When it comes to pottery and the great glories of ancient architecture, terracotta is well on its way. From its first appearance on the scene around two thousand years ago, terracotta is considered a wonder material by many cultures. Antique terracotta is not a new material. Terracotta is actually a clay-based pottery made hundreds of years ago from the remains of ancient buildings and terracotta warriors. Today, we use terracotta for everything from floor tiles and water carriers to serving bowls, planters and even antique terracotta pottery.
As a beautiful and useful pot material, terracotta is often used for pottery, ceramics, metal works, bricks and even floors in households. In ancient times terracotta was used as cooking utensils, food storage and even as a method of roofing. And, as with every other type of material used for construction, the pots used in the garden were no different. It can take the skills of an experienced gardener to be able to create the lovely and colorful gardens of yesteryear. The right tools and knowledge to allow you to create a wonderful garden of choice that will bring years of joy.
Before beginning the garden you want to create, make sure that you have the basic tools. A spade, hoe, and rake are always handy, especially if you want to make a vegetable garden. Dig a hole in the center of your garden and place the soil in the hole. Fill in with dirt until you have about one inch of soil inside the hole. Then you will want to choose the pots you will plant in this space.
Look at antique terracotta pots for ideas. If you are lucky you will find one that has been painted or stained. If not, there are many pots available that still have their original patina. Look for dark or rich colors, and remember that lighter colors will wash out the colors in the terracotta. The best colors to use are those that are earthy, such as browns, grays, greens and blues. You want the garden to reflect light and appear to be a natural color scheme.
After you choose the pots, choose the pot container. Small pots work best for small gardens, and you need to place a weighted base on the bottom of the container. The pots should be heavy enough that they stay in place, but should also give with some weight. Heavy pots require you to use a sturdier base to support them.
The next thing you need to do is prepare the soil. Choose a sunny location, but also keep in mind where the sunlight will shine on the garden. If the sun is shining directly onto the garden, the soil will dry out very fast. On the other hand, if it’s shaded, the terracotta pots will retain moisture.
Once you have your soil prepared, the last step is to line the inside of your terracotta pots with newspaper. This will help keep the water out, and the soil from draining. After you have lined the inside of the pots, add potting compost to help the soil hold on to the roots.
Once you have completed these steps, your garden is ready for the first pot. Place your first terracotta pot in your garden, and be sure to enjoy watching your plants grow. After your initial excitement wears off, you will realize that this is actually a great way to save money on your gardening budget.
The next thing that you should do after you have added the first two antique terracotta pots is to place an organic weed barrier. This will help to protect your plants from unwanted insects. If you do not have an organic weed barrier, you can place a layer of organic mulch over the soil and on the plants. Mulching will also help to keep water away from your plants, thus protecting them from drying out.
Finally, you will want to add the potting mix to the soil. This will help the soil to stay moist and will allow your plants to grow strong. You can use any type of potting mix that you like, including bark dust, compost, or even bark from your own yard. Be sure that the potting mix is not too thick, or else it may drown the plants.
As soon as spring comes, the time to fertilize your garden is at hand. Fertilizer should be applied once a month during the growing season. Do not fertilize antique terracotta pots in the summer or winter. These pots will not take the extra moisture that they need. In the summer, when it is hot, you should water your plants every few days. In the winter, however, you should wait until it has chilled before watering your plants.