What is the preference, plant flowers and plants in the garden soil or in pots.

[Luv2chat2U]

Hi all

I am totally cluessless when it comes to gardening. Please could I get your advise. I have recently moved to a new home where I have a pretty decent size garden . I want to get started planting some flowers and plants but need to know what method is better. I like pots but have enough garden ground to plant them direct in to the soil. Is the preference to plant the flowers in the garden soil or to place them in a pot.

Many thanks in advance for your advice.

You can do either, I have pots with layers of bulbs and bedding (annual) plants on the top and plants that come up every year (perennials) and shrubs in the borders. I put daffodils and tulips in pots and the border.
It's really entirely up to you op. Pots will need watering very regularly especially if it's dry, hot or windy so are more labour intensive that plants in soil thatvwill rarely need watering once established.
Good luck and enjoy your garden 🌻🌷

It really depends on the plants and your preferred style.
All plants do better in the garden soil, as long as it’s the right type of soil, as in acid, neutral, clay or sandy. The aspect of your garden re the sun/ shade also affects them.
I have a courtyard and garden area, so I grow my Azaleas in pots, because my garden soil is not the type of soil they like. I have Hydrangeas in pots in the courtyard because I like them and also have them in the garden.
Summer bedding flowers tend to do well in both situations, but do dry out in pots and will need daily watering. Hope this helps.

Thank you both, your advise has been very informative. Tiddlywinks I like the idea of pots but I best not go overboard as the maintenance sounds greater 😀

JT05 I have south facing. I hope that won't affect my plants.

I do both OP. I often have stuff on the patio in pots, so Spring, dwarf daffs, snowdrops, tulips, then when they are finishing, I stick them in a border and put summer stuff in the pots. They reappear the following Spring and can be divided, so you can get further plants.
Yes, pots need more water, but you can move them around and if the plants are new, this time of year they can go indoors or in a greenhouse if we get a cold snap.
There are pros and cons for either, but you can do both.

If you do pots/planters/hanging baskets, bigger is better for moisture retention and root capacity. Especially if you're south facing.

There are various tricks you can do to increase moisture retention.

Like pp my borders are mostly shrubs, climbers and perennials

I do both. I have loads in pots - grasses, bamboo, Acer, fatsia, ferns, palms all fairly low maintenance and provide year round interest. I also have some climbers in large pots and have put obelisks in for them to grow up.
In the ground I have lots of perennials, shrubs, climbers, bulbs as well as marginals around my wildlife pond.
Remember to plant in the right aspect and soil look on the information card eg some plants prefer shade, sun, dry or boggy soil etc.