Pots can completely transform a garden, but unlike plants growing in the ground, everything they need has to come from the relatively small amount of compost inside the container.
A little seasonal maintenance goes a long way. From winter drainage and spring feeding to summer watering and autumn bulb planting, these are the main jobs I’d focus on throughout the year.
January & February: Keep an Eye on Drainage
Winter is mostly about keeping pots healthy through prolonged wet and cold weather.
Check drainage holes every so often and make sure containers are not sitting directly in standing water. Raising them slightly allows excess water to escape and is particularly worthwhile with terracotta. Our terracotta pot feet are a simple way to lift pots while keeping everything looking tidy.
Plants need far less water at this time of year, but don’t completely forget about them. Sheltered pots can still become surprisingly dry.
If particularly cold weather is forecast, there are a few extra precautions worth taking to protect your terracotta through winter, from moving vulnerable pots to wrapping and raising them.
March & April: Start Feeding and Watering
Once plants begin moving into active growth, gradually start watering and feeding again.
This is one of the easiest times of year to get caught out. The weather may still feel cool, but dry and windy days can remove moisture from a container surprisingly quickly. Spring is also a good time to refresh mulch with bark, decorative stone or crushed shells to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
If something has clearly outgrown its container, now is a good opportunity to give it more room. Our full terracotta pot collection includes everything from smaller planting pots to substantial planters for established shrubs and trees.
May & June: The Chelsea Chop
Late May brings the Chelsea Chop.
For suitable herbaceous perennials, cutting some growth back by around a third can encourage a bushier plant and depending on the variety, another flush of flowers later in the season.
Not everything should be chopped, so always check the plant first, but for the right perennial it is a very useful trick.
As temperatures rise, watering and feeding also become increasingly important. Larger Italian terracotta pots can give established plants more room for roots and compost, helping create generous displays through the summer.
July & August: Water Deeply
By midsummer, watering is normally the biggest job.
I would always favour a thorough watering rather than giving pots a small amount every few hours. You want moisture to reach the roots rather than simply wetting the top few centimetres of compost.
Water at the base of the plant and during particularly hot weather, aim for early morning or evening.
July is also the time for what we sometimes call the Hampton Hack — cutting back suitable summer-flowering perennials to tidy growth and encourage another flush.
Towards the end of August, growth will begin slowing and feeding can gradually be reduced.
September & October: Plant for Spring
As autumn arrives, stop feeding and have a look at anything that has spent the summer becoming a little too large for its pot.
Moving established plants into a larger container at this point can give roots more room for the following growing season. If you are looking for proven shapes, our Core Range brings together some of the pots customers return to time and again.
Autumn is also one of the best times to start thinking about spring bulbs.
Our hand-thrown terracotta bulb bowls are designed specifically for this, with the smaller size ideal for crocus, snowdrops or hyacinths and the larger bowl giving you room for tulips, narcissus, alliums or layered planting.
For something a little more ambitious, try creating a layered display using our bulb lasagna planting method. Wider shapes such as the Botticelli Italian Terracotta Bowls also work beautifully for mixed spring planting.
November & December: Prepare for Winter
Once the weather becomes wetter and colder, drainage comes straight back to the top of the list.
Raise pots where possible, check that drainage holes remain clear and move anything particularly delicate away from exposed frost pockets.
A fresh layer of mulch can help insulate the compost and protect roots from sudden changes in temperature, while keeping containers raised helps prevent them sitting permanently wet.
Terracotta pots are an investment in the garden, so a little preparation before the hardest weather arrives is well worth doing. Our winter terracotta care guide has a few more practical tips if temperatures really begin to drop.
A Few Simple Rules
Whatever the season, most container problems come back to a handful of basics: good drainage, sensible watering, enough room for roots and keeping an eye on the weather.
Choose a good-quality pot, use the right compost for the plant and check it regularly rather than waiting until something looks unhappy.
With a little seasonal care, there is no reason a well-planted container shouldn’t get better year after year.
Whether you’re looking for a small pot for bulbs or something substantial for an established tree, you can browse the full Tom’s Yard terracotta collection to find a pot for every spot.
