"How to Choose Pots and Planters for Australian Gardens"

The right planter does two jobs: it keeps a plant healthy and it acts as a piece of décor in its own right. Here is how to choose from our pots and planters range, whether you are filling a balcony or styling a front porch.

Start With Size

• Go bigger than you think. Larger pots hold more soil, dry out more slowly in Australian summers and suit plants as they grow.
• Match the plant's root system. Herbs and succulents are happy in shallow containers; citrus, small trees and grasses need depth.
• Think about scale. On a large patio, one or two generous planters look better than a crowd of small pots.

Choose a Planter Style

Standing planters lift plants to eye level and work well flanking a door or along a balcony rail. Animal and character planters double as garden ornaments.

Wall planters turn bare fences and courtyard walls into vertical gardens — ideal where floor space is tight.

Hanging baskets and pots bring trailing plants and flowers up off the ground for verandahs and pergolas.

Materials

• Cast iron and metal planters are heavy, stable and characterful; expect weathering and rust patina outdoors.
• Resin and fibre clay are lighter than stone or ceramic, which makes them easier to move and better for balconies.
• Recycled metal planters bring a rustic, handmade feel and suit native and cottage gardens.

Drainage Matters

Most plants fail in pots because of waterlogging, not drought. If a decorative planter has no drainage hole, use it as a cachepot: plant into a plastic nursery pot with holes, sit it inside on a layer of gravel, and tip out excess water after heavy rain.

Summer Care Tips

• Group pots together so they shade each other and hold humidity.
• Mulch the soil surface to reduce evaporation.
• Move pots out of the harsh afternoon sun during heatwaves where you can.

Browse standing planters, wall planters and hanging baskets, or see the full pots and planters range.