I started my tidying, while the weather is nice

[Deleted User]

My pet hate is winter cleaning and tidying of pots and containers. I can`t be the only one who dumps the empty modules and pots in a heap and then come autumn in the cold, Its a yuk job. So for the past week, I have been washing, leaving to dry and stacking away.

I have also taken stock of our 40+ pots and containers in the tiered gravelled back garden. I have got rid of several of the home-made planters, nice too and made of decking, lined with weed fabric and used for 3 years but oh the watering is killing as our back garden is a very hot sun trap. A couple more to go and the pinks in them will be transferred to the allotment, then we are just left with about 30 lovely errington reay pots, several of which are very large, so easy to manage. I have collected them over 30 years btw and they are nice enough for grown up children to want them in the future. They all contain perennials like herbs, trees, flowers etc. The tall raised beds are easy too, now each containing an apple tree M26 rootstock, so the right size

There will always be winter tidying of pots and the like but I think I am turning it from a burdensome job into an ok job but always with an eye to the future these days

Eenymeeny

What a good idea to start preparing early. I've also started by transferring some of the container plants that will survive winter outside, into any spaces I can find in the borders.
I like containers but they take a lot of looking after and I won't have all of that wrapping and fussing over the winter that usually has to be done. (Hopefully they'll get a good start in the ground as I can look after them better in this weather)

DaftyDuck

Stick some water in a large black bin, leave it in the hot sun for a day, bingo, a tub of really quite hot water for flowerpot washing. Leave the hose out on the lawn for a hot top-up!

Kojak12

Have you considered interspersing some sculpture with your plants? It can really add to a garden. You can still enjoy lovely pots and there is no watering. Use gravel, sand, rocks, beautiful twigs, rusty iron found at the tip, gnomes......Be creative!

If that's too wacky for you just lessen the maintenance buy gravel filling them and using cacti, succulents, certain grasses and even airplants. Its worth creating a drip irrigation system that you can just connect up to a hose when you want to water. Add a timer and you can even go on holiday - no worries!