Consider this when buying outdoor pots

Garden furniture and patio

If you are buying pots for outdoor use, make sure you choose pots that suit your needs, both in terms of functionality and appearance.

Growing outdoor plants in pots is both beautiful and practical in many ways. You can easily move your plants around in the garden, on the balcony or patio – whether it is to protect the plants from the weather or to rearrange the furniture and give the space a boost. If you have plants outside that need to be overwintered inside, it is easier to move them inside if they are already in pots.

But it is important to be careful when buying outdoor pots. Different materials have different durability, and if the pots are going to be outside over the winter, it is also important to know how the outdoor pots are marked to indicate what frost resistance they can withstand.

Checklist for choosing outdoor pots

Holes in the bottom
Make sure there are drainage holes in the bottom of the pot, so that excess water can drain out. If there are no holes in the bottom, you risk the pot breaking if the temperature drops below freezing – after the plant in the pot has been standing in water during the warm season. If there are no holes in the pot already, you can drill your own in most types of pots.
Frost-resistant or frost-proof
Pots that will be placed outdoors should at least be frost-resistant if you want to have them outside all season. However, frost-resistant pots usually cannot withstand having plants and soil in them through the winter. If you want to use the pots outside all year round, you should instead look for a frost-proof pot. Frost-proof pots are also no guarantee against frost damage, but these pots are designed to be able to be left outside with soil and plants through the winter – as long as you follow the instructions. Frost-proof pots should still be placed under cover in winter, and the soil in them should not be wet – moist soil that freezes expands and can damage the pot.
Placement
In the warm season, you should make sure that excess water can drain out of the pot. If the pot is standing upright on a solid surface, the plant may be standing in water. Place the pot elevated, on a potting trolley, on pot feet or on a potting tray that allows the water to drain out of the drainage hole in the bottom. You can also use things you already have available to raise the pot slightly off the ground, such as some stones or pieces of wood. In winter, the pot should be moved indoors.
Size
The size of the pot you need depends on what you are going to plant in it. For seasonal plants, size is not the most important thing. However, if you are going to plant larger plants in pots, such as shrubs and trees that will live in the pot for several seasons, you should choose a large pot! Larger pots allow the root system to develop better, while also making it easier to maintain a consistent level of water in the pot. It also allows the plant to survive for a longer period without care. Also, keep in mind that plants in pots do not have as much protection during the winter as plants planted directly in the ground. It may therefore be a good idea to choose a variety of tree or shrub that can withstand at least one hardiness zone above where you live. Choose one that can withstand H5 if you live in H4, for example. There is no guarantee that the plants will survive the winter in the pot, but with the right precautions, the odds are on your side.