Today, we’re taking you on a trip to the picturesque city of Gera, where we’re starting our series of posts about the German cities we visited during our tour this year. And this is just the beginning – we still have 15 amazing places in Germany ahead of us, and from each city, we’ve captured fantastic photos for you! 📸

During this journey, we discovered impressive urban compositions full of flowers and plants. Colorful planters, beautiful flower beds, and even extraordinary urban decorations suspended above – all of this created an atmosphere that took our breath away. 🌺🌿 Today, we begin with Gera and its amazing polyethylene planters. The city opted for solutions from Terra Group, specifically the Gianto line, which fills public spaces with incredible colors and shapes. In Gera, you’ll find both Gianto Classic and Gianto Grande planters – and altogether, the city has a whopping 96 of these planters! 🌈 A true explosion of colors and forms that transform squares and streets into vibrant, lively spaces.

Why are polyethylene planters such a great choice? Here are some of their advantages:

• Weather resistance – Polyethylene performs excellently in changing weather conditions, it doesn’t fade in the sun, and its lightweight makes transport and installation easy.
• Heat reduction – In large planters like the Gianto models, you can plant greenery that absorbs heat from the surroundings, helping to reduce temperatures in concrete urban areas, which is especially important during summer.
• Support for insects – The plants in these planters are not only decorative but also provide food and shelter for pollinating insects like bees and butterflies, positively impacting the local ecosystem.
• Water circulation – The right structure of the planters ensures optimal watering of the plants, preventing both drying out and overwatering.

We can’t forget the immense work done by both city administrations and gardeners to make urban spaces so beautiful. 👏 Daily care for the plants requires a lot of dedication, and the result is spectacular – a perfect blend of well-thought-out solutions and people lovingly tending to these plants.

These planters are incredibly interesting and versatile! 🌸🌾 In spring and summer, they can be filled with blooming plants that add color to urban spaces. In autumn, they serve as the perfect base for creating interesting arrangements with ornamental grasses, heather, pumpkins, and pine cones that bring an autumnal atmosphere to the city. 🍂🎃

And in winter? Terra Group offers a special solution – compatible attachments for the planters that turn them into charming Christmas trees! 🎄 In the Gianto Classic planters, they look especially impressive, creating a festive atmosphere in urban spaces. What does this mean? The Gianto Classic planters are much more versatile than they seem! They can change their character throughout the year, adapting to the seasons and aesthetic needs. It’s an investment that brings joy all year round. 🌿❄️

Gera deserves high praise for how beautifully it has utilized public spaces, and we’re excited to show you these wonderful compositions.

And what awaits you in the next post? The city of Zeitz! Palaces, fiberglass art, flowers, and fountains await – straight out of a fairytale. 🌸💦 You won’t want to miss it!

Check out the rest of the photos from Gera and see you next week!

Urban space, full of concrete, metal and glass skyscrapers, often lacks greenery and natural beauty. Increasingly, however, designers and artists around the world are introducing new solutions that not only enliven our cities, but also bring utilitarian works of art into them. One of such solutions are XXL pots — impressive and innovative architectural elements that are becoming an integral part of the urban landscape.

XXL pots: Art that inspires and creates community in the city

XXL flower pots are huge plant containers that not only have a practical function, but also an artistic one. Unlike traditional pots, which are small in size and focus mainly on the function of holding plants, XXL pots are becoming the centerpiece of urban spaces. Their enormous size, unique shapes and modern designs attract the attention of passers-by, giving a distinctive look to a particular place.

Moreover, XXL flower pots are not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional. Thanks to their size, they can hold large trees and shrubs, thus creating natural green islands in the middle of a concrete jungle. Plants in pots not only decorate the city, but also contribute to improving air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. In addition, XXL pots can also become spatial markers or protective barriers, dividing the urban space into different zones.

Art on a large scale – XXL pots as an urban attraction

XXL pots create unlimited possibilities for artistic expression. Designers, using a variety of materials, create unique compositions that reflect both contemporary minimalism and expressive abstraction. Pots can be made of concrete, steel, wood, glass or plastic, and their surfaces can be decorated with paintings, mosaics, or sculptures. These artistic masterpieces enrich urban spaces and give them a new dynamic.

