Gardening This Time of Year: Why Potting Up Matters More Than You Think

At this time of year, the garden can feel quiet. Beds are resting, borders look bare, and growth seems slow. But while much of the garden is dormant, there’s still plenty you can be doing – especially when it comes to potting up young plants and making the most of containers and hanging pots.

Winter and early early spring are ideal for planning ahead. Seedlings grown indoors, cuttings taken in autumn, or young plants bought from garden centres will often outgrow their starter pots long before they’re ready to go outside. This is where potting up becomes essential.

What Is Potting Up?

Potting up simply means moving a plant into a slightly larger pot to give its roots more space. It’s an important step in healthy plant development. Plants left in pots that are too small can become root-bound, dry out quickly, and struggle to put on strong growth once the season begins.

By gradually potting up, rather than jumping straight to a very large container, you encourage a dense, healthy root system and reduce the risk of waterlogging during colder months.

Why Now Is the Perfect Time

During winter and early spring, plants grow more slowly, which makes this a gentler time to disturb their roots. Many houseplants, herbs, spring bedding plants, and perennials benefit from being potted up now so they’re ready to burst into life when temperatures rise.

If space in the garden is limited, containers and hanging pots are a brilliant solution. They allow you to protect young plants from frost, move them into shelter when needed, and keep an eye on watering levels more easily than in open ground.

Using Hanging Pots to Get Ahead

Hanging pots aren’t just for summer displays. They’re incredibly useful at this time of year for growing trailing plants, herbs and compact ornamentals. Keeping pots raised off the ground improves drainage, reduces slug damage, and makes better use of vertical space.

Using sturdy plant pot hangers means you can create growing areas on walls, fences, pergolas, or even inside a greenhouse. As plants are potted up through the season, they can be moved into larger hanging containers without disrupting your layout.

Tips for Successful Potting Up

• Only go up one pot size at a time

• Use fresh, peat-free compost suited to the plant

• Ensure pots have good drainage

• Water lightly after potting up, especially in cold weather

• Keep newly potted plants sheltered from hard frosts

Looking Ahead to Spring

A little effort now pays off later. Plants that have been carefully potted up through winter establish faster, flower earlier, and crop more heavily once spring arrives. Whether you’re growing ornamentals, edibles, or a mix of both, containers and hanging pots give you flexibility and control at a time when the weather can still be unpredictable.

At plantpothangers.co.uk, we believe gardening should work with your space, not against it. Potting up and growing vertically is one of the simplest ways to stay gardening all year round – even when the garden looks like it’s asleep.