Living with constant wind can be a challenge for any gardener. Potted plants are especially vulnerable, as they can easily blow over and spill soil everywhere. This not only makes a mess, but can seriously damage your plants.
If you live in a windy area, there are several simple things you can do to keep your potted plants upright. With a little planning and preparation, your pots can stand tall against even the strongest gusts of wind.
Weigh Down Plant Pots
One of the easiest ways to stabilize pots is to weigh them down You want to make the bottom heavy so they are less likely to tip
An easy way to add weight is to put rocks, pebbles, or gravel in the bottom of the pots before adding soil. Just make sure you add drainage holes if they aren’t already there so the pots don’t get waterlogged.
Some gardeners use broken bricks or concrete chunks for added weight. Others fill plastic bottles with sand or water and place them in the bottom of pots under the soil to weigh them down.
Anchor Pots Against Structures
Arranging pots along fences walls or other solid structures can help shield them from wind. The structures act as a windbreak, protecting delicate potted plants.
Grouping multiple pots together can have a similar stabilizing effect. Clustered pots support each other and are less likely to tip over.
Use Heavy, Sturdy Pots
The material pots are made from can affect their susceptibility to tipping in wind. Heavy clay or concrete pots have a lower center of gravity and are harder to blow over. More lightweight plastic and resin pots are prone to toppling.
Wide, low pots are also less unstable than tall, narrow ones. Choosing short, squatty pots over tall, thin ones can make a difference.
Terra cotta and ceramic pots soak up water which makes them heavier. This provides added stability once saturated.
Secure Pots with Stakes and Ties
For large or top-heavy potted plants, use wooden or metal stakes secured in the ground around them. Stakes pounded in close to pots with plants tied to them offer more reinforcement against wind.
Make sure stakes are tall enough to support the entire plant. Use twist ties, cloth plant ties, or other flexible ties that won’t cut into stems and branches.
Grow Windbreak Hedges
If you have space, consider planting a windbreak hedge to protect potted plants. Good choices include bushes and shrubs that are dense, evergreen, and fast growing like arborvitae, privet, or viburnum.
Leave enough room between the hedge and pots for airflow. A living windscreen can reduce, deflect, and soften turbulent winds, preventing pots from blowing over.
Move Pots to Sheltered Areas
When expecting high winds, temporarily moving pots to more protected spots can save them from toppling over. Move them up against walls and structures or cluster in groups in sheltered courtyards and alcoves.
Carry them inside a greenhouse or cold frame if available. This prevents them from blowing over and protects from cold injury.
With knowledge of your specific conditions and some simple preparations, you can keep potted plants upright and thriving even in windy environments. Weighing down pots, securing them in place, and using windbreaks are easy ways to stop pots from falling over in the wind.
Tie Tall Plants and Trees to Nearby Structures Tall sugar cane plant growing in large pot tied to wall
Plants can be tied to nearby fences, posts, walls, and other buildings to keep them from blowing over.
The material for flexible fabric tree ties is soft and partly stretchy, so they don’t hurt plant stems or tree bark when they move. It will degrade over time and lasts for around a year or more.
Plastic link chain tree tie is quick and easy to use to tie down trees in a hurry. It’s durable, and doesn’t degrade, lasting for many years. It’s made of a hard plastic that can bend, so put something softer around it, like rubber tubing or a piece of soft plastic, so it doesn’t cut into the plant or tree when the wind blows. Slipping the tie material through a short offcut of rubber bicycle tyre tube works well for this purpose.
Use Heavy Terracotta Pots Opuntia (prickly pear) growing in wide terracotta clay pot
No matter if the potting mix in a heavy pot is wet or dry, it will have enough weight. A thick-walled terracotta clay pot can effectively anchor down tall, unwieldy plants that are prone to blowing over.
Taller or narrower pots are less stable because their centers of gravity are higher. Short, wide pots are much more stable because of this.
Remember that terracotta clay pots that aren’t glazed let water through their walls, so they’re best for plants that like it dry. On the other hand, glazed pots keep more water, so they’re better for plants that need more water.
Inspiring Tips To Keep Plant Pots From Falling Over
FAQ
How to stop pots blowing over in wind?
How do you weigh down outdoor planters?
How do you secure outdoor planters?
How do you keep plants from falling over in the wind?
Make sure the a sufficient gap between the two pots. Another way to help stop plant pots from falling over in the wind is to ensure a sufficient gap between the two pots. Ensure enough space between the two pots to prevent your plant from being in danger from the wind.
How to stop plant pots falling over in wind?
Lots of ideas for how to stop plant pots falling over in wind boil down to the same common strategy: make their center of gravity as low and heavy as possible. The easiest way to do this is to use a large pot – at least 12 inches across. The weight of compost in pots at least a foot wide will help anchor them on windy days.
How can I protect my garden from wind?
Finally, think about sheltering pots downwind from things which will block or at least reduce he wind. For example: Put tall plants in small pots downwind from a larger plant in a wide pot. On a windy balcony, put a bamboo, reed, or willow screen along the railings facing into the prevailing wind. Stand pots next to garden furniture.
Are your potted plants knocked over in the wind?
If you’ve recently checked on your garden only to find your potted plants knocked over in the wind, then this article is for you. Planting in pots is a simple way of growing veggies and flowers, but it has a flaw. Potted plants are vulnerable to falling over in windy weather.
How to protect plant pots from wind damage?
Windbreaks are a great way to protect plant pots from wind damage. They can be made from a variety of materials, such as wood, fabric, or straw.. To create a windbreak, simply place the material between the plant pot and the source of the wind. This will help to block the wind and keep the plant pot from blowing over.
How do you keep plants from blowing over?
Simply drive the stake into the ground next to the pot, and then tie the pot to the stake with a piece of rope or twine. If you are worried about the wind blowing your plant pots over, you can also build a windbreak around them. This can be done by using a row of shrubs or trees, or by erecting a temporary fence.