Painting XXL pots together can be a great idea to activate the local community. Creating such local works of art will be great entertainment for both young and old residents! A great background for such events are the white, smooth XXL Gianto pots from Terra Group, which have already been used in this way, e.g., by the City of Poznań.

Poznan Design Days

A space full of color. How are XXL pots transforming cities?

Artists and designers all over the world see the potential of XXL pots and bring them into urban space with increasing enthusiasm.  Thanks to XXL pots, art is making its way into streets and squares, merging with the daily lives of citizens. XXL pots not only provide us with aesthetic impressions, but also inspire to reflect on the role of art in public spaces.

Why not organize a pot painting event in your town? Graffiti lovers as well as classic art enthusiasts are sure to be delighted! A pot painting action in your city can be an exciting event and a great opportunity to involve the local community in creating artistic and creative spaces. Here are some steps that can help you organize such an action:

• Contact the relevant city authorities or organizations responsible for the management of urban spaces, such as the city hall, the cultural department or the urban greenery board. Discuss your ideas and get permission to carry out pot painting campaigns in public areas.
• Submit a project to the civic budget vote.
• Identify strategic locations in the city, such as squares, parks or streets, where the placement of painted pots will attract the most attention. Choose areas that are highly visible and frequently visited by residents and tourists.
• Inform the local community about the planned pot painting event. You can use various communication channels, such as social media, websites, local newspapers or posters. Encourage residents, art groups, schools, NGOs and local businesses to take part.
• Ensure that you have the necessary tools and materials such as paints, brushes, palettes, rubbish bags, water for washing brushes, etc. Also provide adequate safety equipment such as protective suits and gloves for participants. Organize work zones and provide tables where pots can be painted.
• Ensure photo or video documentation of the pot painting action. Share them on social media, local media, websites, and blogs to promote the participants’ creativity and attract the attention of more people.

Large plastic pots appear more and more often in towns and cities, mainly because the plants planted in them beautify the space. Distinguishing XXL containers often become the hallmark of a given place. A perfect example is the Austrian town of Attnang-Puchheim. The large plant pots located there in one unique color create a harmonious coherence and a designer look.

Large plant pots outdoor

Plastic pots are the top pick when it comes to outdoor use. Durable plastic is perfect for changeable weather conditions. In hot and sunny summer or cold, snowy winter, the planters retain their color. Additionally, they are easy to maintain and much lighter than their concrete or wooden counterparts. Thanks to all these advantages, they will fulfill their role for many years, remaining in a great condition. The plastic planters can impress with their durability under one condition – the chosen material, should be tested and top-quality. It is worth taking an interest in large polyethylene pots from Terraform. Polyethylene is durable, resistant, and perfectly recyclable.

Thanks to the polyethylene used in the production process of large plant pots the choice of colors is endless. To attract attention and enliven the surroundings, usually, strong and vivid shades are chosen. Yellow, Green, Orange, Red, Blue are just some of the options available. However, in addition to the basic variants, there are also quaint proposals that will make the plastic plant pot takes on a designer character. This category includes classic black and white as well as shades of gray, but to really stand out, it is worth choosing a variant that resembles Corten steel. Chocolate brown is not uniform, which allows to achieve a very similar visual effect to the corten popular among architects. It is the perfect combination of aesthetics and ease of maintenance.

Attnang-Puchheim focuses on consistency

Large corten-colored plastic pots were chosen by the austrian town of Attnang-Puchheim. Along the main street, Marktstraße, one can spot 15 pieces of Gianto Sito and 50 classic Gianto. Thanks to this approach, the most representative part of the town has gained coherent urban planters that allow  to launch additional greenery into the center. However, this is not their only task.

Large plant pots instead of railings

The location of the plant pots has been planned so that they not only have an aesthetic function, but also block the possibility of parking in places that are not intended for this. The central street of Attnang-Puchheim is woonerf, a modern public space in which the height difference between the road and the pavement is eliminated. The lack of architectural barriers is a great convenience for pedestrians, people on wheelchairs, mothers with prams or cyclists, but also a temptation for drivers to leave their cars outside the designated parking space. Pots placed on the pavement at regular intervals eliminate the need for barriers or bollards and, importantly, do not limit the movement of residents in any way.

