Garden Pots - and how to style them for maximum impact in contemporary gardens
Less is definitely more when it comes to many of the principles of garden design and most certainly applies to the use of pots and how they feature in a garden design.
Pots are wonderful; they allow for flexibility with planting as they offer a controlled growing medium (perfect for planting the plants you love but your garden soil may not), can act as great focal points and break up large areas of paving by adding structure, colour and interest, but the general live by rule is that they must be large! Large pots allow for more planting, less watering and most importantly, more impact, and tend to work better than smaller ones in a modern garden.
The main constraints with using larger numbers of smaller pots is that they can be guilty of dragging your eye to the ground and creating a cluttered look, as well as requiring more watering. If they are to be used, use them in volume and grouped en-masse or clustered on a table. An eclectic collection of smaller pots work well in a traditional garden, but contemporary garden designs tend to focus on a structurally cleaner look so large pots are more effective.
Top pot tips;
Either side of a front or back door consider tall pots that sit around doorknob height, planted with an evergreen (and fragrant if possible) plants. Avoiding low level pots helps keep the eye above ground level.
In smaller spaces/courtyard gardens, go bigger not smaller and a great feature can be three pots positioned side by side for a real statement. Designing very small gardens often means that every item has to work hard and a statement pot can really set a mood, providing structure in winter and height in summer.
If you have pathways or arches,positioning one chunky pot at the end, planted with a tree or shrub or mass of planting can be a wonderful focal point.
Troughs can make great privacy screens when planted with grasses or shrubs, and they can be used to soften walls that have paving beneath.
Be bold and keep materials to a minimum for a sleek, contemporary look.
A sophisticated arrangement of pots creating impact and adding interest within this garden.
Circular planters positioned in a series to create maximum impact.
A stylish and contemporary planter arrangement featured in one of our modern Cambridge garden designs.
A bold focal point and planter colour choice for this contemporary courtyard design in Cambridge.
A modern and contemporary courtyard design featuring bold planters in Cambridge.
All images in this blog showcase gardens designed by Cultivate Gardens.
