Today, most household plots boast an elegant and spectacular appearance, which is achieved through the use of different areas of landscape design. Artistic solutions allow you to combine modern styles with classic decor elements, the main of which are flowerpots. However, in view of their constant presence in open air conditions, special attention should be paid to each parameter and characteristic of this object.

Why do you need flowerpots and how to choose the right one

Flowerpots often carry out not only a role of a decor in landscaping.

• In addition, they solve such problems as:
• optimal distribution of space - in small areas;
• unsuitable soil for the selected plant;
• choosing a place for the requirements of certain colors - for example, regarding sunlight and shade.

Since flowerpots have many variations, in the selection process, you should pay attention to the following parameters:

1. Style and color - Must fit into the overall design and color scheme of the garden. The flowerpot should not stand out and be a "thorn", but only emphasize the beauty and sophistication of the plant itself.
2. The size - is selected taking into account the area of ​​the territory. In a large area, small flowerpots will be lost and simply meaningless, and vice versa - large flowerpots in small areas will look bulky and rough.
3. Material - in modern conditions, different raw materials are used for pots and flowerpots. Among the most popular are concrete, stone, ceramics, plastic and clay. Each of the materials has its own technical characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is selected according to the requirements of the owner of the site.

Did you know? The first mention of applying an artistic approach to creating parks and gardens appeared in Ancient Greece in the twentieth century. BC e.

Types of street flowerpots

Depending on the chosen material, flowerpots can be from:

1. Plastic - One of the most affordable and cheapest options. They have a wide variety of shapes, colors and textures (they often imitate more expensive materials, such as stone, metal or ceramic). The main advantages are light weight and beautiful appearance. However, there are also disadvantages - a high susceptibility to aggressive external influences (both mechanical and chemical) with a concomitant loss of their original characteristics. Also, you should carefully consider the composition of the plastic itself - often the low price is due to inclusions unsafe for human health.
2. Pottery - are widely popular due to the aesthetic appearance and environmental friendliness. Among the advantages of this material, its high breathability, which allows plants to develop well, is especially distinguished. The disadvantages are the fragility and rapid drying of the soil in such flowerpots, and therefore the need for more frequent watering.
3. Tree - often used as a decor of design in the "rural" style. Due to its natural characteristics, this material has high air and moisture permeability. However, for a long period of operation requires compulsory treatment with an antiseptic composition or painting.
4. Metal (for example, brass, zinc, steel) - have high strength and are valued for durability. Usually they are of medium weight (cast iron may become an exception), but require special corrosion treatment (at least painting). Like ceramics, metal is prone to heating and rapid evaporation of moisture from the soil, which is why plants in such flowerpots require more frequent watering.
5. Concrete - flowerpots made of such material are practically devoid of flaws. Concrete has the strength and durability, holds the temperature well, which is why it acts as a reliable protection for plants from overheating and overcooling. Perhaps the only drawback may be the high weight of such products.
6. Stone - also have a large weight, but the advantages far outweigh this disadvantage. They retain moisture and temperature well, and therefore can be a great place to plant all kinds of plants, especially those that do not tolerate drought. Usually, such flowerpots are made only to order, and therefore have an individual and very impressive appearance. However, in view of this, the price of such products is much higher.

How to make a street flowerpot

Almost any street flowerpot can be made with your own hands, taking into account all the requirements for its appearance and expected characteristics. However, you should first determine the method of installation, as well as the material to be used.

Installation methods

Depending on the types of plants that will grow in flowerpots, you should understand the method of installation.

There are several main types:

• stationary - floor installations, which are characterized by impressive dimensions that keep the entire structure from falling under the influence of wind or any other mechanical damage;
• outboard - usually small in size and made of lightweight materials, adorn walls, stairs or fences (such planters are used to grow ampelous plants).

Materials

In order to make flowerpots with your own hands, you can use either standard materials (concrete, wood, metal), or any improvised materials. However, in the first option, some raw materials skills will be required. Therefore, for beginners it is recommended to use lighter manufacturing options.

Concrete

Such material is especially appreciated in that it can be poured into almost any form (the best option would be plastic, glass, wooden or metal containers, as well as cardboard boxes). According to expert reviews, it is most convenient to take out solidified flowerpots from plastic.

The main raw material will be ordinary concrete (1 part - Portland cement marked M 400 and above, 3 parts - pure sand). The surface of the pot in this case will be distinguished by a monophonic structure and light gray color. Such an appearance often looks very advantageous, without drawing attention from the main decoration of the garden - the plants themselves.

For those who want to add the image of a pot of artistry, architectural concrete is more suitable (or also called polymer concrete). Its appearance is characterized by a smoother surface and the presence of inclusions of natural stone. This is achieved by various additions to the basic composition of concrete (for example, it can be polymer additives, small parts of natural minerals, as well as dyes).

Important! Using glass, it should be borne in mind that such forms will need to be broken — it’s impossible to get a concrete vase in another way.

When choosing a suitable mold for the future flowerpot, it is recommended to pay attention to the fact that it must hold the mold for at least 5-6 hours (until the concrete has completely hardened) without getting wet. And therefore, for example, thick cardboard, with adhesive tape glued in corners, is suitable only for small forms that do not require long-term drying.

It should also be noted that one vase will need two forms: the first capacity - for the formation of external walls, the second - for internal. At the same time, the wall thickness should not exceed 3 cm.

You also need to pay attention to the temperature regime - not lower than + 5 ° C (the optimal conditions are considered to be high humidity and air temperature + 20 ° C). After mixing the concrete, its structure should not be too fluid - when applied to a spatula, dripping is unacceptable. To solidify a flowerpot it is necessary to put in a shadow.

