Pro Tips For The Prettiest Pots

When the sun is baking everything on the patio, that means it’s heating the leaves, soil, and roots of your plants.

Choose cool, light containers.

When the sun is baking everything on the patio, that means it’s heating the leaves, soil, and roots of your plants. If you choose, say, a dark metal pot, you run the risk of cooking your container and its contents. Light-colored, double-walled planters give your patio companions a fighting chance. As for materials, terra-cotta and glazed earthenware pots look great but can be astonishingly heavy. Unless marked “frost-resistant,” they can also crack in very cold temperatures. Opt for resin, fiberglass, or polyethylene instead.

A pot that doesn’t drain is a pot that won’t thrive.

For containers labeled “indoor/outdoor,” pop out the drainage hole before using them outside. Place a saucer under your pot to prevent staining your patio or porch.

Don’t underestimate how heavy a loaded pot can be, even if it’s made of a lightweight material. For easy transport around the patio, use a wheeled pot mover. TO BUY: Patio Life 17-inch plant caddy, $26.50; lowes.com.

Pick the right soil.