Where to get Large planter pot

[WomensNet]

Novice gardener. I'm looking for a large planter pot to grow a rose bush in. I prefer white ceramic but told they tend to crack etc I'm also worried about wear. Ive looked at some in a local garden centre but their prices nearly gave me a heart attack

Can anyone advise on the best quality planter pot to use outside? and also where to buy some from at really good prices.
i don't want plastic ones. Another idea i have is to buy a large wood one and paint it white? does this sound like a plan?

I'm in Hertfordshire area, but also could buy online if i get a good recommendation.

Garden centres are usually the best place to find large planters and may be selling them off at this time of year.

I wouldn't discount all plastic pots, some of them can look like very realistic stone or zinc, and can be more expensive than cheap terracotta.

I find garden centres soo expensive. I was hoping there would be somewhere they do lots of sales of them without the poshness, eating cafeteria etc that add to the price. Some of the planters i saw were going for around £99, although to be fair they were large.

Try B&M bargains or Wilkinsons.
I know what you mean, they can be soo expensive.
Don't forget that drainage will be needed so if it's plastic then bust the holes in with a v hot screw to melt through or similar

oh don't get me started on garden centres - I posted a couple of mail order links here that posters said were expensive but they were nothing compared to the price of garden centres!

another poster here mentioned some chain garden centre that has a section where you can pick them up free? I didn't make a note of the name as there are none near me but maybe that person will see this thread...

Can I ask why you don't want plastic?

if it's the appearance, I got some good ones from this website
www.yougarden.com/item-p-130150/pair-of-and-nbsp;gold-tulipa-planters

you might need something taller though.

Also my local Homebase has good sturdy plastic pots - sturdier than the ones I've linked to but more expensive - and you could spray paint the outside. I have a mini water feature thing on the balcony that came in a dull brown colour so I sprayed it bronze, came out fine and looks so much nicer now.

Do you have a branch of the Range anywhere nearby OP ? They are quite goodfor gargarden stuff. Wyevales glazed pots are so expensive I would need to remortgage the house.....

Thank you for all your good advise and replies. I'm worried that as the plants will be kept outside in the garden, plastic may not wear well? crack? become discoloured? i don't know what type will weather well, iyswim. Will ceramic pots last? any advise on this will be much appreciated. At the garden centre i was advised to get a 'stand' if i get a terracotta pot as it may crack from the ground? again I don't know wether Terracotta will weather well.

Ive even looked on Ebay and Groupon and still cant find anything i like and when i do it cost stupid amounts.
If i find a good quality plastic one that's the right size, shape and colur i'll definitely be interested.

Thanks for that link Lorelai that's actually a beautiful pot, unfortunately its not big enough. Twice that size would be ideal.

this is nowhere near as cheap but it's nice
tinyurl.com/j3tfxgp

I had that plastic planter from yougarden on the balcony during the last frost - I appreciate it's a balcony rather than a garden - and it was fine. My mum also has plastic pots in her garden, on the patio and I'm not aware of any having cracked, some of them have been there years. she does cover them with a plastic sheet thingy if gets below zero but I presume that's to protect the plants rather than the pots!

oh actually these are like bigger versions of the original one I linked
tinyurl.com/z3rou6v

loads on ebay, just put in "tall planter"

Have you thought of re purposing something else, builders yards have underground clay piping, water tanks etc. which all can be used as plant containers. As long as the drainage can be sorted. Hope you find what your looking for.

Reading this with interest ,I'm always slightly ashamed of putting plants in pots as I know they are happier in the ground and that real gardeners are not keen on pots !

JTO5 that is an excellent idea about builders yards ,water tanks etc .

The only other thing I'd add is that plastic is lighter than some alternatives and also that I group my pots and put the nicer ones at the front and disguise cheaper ones with trailing stuff .

JTO5 what a clever idea! I just need to find me a builders yard now . All theses ideas are great, pls keep them coming. Thanks all

Thanks folks! One other suggestion, you can buy bricked with holes in them ( they've probably got a name). They are cheap, if you stack them and fill the holes with compost, they make an interesting rockery, depending on how greative you are. A bit like gardening Lego!

Or even 'creative'!,

Oh JT05 you're brilliant .

Engineering bricks www.diy.com/search/results/?question=bricks
or ventilation bricks .

Wickes do an interlocking one ,but I guess it's plastic
www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Interlocking-Air-Brick-9x3in/p/713011

I don't know why but I just love looking for stuff that doubles up when used as something else .I spent hours researching guttering to try as a cheap alternative to wall fixed trough type planters . There is stuff that would be good for seedums and little stuff but that was not quite what I wanted .

OMD

Those sorts of bricks might also create a balcony shelter that won't fall down or make a shocking flappy noise like a canvas one.

how very interesting!

the funny thing is I looked at Wickes but wasn't quite sure what to look for - thanks Ginger!

Lorelei I'm just being nosey but I'm intrigued by your need for a balcony shelter .
Tell me more ?

Depending on where in Herts you are, there's a brilliant garden centre opposite Forty Hall just off j25 of the M25 - they do a lot of trade sales and I've found them really reasonable.

Oh ginger, it's dull as tombs
I live on a high floor and my balcony rose was wrecked by high winds one day
It could easily happen to anything with fragile petals really
So I bought a canvas shelter to attach to the balcony but the noise of it flapping in a high wind did my head in

I would imagine any artificial screening would do the same and I don't want to block the light permanently, just wanted a windbreak

So I had given up but then wondered if some air bricks assembled together might help
I've thought that one over and can't be arsed! I'll just have to more ready to bring a couple of plants in on windy days I think. It was sad to come home and find my lovely roses were pot pourri in the street!

dull as tombs what a lovely expression And thank you for indulging my nosyness !

I see your problem .

Unconnected really but on Gardners Question Time this PM I heard mention of ivy being trained around ( not sure what ,wires ? ) to create swags etc . So I'm picturing this as the answer to your problem ,a few columns of twisted ivy to break the direction of the wind but allow light in .
I have a good imagination !

Do you know I thought everyone used that expression but now I think about it, it's a bit grim so I'll stop

Maybe I'll say dull as work instead lol

Re ivy, thing is I wanted something removeable so in the end I just figured the more fragile plants will have to come in on those days

The rose was the tallest thing on the balcony in any case, the low plants were fine

Never heard of Gardeners QT but I've on,y just started watching Gardeners World, largely because a friend told me she wants to marry Monty Don, so I was curious! It is a very relaxing show to watch though.

I wasn't being sarcastic ( in case you thought I was ) I'm nicking the expression myself !

Gardners Question Time is on Radio 4 ,Fridays at 3pm and I think repeated on Sundays at 2pm .