Gardening: Spring Clean Your Pots

Spring clean pots

As garden plants start to grow again it’s good to cheer up your existing planted pots and it’s a relatively easy job but will reward you with a great show.

Some pots may be beyond salvage, so empty them onto the compost heap, borders or the council compost bin. Some may have a few happy plants and just need a freshen up (see below) and some extra companions – you could pop in some violas or pansies. Hopefully most of your creations will still be looking fairly good and just need a lick and a polish.

The plants in these pots need air and water as well as food in the existing compost. After a year the surface of the compost will have become compacted, restricting the flow of

Spring Pot Clean

water and air into the pot. Use a handfork or trowel to loosen and remove the top 2” (50mm) of compost and replace it with fresh compost. Add some ‘controlled release’ fertiliser that will feed the plants for several months and they’ll delight you for the next two months before you can put out the tender summer performing plants.

The gardening project is contributed by Dougal Philip, New Hopetoun Gardens. Inspiring, informing and entertaining, for more than 40 years.