Restaurant garden in green surroundings

Outdoor dining is an inseparable part of restaurants. In the case of woonerf, to increase the security of guests, it is worth separating the premises from the street, which is often very close to the tables. In Attnang-Puchheim, the large Gianto Sito pots ensure the well-being of the eaters. The large size of the containers (the diameter of the pot is 180 cm) separates vehicles from the pavement cafe, and at the same time launch a green, plant screen, which additionally creates a sense of privacy.

Large plant pots – aesthetics and functionality

The project from the Austrian Attnang-Puchheim paves the way for other cities and towns. Large plant pots can bring many advantages. First of all, a wide selection of colors – in this case, the focus was on consistency and a designer presence, i.e. the unique corten color. Secondly, the plant containers are a clever signal that shows drivers where vehicles should not be parked, which is extremely important, especially on woonerf streets. Thirdly, they perfectly separate zones, e.g. a pavement cafe from the road. Finally, they provide the option of additional greenery, which is so much needed, especially in the main points of the city.

Łabiszyn is a small Polish town located near Bydgoszcz. It is certainly not the first place on a long list of places worth visiting, but an appropriate approach to urban greenery makes Łabiszyn look better than many tourist towns. This is one of the main reasons that should encourage travelers to visit, and the authorities of other places to follow an example from Łabiszyn.

The center of Łabiszyn

Łabiszyn stands out from other places in Poland when it comes to the most important point of the city, i.e. the center. Contrary to the prevailing tendency to revitalize the Old Towns, which usually ends with a concrete empty square, Łabiszyn did not follow this path. In the most representative place, you can still see the square with a lawn, the Flower Towers, trees, paths, benches, and around it breathtaking flower beds with densely planted ornamental grasses and flowers. There are so many seedlings that the whole thing looks like colorful, fluffy carpets. As if that was not enough, the authorities of Łabiszyn focused on additional decorative elements. Yellow, blue and white large pots planted really luxuriantly are a decorative dominant.

The most important point in the center of Łabiszyn is the town hall. It is a simple but charming building that has also been decorated with flowers. Lush surfinas are hanging from the windows resembling pink pillows.  Pink dahlias appeared where there was access to ground and along the sidewalks the pots with a yellow variety and a plume of ornamental grasses were arranged. A metal bench winds around the plant containers (the colors of which match the planters in the central part of the market), providing residents additional seating. Admittedly, it is as impressive as it is efficient.

Nadnotecka Street

The Noteć River flows through Łabiszyn and surrounds the Old Town with two branches. However, the increasing distance from the town center does not mean a reduction in the care for public space. On Nadnotecka Street, there are colorful, round benches with flower pots, which delight with flowers every year. This is another classic example straight from Łabiszyn concerning the appropriate approach to aesthetics in the town. We are simply stunned looking at the effect.

Łabiszyn is beautiful in every aspect

The whole idea of planting not only the main part of Łabiszyn, but also the extraordinary care for plants, means that larger towns and cities would certainly envy such an effect. We sincerely hope that the photos will serve as inspiration for others, because our dream as well as other people too, is that the space in which they live or visit should be as aesthetically pleasing as Łabiszyn. Interestingly, this Kuyavian-Pomeranian town matches the unique and beautiful decorations to the season.

Contrary to appearances, public space does not have to turn gray when surfinia or pelargonium start to fade away. Heather, chrysanthemum, echinacea, ornamental grasses … There are really many ideas for fall planters!

Fall planters with heather

Heather plants are the most popular autumn flowers. They are usually purple, but also pink or even red. They can withstand colder weather conditions and require practically no maintenance – therefore they are perfect for autumn compositions. Young heather seedlings can be easily planted in the dedicated pots. Creating decorations takes only a few moments. It is enough to transplant the plant from the container in which it grew first and immediately enjoy the beautiful visual effect. Heather looks great in the company of ornamental grasses, for example foxtail fountain grass or pampas grass.

Chrysanthemum – queen of the autumn

Chrysanthemum is gradually moving away from the stereotype of a plant reserved only for the autumn decoration of necropolises. It is worth taking advantage of its values – lush flowering, beautiful colors and great resistance to changeable weather conditions. Chrysanthemum is one of the autumn blooming plants, which makes it a perfect colorful decoration for public spaces. Plants planted in large pots, boxes or the standing Flower Towers will create a beautiful autumn decoration. They look great on their own, but also with ornamental grasses, heathers or ornamental cabbage.

