How to Plant Urns

Garden urns come in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials and make attractive decorations for any garden. Many times, gardeners use empty urns as a focal point. However, urns can also make decorative planters.
Traditional ceramic urns are rare and prone to cracking, so fiberglass and cement are better choices. Fiberglass is light, strong and expensive, while cement is heavy, strong and inexpensive. No matter what material you use, make sure the urn planter has drain holes so that your plants do not drown.
The best plants for urn planters are plants that have trailing vines, or grow short, fleshy foliage. Succulents and cacti are low-maintenance, short and attractive. Ivy and spider plants are good trailing plants for tall urns.

Things You'll Need

• Several succulent or trailing plant seedlings
• Potting soil
• Watering can
• Trowel
• Gravel
• Sand

Instructions

1. Fill the urn about halfway with gravel, then pour sand through the gravel until the gravel is covered. Stir the sand and gravel with your hand and add sand again until it almost covers the gravel. This will allow for good drainage and enable you to use less potting soil.

2. Pour in potting soil to about four inches below the lip of the urn. Remove a seedling from the tray and gently untangle the root ball with your fingers. Put the seedling on top of the soil and trowel soil over its roots until they are covered.

3. Plant taller succulents near the center of the urn and shorter ones close to the edges. If you are combining trailing plants and succulents, plant the trailing plants around the very edges of the urn. Water all generously.

Tips & Warnings

• If planting trailing plants alone, plant the vines near the center of the urn. Water succulents every two days and place them in full sun. If planting succulents and trailing plants in the same urn, water them individually by pouring water over only one type of plant.

References

• Designing With Urns: Gardening Tips 'N Ideas.com.
• Succulent Plants: Gardening Tips 'N Ideas.com.

Resources

• Container Gardening With the Perfect Planter.