From the tools you will need:

• a blade for laying out raw materials in a mold;
• metal tube to remove air;
• a container filled with water or a piece of polyethylene.

Important! Planting plants in a flowerpot becomes available after 2 weeks after the start of filling work.

The process itself consists of several stages:

1. All forms are pretreated with special grease (large - from the inside, and small - from the outside) - the use of non-stick spray used during cooking, special spray for working with concrete, motor oils or universal greases is available.
2. The solution is poured into a large form, with a layer of not more than 4 cm and leveled.
3. To obtain a drainage hole, insert the rods. At the same time, their length should be the same as the thickness of the concrete layer, and they should be located exclusively under the bottom of a smaller shape. Before being placed in the solution, the outer surfaces of the tubes are also treated with grease.
4. On top of the poured concrete layer put a small form. If its weight does not make it possible to firmly strengthen, any weighting agent is placed inside (stones, gravel, sand, etc. can play this role).
5. The entire space between the two forms is filled with a solution.
6. If the mold is made of durable material, you should knock on the walls with a hammer, or pierce concrete with a thin rod to the bottom and loosen it a little. Repeat the procedure several times. All these actions are aimed at getting rid of oxygen inside the solution, which settles below.
7. Then, using a spoon previously moistened with grease, the walls of the flowerpot are carefully aligned.
8. The finished form is covered with plastic wrap and sent to harden for at least a day. After this time, the form is removed, and the flowerpot is immersed in containers with water (for 1 week) for further solidification.
9. This procedure can be replaced by simple, but frequent and plentiful spraying, at least 4–5 times a day. The flowerpot itself should remain under the polyethylene at this time, which will help to avoid the rapid evaporation of moisture.

The finished flowerpot can be decorated at your own discretion - the finish can be done using pebbles or mosaics, broken tiles or simple coloring.

A pot of concrete with cardboard boxes:

From wood

Taking into account the main characteristics and properties of wood, this material is not the most suitable for outdoor flowerpots. However, due to the availability, plasticity and ease of processing, it is often used for self-manufacturing. Also, to preserve color and extend the life of the tree, flowerpots made of wood require coating with paint or special oil for wood.

There are several basic options:

1. Flowerpots from boards or plywood - in this case, you will need either ordinary rectangular or square boards, from which you can put together boxes, or moisture-proof plywood, from which the sides and bottom are cut. As the angles during assembly, you can use bars of a small section (not more than 25 mm). It should also be remembered that, remaining on the ground, the bottom of a wooden flowerpot can bloom, and therefore the structure must be lifted to its legs.

   Video: wooden flower box

   From metal

   Working with metal will require certain skills, and therefore, old iron buckets or barrels act as flowerpots for flowers. Such elements will require pre-treatment - cleaning from rust and the remnants of old paint, as well as a new coating. At the same time, many gardeners leave metal containers in their original form, I construct various compositions from them.

   

   From improvised items

   Often, improvised means are used as material for street flowerpots, among which rubber tires are most popular. Work on their manufacture is not difficult, but require some strength.

   In this case, you will need:

   • the tire itself with a metal disc;
   • chalk with which markings are applied;
   • hacksaw, in order to cut the desired shape.

   Important! Studded rubber is not suitable for making a flowerpot — such tires have increased rigidity, and therefore it is very difficult to cut them.

   The manufacturing process itself consists of several steps:

   • a contour of the future design is applied on the tire with chalk;
   • saw off unnecessary parts with a hacksaw;
   • the tire is turned inside out, which makes it possible to give it the shape of a vase;
   • the support is a metal disk on which the tire is mounted.

   

   Also often as small street flowerpots are plastic bottles. To do this, oblong lateral openings are cut out in them, and on the reverse side they are laid on the ground and covered with soil. Also, such containers are coated with paint and painted in the form of various animals.

   From the bottles on the site you can make quite colorful and original compositions. An interesting option may be such a method - the bottle is cut in half, the lower part is used as a flower vase, and the upper - as a stand.

   On the site can get a second life and various metal utensils painted in bright colors. For these purposes, a kettle, pan or even a colander are perfect (in the latter case, you do not even need to make drainage holes yourself).

   Video: a plastic pot of plastic bottles

   What flowers to choose for planting in a flowerpot

   When choosing flowers for planting in flowerpots, you should take into account their distinguishing features from plants that are usually planted in open ground:

   • rhizome - should grow and develop well in a confined space;
   • unpretentiousness of flowers - high moisture and drought resistance;
   • long flowering period;
   • bushy or ampelous form.

   Most often planted as focal colors that will occupy a central place in the flowerpot:

   • pelargonium - unpretentious plant with a wide range of colors;
   • asters of a dwarf or medium-sized variety - characterized by dense and long flowering, however, they belong to a photophilous plant, which must be taken into account when arranging flowerpots;
   • dahlias - The ideal solution for both group and single landings.

   Did you know? The most valuable areas in the garden are shaded areas. — they are most often visited by people in the summer, and therefore equip them with special care.

   To create the background of the entire composition, they land:

   • pansies;
   • ageratum;
   • Iberis
   • limnantes;
   • verbena.

   Among curly or falling flowers, the following are especially popular:

   • petunia
   • fuchsia;
   • lobelia;
   • nasturtium;
   • stcevola.

   Outdoor flowerpots are an important part of the process of forming landscape design. And their manufacture with their own hands makes it possible not only to fully realize their creative potential, but also to give your garden a unique and inimitable style. Moreover, such works do not require special skills - the main thing is to use imagination and adhere to one style of design.