One of the effective ideas for fall planters, which will work well in the city space, but also in the garden, with the use of pots and chrysanthemums, is to create a decorative “mound”. Plants planted on a low hill with overturned pots give a very interesting result. Additionally, if you combine varieties of chrysanthemums in autumn colors (yellow, orange, maroon), the composition will not be overlooked for sure.

Autumn arrangements with ornametal cabbage

The urban space delights with floral compositions not only in summer, but also in autumn. From April to October, the Flower Towers and large pots can charm with impressive, lush seasonal plants, and at the beginning of autumn they are filled with ornamental cabbage and grasses. It suffices to look at the photos to see that it is a good idea. Also, such arrangement should be considered to appear in your surroundings too.

Fall planters with pumpkins

The arrangement of cities after summer should not be limited only to flowers and plants when creating autumn decorations. An interesting and still rare idea are pumpkins, which are more and more often used in compositions due to the growing popularity of Halloween in Europe. This small element, which is plentiful in these months, becomes a great addition to autumn arrangements.

The second idea is to cover the ground with chestnuts. First of all, fall planters will look unique and charming. Secondly, you create a litter that will help to keep the substrate moist, protecting it from frost.

Autumn arrangements – which colors to choose?

Autumn does not differ from summer in the possibilities of arranging flower pots. There are many plant species which bloom in September and the following months. Therefore, you can still count on the power of impressions and colors. In public space, the most common ones are: heather, chrysanthemums, ornamental cabbage, ornamental grasses – they are chosen primarily for their durability. However, the limited selection of plants does not necessarily mean less possibilities, because the above-mentioned species provide many colors of flowers, which if combined with each other, give various effects. Here are some of our ideas for fall planters:

• golden autumn – flowers in warm colors, e.g. yellow, orange, red, with the addition of bright green or brown elements. Such a combination will certainly chase away the ubiquitous gray,
• chic purples – autumn is the time of decorative cabbage and heather, which have a beautiful purple color. To add elegance to the composition, it is worth combining them with white,
• all shades of green – this is not the first option that comes to mind about the upcoming autumn, but such compositions are pretty impressive. Especially together with the more popular warm colors.

Autumn decorations in durable pots

Planting autumn pots is only half of the success in decorating the city. As important as their content are the planters themselves, which must be durable enough to withstand unfavorable weather conditions. Among the materials that are able to guarantee that the decoration will not be marred by cracks or chipping, the best are: polyethylene, architectural concrete, corten steel. Increasingly, one can find pots made of them on the streets in European cities, not only in autumn, but also in winter.

It is worth remembering that pots made of low-quality plastic react badly to temperature fluctuations and rainfall – do not entrust them with seasonal compositions, because even the best autumn flowers will not look good in a damaged container.

Let garden, terrace and city pots be filled with autumn flowers

Autumn days always come too fast bringing cold, blush and gray. Instead of giving to the melancholic mood, it is worth coloring every space with flowers. Therefore, whether garden, terrace or urban pots, they should be filled with autumn arrangements already at the end of September.

Although the dreadful events in Ukraine have been going on for over a month now, it does not mean that the enthusiasm for help should be fading away. Organizations, cities, public and private institutions do everything in their power to support refugees, but also those in need who remained in their country.

In addition to collecting the necessary means to live, it is also important to show solidarity. That is why many cities decide to hang the Ukrainian flag on masts. Blue and yellow illuminations appear on buildings, and some murals are created on their facades. As a result of these events, a new trend was born – decorating urban spaces with spring flowers in the national colors of Ukraine. Most towns, planting the Flower Towers, flower beds and squares, decided to use blue and yellow pansies.

Summary of the charity action

The charity campaign “Solidarity with Ukraine” has ended. During this time, Terra Group sold 32 blue and yellow pots with a total value of PLN 40,139.25. As promised, 10% of this amount (PLN 4,013.93) was donated to the Polish Humanitarian Action Foundation. It helps those affected by the war in Ukraine, organizes humanitarian transports, and provides psychosocial and financial support.

Special thanks to:

• The German city of Bottrop,
• the Czech town of Zatec.
• Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences,
• the Polish municipality of Kosakowo.

