Articles Directory | Free Articles | New Articles Daily | Repetition is #one of# the tools in thePot gardeners tool chest for use alongside style, colour and shape to provide countless diverse and exquisite displays.

Repetition:

#In the# pot garden, repeating of and symmetry are pleasing to #the eye# #and comfort# the mind.
Repetition in addition to symmetry are design elements which are fundamental to many of the great gardens with their avenues of trees, balustrades, steps, topiary and knot gardens. Seeing just one component recurring over and over again will instil a sense of abundance and richness. Rows #of large# potted orange trees, by #way of# example, flanking a path are an impressive sight. While the #vast majority# of us can not emulate #the scale# of grand designs, we can certainly apply the idea to our own, #more modest# gardens, to generate #a sense# of largesse and comfort. Even on #a small# scale, identical repeated plantings engender admiration and convey a suggestion of wealth. Rows of pots can be used to emphasise or exaggerate perspective along a path or a walkway, and you can transform an ordinary rise of three or four garden steps #into a# garden entrance by placing #an identical# pot at either end of each step. Recurring plantings can be integrated amongst the plants #in a# border. Use large containers that stand above #the existing# planting and place them #along the# length to create continuity and provides the border unity. Harmonising the planter planting #with the# border either by colour or style will enhance the overall effect.

Grouping:

Moving planter boxes around, trying them in this way,then trying them like that, #is one# of #the joys# planter gardening. By means of careful positioning, #a group# of dissimilar planter boxes will be built #into a# cohesive, collection which has far superior impact than the sum of #the individual# planter boxes. Grouping planter boxes together #is a great# opportunity to #make #the most# of# their varying heights and styles. The other advantage of groups is that any gaps created by less mature plantings may be effectively disguised through skilful placing and overlapping. In creating planter groupings you're combining the principles of balance, shape and proportion you have already applied to an individual planting. #A group# arrangement also has more potential, providing you with #the flexibility# to continually rearrange #the individual# containers for maximum effect. When the plants begin to grow taller and begin to fill out, move the pots apart slightly to give every planting the possibility to develop fully and to produce a more magnificent display. To add #variety of# height #to your# grouping, consider raising some of the pots on other upturned pots or position them on shelves. This is especially useful for smaller containers, making them more noticeable and increasing their stature.

Container choice:

#Available in# a number #of new# and traditional materials, the choice #of outdoor# pots has never been better.
The surge in small-space living plus a wish for immediate results has renewed people's interest in pot gardening. This, consequently, has led #to huge# improvements in planter box design and use of materials from which they are made. Traditional planter box materials like terracotta and stone are being used to produce modern adventurous styles, while experiments with new materials like moulded resin have given rise to an extraordinary choice of planters. There's currently #a style#, shape, size and colour of pot for each gardening situation and, if what you would like doesn't exist, #a one#-off planter box or group of planter boxes could be commissioned at #an affordable# rate. Such #variety of# containers gives ample scope for innovation and indulgence.

Which material is best?

#There is a# mixture of both practical and artistic decisions #to be# made when selecting the right container #for your# needs.
Wooden pots #have a# natural appeal but unless they are made from the dearer hard, woods, like oak, they'll need regular renovation #to prevent# them from deteriorating #in the# wet. Like wood, terracotta #has a# natural affinity - with all plant material and appears good when teamed up with most plant combinations. But terracotta is porous and dries out more quickly so plants in terracotta containers need frequent watering. Steel planters create a clean, pared down contemporary look and their durable surfaces are easy to clean. Terrazzo and many man-made planter boxes create the same visual effect as metal with their simple designs. You #can also# get currently some very good synthetic copies of lead cisterns #and large# terracotta planter boxes which #can achieve# a grand effect #on a# budget.