Traditional style planters/pots

[liftthatup]

Please can an experienced and wise MNer advise me of where to find pots suitable for a patio of a Victorian home. I think I'll need quite a few so the less £ the better! That said, I realise that you get what you pay for and given how my terracotta pots were OBLITERATED last Winter I don't want to make any false economies. Anyhow, all suggestions would be very gratefully received...

Old chimney stacks? They add height and can be picked up on ebay

Like height plan, Thanks! BTW experience not essential- just cheap ideas

Expanding on the chimney pot idea. If you have a reclaim yard anywhere handy you can find all kinds of interesting containers. Old sinks, bathroom porcelain, decorative guttering. Anything glazed should make it through the winter.

Try car boot sales - reclamation yards are great but the ones around here can be really expensive. I've picked up a few nice pots at car boots.

When checking out chimney pots on local Gumtree came across 'bronze' bench and planter. For that read concrete but sort of distressed with black/dull bronzey paint which is much nicer than it sounds! They weigh a ton so £35 well spent. Pkam, you're right! Here in Northern Ireland reclamation yards know they have a limited supply due to small area. Therefore they charge through the nose for EVERYTHING .

Have you tried the local dump?

If you buy terracotta, don't buy any pots made in China. UK made pots should be better able to withstand the frosts.

You could buy some cheap plastic troughs etc and spray paint them in a stone effect finish or hammered metal. You could paint some plain terracotta pots with F & B colours but use emulsion not oil based paint. Once these are all a bit weathered they'll look great.

You could try weathering some pots by daubing them with natural live yoghurt and leaving them outside. I have'nt tried this but it's supposed to be very effective.

Deux- what a completely brilliant idea! I always thought that plastic pots and troughs looked cheap but had never thought of painting them. Also, what a top idea for an affordable way to introduce F&B!!! My mum had mentioned the yoghurt idea although, like you, I don't think she'd actually done it. Queefer, will send DH to dump- top plan. As you can tell, I can't sleep, walk or drive atm due to sciatica (prolapsed disc). That's why I'm up at this hour...

Will send DH to dump- that sounds bad!