Charity campaign of the Terra Group company

Solutions of the Terra Group company helped to bring greenery to places where it is not possible to create traditional flower beds. Therefore, it also observes the initiative to decorate the space with the colors of the Ukrainian flag with attention and approval. Additionally, in a spontaneous gesture of solidarity, the company saw the potential to help those most in need. For that reason, Terra Group created an action entitled “You show solidarity, we support those in need. Together we will do more! “. It means that if purchasing any number of Gianto pots (Classic, Sito, Tablo, Grande, Plane Ring Lux) in blue and yellow colors, the company will donate 10% of the net order value to the Polish Humanitarian Action foundation, which actively helps the victims of the war in Ukraine. Thanks to this, a small gesture turns into real support.

Blue and yellow city pots

Large city pots in blue and yellow colors will stay in the space longer than flowers, so the gesture of solidarity will not end with their fading. The initiative will keep reminding you of the constant need for help. In addition, in large pots, you can create beautiful plant compositions that will soothe and lift the spirits of not only refugees, but also those who provide support.

Charity campaign will bring help and beauty

The Terra Group charity campaign will bring not only help to those in need, but also natural beauty to the space. Please contact your Terra Group Account Manager.

The Flower Towers are one of the most effective ideas for spring compositions in cities … but not the only one. Plants can also appear in flower boxes and pots – large, colorful and exceptionally resistant to any inconvenience. What to choose and what is the best way to plan plantings to make sure that spring will come to the city in its full glory?

Pansies – the best choice for cities

Blooming plants looming up from city streets and squares are the best way to say goodbye to winter and its grayness. Pansies, due to their charming appearance as well as resistance to cold and low requirements, are the best idea for the first plantings.

Interestingly, selected species of pansy bloom already on the first days of March, which is why they are perfect for arranging urban space. Thanks to pansies, you will be sure that spring will appear in the city in a blink of an eye. This charming, inconspicuous flower impresses with its properties: for lush flowering, it only needs fertile soil and a sunny (or even semi-shaded) place.

Various spring flowers

When decorating cities, not only pansies with color flowers will help. They can be combined in a spring composition with daisies, tulips and other weather-resistant plants. Pansies planted in the Flower Towers, flowerbeds, boxes, pots, Easter flower containers in the shape of an egg, and even hanging Flower Towers mounted on street lamps or walls, effectively color the gray surroundings at a time when you cannot count on other plants. Once their charm fades, they can be quickly replaced with summer plants: pelargonium, ipomea or surfinia.

Blooming Pyramids

The most resistant plants can be planted at the beginning of March so you will be able to enjoy the first flowers in the city even before the calendar spring. The Flower Towers bring color not only in summer, they are perfect for launching interesting compositions in every season of the year. If you want to learn more about it, check out our post on seasonal flower containers. No wonder that more and more cities and towns in Poland and not only decide to make spring compositions. Here are some of the most interesting arrangements.

In Strzelce Krajeńskie the Flower Towers planted with single-colored pansies were set. Each one had a different color of flowers (yellow, white, purple) creating a very impressive effect.

Świnoujście presented asymmetrical, multi-colored spring compositions. The cherry on top were decorative bunny ears placed at the very top of the Flower Tower. Thanks to this procedure, spring has come to the city, but also a sign of the upcoming Easter.

In Rzepin, the Flower Towers were decorated with white and red (colors of the flag of Poland) pansies. Thanks to this, the spring flower containers in the surroundings of the Monument to the All Fallen (also known as the Eagle Monument) bring solemn, sublime mood.

Oschatz deserves special attention. The German town presents really impressive flower arrangements every season. Each level of the Flower Towers is decorated with different pansies or daisies.

Or maybe spring compositions in pots?

The first flowers in the vividly colored large pots from the TerraForm collection are also a good way to bring spring into the city. Polyethylene containers are chosen for public spaces for a reason – the material from which they are made guarantees resistance to mechanical damage and an unchanged color for years. The pots are almost indestructible, so they are an ideal solution for cities at any time of the year.

The first example to follow is Gorzów Wielkopolski! A red, blue and yellow pot is right next to a huge Easter egg. They have been planted with yellow, purple and blue pansies – the whole thing creates a beautiful Easter decoration.

For some time now, Dębno has been proud of the yellow and red Gianto and Sito pots, which already in spring are planted with flowers in various parts of the town. Also they are in the main square, where the pots are integrated with a bench.

Spring in the city

Plants in public space play a very important role. It is not worth waiting for the summer months with plantings. Flowers can successfully appear at the beginning of March. Thanks to this, not only spring will soon come to the city, but also blooming compositions will enjoy the residents almost all year round.

