Whether you have a limited outdoor space or are just looking for a way to soften the exterior of your home on a patio or deck, container planting provides the opportunity to add plants to spaces where growing in the ground isn’t an option.
Container plants can also add an element of interest to planted garden beds or walking paths, providing height and texture. Large urns are a popular, traditional choice for this application. You can even combine them with pedestals for added height and focal interest.
We carry containers in many different materials and colors that are durable, reliable and attractive. All pottery is susceptible to breakage in the winter. To extend your container’s lifespan, either bring it inside over the winter or lift it with pot feet so that it isn’t sitting on moisture that will freeze and cause the container to crack and break.
We also carry plant supports, such as trellises and cages, perfect for plants that climb and vine. Here are some of our tried and true types of containers and plant supports.
With the wide range of decorative pottery, you can find something to fit any design style at Merrifield Garden Center. If you’re getting started with container gardening for the first time, pick a style of pottery that compliments the exterior of your home where you plan to place it. Bring photos into your nearest Merrifield Garden Center location and our team of designers will help you make a selection that will compliment your space and fit your design aesthetic.
Ceramic pots are made from clay and have a special glaze layer on the exterior to add character and intrigue. Ceramic pots are wonderful for both indoor and outdoor plants. They are durable options that will look attractive in your garden or in your home. We typically carry ceramic pots in colors such as blue, white, green, black and red.
Glazed ceramic pots have a shiny glaze to them that will be attractive in whimsical or colorful aesthetics. The texture of these plants is two-fold: some pottery artists will add imprints, striations and stripes by using their fingers to create the pot, while some glaze and paint options such as crackle glaze and drip glaze will make the exterior of the pot look cracked or dripping.
We carry matte ceramic pots that have a glaze that makes the exterior look soft and smooth, much different than the shinier glazed pots. These are perfect for a minimalistic or modern aesthetic. One of our most popular matte ceramic pots is the earthen ware containers which come in an earthy brown matte finish, looking wonderful in a rustic-style garden.
Volcanic ceramic pots (also known as angkor) are porous and textured. These clay pots are covered in a glaze that, when put in the kiln, bubbles and pops, giving the final product a holey, unique texture. They would work well in a Southwestern-style garden, filled with succulents or cacti.
We carry cache pots and outdoor aquapots that are self watering, a great alternative to regular pottery if you travel frequently or can’t always water your plants on your own.
Cache pots have two vessels – one, a ceramic clay exterior pot that has no drainage holes, and, two, a ceramic clay interior pot where you will place your plant. Fill the outer pot with water and place the interior pot within it. Clay allows for water to penetrate through it, so this cache pot will ensure that your plant is always moist, happy and healthy. We also carry clay aquapots (by Michael Carr) as well as other brands that have a glossy finish and will be frost-resistant. You may still need to overwinter this one, or at least place it on pot feet.
Our concrete pots and containers are the most durable options for outdoor and indoor plants. They tend to be heavier than other choices, but they will last through harsh winter weather better than other options as long as they are on pot feet to lift them off the ground in outdoor environments.
See our guidance on overwintering your containers.
A gardener’s classic pick, terracotta pots are made from orange-red clay and fired in timeless styles. They are the most economical and cost effective choices for pottery. The unglazed look is porous with a matte finish. It is particularly fragile over the winter so we recommend bringing them inside when it gets cold, or placing them on pot feet. This will prevent any frozen moisture underneath the pots from causing them to crack and break.
In addition to the traditional terracotta, we also carry glazed terracotta pots and other clay pottery that is made with different color clay.
Our Mexican talavera pottery is made from fired red clay and hand painted with vibrant colors in beautiful, intricate designs. Talavera pottery is beloved when filled with bright summer blooms like mandevilla and bougainvillea, adding whimsy to your garden. These pots are truly one of a kind and come straight from Mexico. We get new merchandise every year, selling out at the end of the planting season. Like terracotta, we do not recommend overwintering these outdoors. You will want to bring these pots in when the temperature drops to ensure that they do not crack and break.
Made by hand on site at Merrifield Garden Center, hypertufa containers are made of cement and are typically bowl shaped in form with a flat bottom. They are lightweight in comparison to other concrete pots due to the makeup of the material. Hypertufa is made from a mix of concrete, perlite, sand and peat moss instead of concrete pots, which typically contain heavier gravel and other materials that make the container much heavier. We love using these containers to create intricate succulent designs as the cool color backdrop makes the succulent hues pop. These pots overwinter well, so feel free to keep them outside during the cooler temperatures.
As lightweight alternatives to traditional terracotta or other ceramic containers, plastic, resin and composite pots are beloved by customers because they are easy to move throughout your yard or inside your home. Resin containers are made from plastic-like liquid materials, resulting in a lighter composition. Composite containers typically contain glass, fiber, and reinforced concrete, also known as GFRC. Our plastic options range from traditional grower pots to heavy duty, commercial-grade Crescent Gardens containers.
Plastic containers tend to overwinter quite well because it is less rigid than clay or concrete. You can bend plastic containers and they are especially lightweight, a major selling point with our customers.
Our resin options come in vibrant colors. We often produce container planting designs in resin pots throughout the season, making it easy for customers to take them home for an instant container display. Although we always recommend overwintering your containers, resin containers are considered frost-resistant and will adapt well to our freeze-thaw cycles here in Virginia.
Composite containers do not overwinter as well as the resin pots, so we recommend bringing them inside for the winter or placing them on plant feet in the garden to avoid cracking and breaking.
