What is a Garden Urn?
A garden urn planter is a type of unique container, usually made of concrete. These larger containers are generally very decorative and ornate. Unlike conventional containers, urn gardening offers growers the opportunity to create elegant plantings without much effort or fuss.
Planting in Garden Urns
Before planting in garden urns, growers will first need to establish whether or not the selected urn has drainage. While some containers will already have drainage holes, others may not. Since most urns are made of concrete, this may present a conundrum. If there are no drainage holes in the urn, growers should consider a process called, “double potting.” Simply, double potting requires that plants are first planted into a smaller container (with drainage) and then moved into the urn. At any point in the season, the smaller pot can then be removed to maintain adequate moisture. If planting directly into the urn, fill the bottom half of the container with a mixture of sand or gravel, as this will improve the container’s drainage. After doing so, fill the remainder of the container with a high quality potting or container mix. Begin transplanting into the garden urn. Be sure to choose plants that will grow proportionally to the size of the container. This means gardeners will also need to take the plants’ mature height and width into consideration. Many choose to plant urns in groups of three: thriller, filler, and spiller. “Thriller” plants refer to those which make an impressive visual impact, while “fillers” and “spillers” grow lower in the urn to take up space within the container. After planting, water the container well. Once established, maintain consistent fertilization and irrigation routines throughout the growing season. With minimal care, growers can enjoy the beauty of their garden urns all summer long.
