the stripes using the painter’s tape. It’s easiest to start just under the rim for the first stripe.
3. Using the width of the painter’s tape as a guide (.94-inch works well), tape off the next stripe, being sure to press the tape against the pot.
4. Paint the red stripes, let dry. Peel off tape.
5. Paint the blue stripe on the rim, let dry. Sanding the edges of the pot with a sanding sponge adds a rustic look.
6. Use the white paint marker to draw stars on the rim, and also to clean up any splotches on the stripes.
7. Optional, but nice: spray the completed terra cotta pot with acrylic spray to seal.

Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks and share your home with loved ones.  As everyone gathers together for a wonderful day of celebration, we would like to share a few craft ideas that will make the day more fun and decorative.

These personalized place card are made from miniature clay flowerpots and are so easy to do.  We have one for adults that should be made in advance and another for children.  These are as simple as a few glue sticks, feathers, candy, or markers.  Have a place set up in the morning so when the children arrive they have a place to sit and get started.  Make sure that there is always adult supervision.  This will give the children something to do why the adults watch football and cook.

Adult Project:

Gather 3”clay flowerpots. We have them in many sizes including the 3”so click here to shop.
Acrylic paint in black, white, red and blue.
Paintbrush
Craft Foam in black, yellow, green & purple.  These come in sheets at the local craft stores.
Scissors
Thick white crafts glue
Black Fabric paint pen

Decorate the pots by painting each black and allow to dry.  Choose a color to paint the band around the top of each pot. Let dry.  Make white dots on the rest of each by dipping the handle end of the paintbrush in white and dotting the pots surface.
Add brims by tracing a circle from black foam about ½ inch wider all around then the pot opening using a glass lid. Cut out.

Make the buckles by measuring the width of the band, cut a rectangle from foam that measures about 1/8” deeper than the band.  Cut out a smaller rectangle from the center. Glue the buckle to band and let dry.
Lastly, personalize each pot hat with the paint pen.

 Childs Project:

As you will see from the photos below, all you will need is paint, feathers, glue sticks, paint pens, flowerpots etc.
All the items you can pick up at your local craft store.  If they don’t have the small terracotta pots in stock you can buy them from us by clicking here.

The point is to have fun, be creative and makes this Thanksgiving holiday truly blessed.