We recommend using a pot saucer when your pottery is placed on top of a deck or other surface you want to protect from water damage. We carry plastic, ceramic and terracotta saucers, often matching the pottery lines exactly. In the winter months, we recommend turning unused saucers upside down so the water does not collect in them and cause them to freeze and crack.
Trellises help vining and climbing plants grow vertically with ease and prevent plant toppling. If you’d like to add vinery to your yard, such as clematis, jasmine, mandevilla or trumpet vine, a trellis will help train these vines to grow vertically and add intrigue and beauty to your space. If you’d like to grow your vinery over a fence or other landscape structure, simply lean a trellis up against the fence to get the plants started.
We carry high quality, durable wood and metal trellises in a variety of shapes, sizes and styles. The one you choose is simply an aesthetic preference based on your garden space. For example, if you’d like to grow cucumbers or gourds in a raised bed, we recommend exploring a metal a-frame trellis. These vining plants will grow all the way around the conical shaped trellis, which will help prevent the plants from breaking under the heavy weight of the fruits.
Plant stands are great for raising plants off the ground both inside and outside the home to elevate your eye to the beautiful foliage and flowers of your plants. We carry single and multi-tiered plant stands in wood, metal and wrought iron in a variety of styles.
Wooden plant stands, for example, provide a cottage garden or bohemian aesthetic as the bare wood looks rustic, while wrought iron stands can often provide a more streamlined, modern vibe. We recommend seeking a tiered stand if you are looking to save space or have multiple plants that require the same light conditions.
Tomato cages are designed to support the weight of tomato plant branches so the fruit doesn’t touch the ground. Simply place them over your immature plants at the time of planting and your plants will branch around the metal supports, allowing air circulation and helping to prevent blossom end rot. You can also use tomato cages to support other fruiting plants like peppers, eggplants and cucumbers.
We carry heavy duty, round tomato cages and square tomato cages. The latter can be easily folded and stored over winter, taking up less space in the off season.
Peony cages are durable supports for plants that tend to weep as they grow. Our peony cages are shorter than other plant supports, perfect for peonies that do not grow as tall but are prone to flopping. These are perfect for serious peony growers, dedicated to keeping their favorite flowers healthy and upright.
Gardening doesn’t stop at plant material. Additions to your lush yard, such as stone work, figurines, fountains and more make any area feel whimsical, modern, or eerie, depending on your ideal aesthetic. Here at Merrifield Garden Center, we carry garden accents such as statues, fountains and more to add intrigue to any outdoor space.
One of our most popular accents is religious statuary, including the Madonna/blessed Mother and patron saints such as St. Francis (the patron saint of gardening and wildlife), St. Christopher, St. Anthony and St. Fiacre. Seasonally, we also carry crosses along with Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus to add to a nativity scene during the holidays.
We carry many different types of animal statues that you can place throughout the garden to add whimsy and intrigue. Our most sought after animals include frogs, turtles and rabbits. We typically carry animals such as birds (chickens, ducks, roosters, songbirds), cats, dogs, lions, mice, squirrels and turtles. Some of the options spout water, acting as a water feature.
Dragons or hatchlings are particularly popular items that we carry, along with gnomes, fairies and gargoyles. These mythical creatures will make any garden look unique and mysterious, depending on the aesthetic you are trying to achieve. We also carry a selection of miniature gardening accents, like gnomes, fairies and small animals.
We carry plenty of Asian inspired garden accents, including pagodas and Buddhas. Our Buddha statues come in various styles to account for the different ways that Buddhas are represented throughout locations across the globe. Our lanterns and pagodas are also popular additions to an Asian-inspired garden.
We also carry “foo-dogs” which are typically seen in Asian artwork. Foo dogs come in male and female forms. The male foo dog has one foot standing on a ball, representing the world, while the female foo dog stands on a cub, representing nurture and protection.
Benches can be either functional or ornamental in the garden. We carry wooden, concrete and metal benches. If you are looking for a comfortable bench to add to the garden, we recommend stopping by and sitting on the unique options we have available each season. We also offer benches with upholstered cushions and back support, providing an extra layer of comfort. If you’re seeking a bench purely for ornamental purposes, we suggest adorning your benches with container plants, creating a collected, cottage aesthetic.
We carry fountains made from concrete or composite materials. The composite fountains weigh less than concrete fountains, better suited for areas such as screened-in porches or sheltered areas where they can be protected from the elements and the winter season. Concrete fountains are more durable and can be left outside during the winter season as long as they are properly winterized, meaning the drain plugs are pulled, the water is emptied and the fountain is covered with a waterproof cover, which we carry. We also carry concrete bird baths that can be kept outside during the winter months. If you’d like to purchase a fountain from us, we can deliver it to your location.
We carry bird baths made from glazed ceramics or concrete. Our glazed ceramic bird baths come in different colors, such as red, green and blue. Our concrete bird baths often have additional decorations or adornments, such as creative, colorful designs etched onto the stand, added sculptures like concrete birds attached to the bath, or tops in different shapes like hearts.
Some of our bird baths have detachable tops for easy cleaning and overwintering. If your bath has a detachable top, simply remove it during the winter months, leaning it against the stand. This will keep water from collecting and freezing, causing the bath to break. If it is a one-piece bird bath, lay the entire structure on the ground or bring it indoors when the weather forecast expects freezing conditions.
We carry gazing balls to add whimsy and decoration to your garden. They are made from durable marbled glass with a metal stand included. Gazing balls can come in all colors, most popularly in pink, green and red. Some of our gazing balls are solar powered with LED lights that light up during the night-time.
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