A concrete square is something that often abhors residents. In summer, the heated surface does not encourage relaxation. However, complete removal of the pavement is not always a good solution. Is there an option to turn the urban desert into an oasis that is friendly to people? In our opinion, it is possible. In this case, large urban pots will be a great help here. Thanks to them, the square can turn green without any additional construction works. How is it possible? We will present three towns in which the square has changed beyond recognition.

A town square – what is its role?

Historically, the spacious square has been a lively heart of the city. All the main roads converged there to facilitate trade. With time, when the tradition of markets lost its importance and the local people started to go to stores or shopping malls, the flat, paved area in the center changed its functionality. Now the square is a place of rest for residents and tourists on a daily basis, and during holidays it is a space for celebrations, concerts, fairs and other important events.

Concrete vs green

These two extreme roles are the cause of disputes about shaping the surroundings. On the one hand, city events require a paved, empty square, and on the other, an ideal relaxation place needs all kinds of plants, benches, fountains, and garbage bins. To create a place that perfectly performs both functions, it is best to take them both into account when creating the project. Then you can easily arrange the appropriate zones. Things get more difficult when the square is already modernized and there is a huge concrete area. In this situation, there are two possible solutions.

First of all, a complete change of the surroundings: removal of concrete pavement  and adding more plants. However, the costs of such a step are enormous and they are actually associated with the next major renovation. The second solution does not require additional heavy work. It is enough to put on large urban pots in which you can plant a variety of plants, and in the largest models even trees. To prove that it is possible, we will present three concrete squares which, thanks to mobile plantings, have found the perfect compromise between a paved surface and urban greenery.

Skwierzyna in the new edition

In 2016, the market in Skwierzyna was modernized. The neglected area disappeared and a large square appeared in its place. Thus, the most representative town space has returned to its former appearance from several dozen years ago. However, the area in front of the town hall no longer fulfills the role of the municipal merchandising space. Therefore, the town authorities faced the challenge of developing the square. After the renovation, street furniture appeared: simple in form, anthracite pots, benches, the hanging Flower Towers on lamps, and a fountain in the center. Although the water from it cooled the inhabitants down on hot days, they paid attention to the small amount of greenery.

In 2021, the town authorities decided to allocate part of the budget to bring additional plants into the square. In order not to interfere with the paving, large urban pots, which can be planted with numerous flowers and even trees, were selected. The market square in Skwierzyna was filled with gray and green containers of various forms. As a result, the plantings differed from each other depending on the size and shape of the pot.

• The Gianto Classic model – in pots with a classic shape and a height of 95 cm, hanging plants appeared, creating the impression of “pouring flowers”.
• The Plane Ring Lux model – a container in the form of a bowl, characterized by a small height (45 cm) and a huge planting space. In such pots resembling flying plates, rich floral arrangements with canna, ornamental grasses and surfinias appeared.
• The Gianto Tablo and Grande models – these are the largest pots with a height of 120 and 160 cm, therefore, they can be planted with trees.

In total, 10 new large urban pots appeared in the main square in Skwierzyna. They filled the empty space with impressive decorative plants.

A distinctive accent in Mikołajki

The Sailing Village in Mikołajki is another place on the map of Poland that has decided to modernize its area. Various materials were used for the promenade reconstruction and a modern square, which needed to be developed, was built on Kowalska Street. It is a lively place visited by hundreds of tourists every day. That is why the city authorities decided to focus on an element that will be remembered by everyone, i.e. large urban pots. Their biggest advantage, which attracts the eyes of passers-by and even encourages them to take a photo, are vivid, juicy colors – red and orange. Such colors turned out to be a bull’s-eye and they wonderfully enlivened the gray surroundings.

Decorative trees and grasses were planted in large urban pots. The classic Gianto models as well as the huge Grande and Tablo pots, which can also serve as a table, appeared not only in Skwierzyna but in Mikołajki too. It will be perfect for a snack break while walking around the marina.

Large urban pots – some color for Torgau

The square surrounded by historic buildings is a real urban treasure. Many German cities and towns can boast of such an architectural gem, but one of them decided to stand out from the others. With what? Colorful, large urban pots! As evidenced by the large square in the very center, the Saxon Torgau has a commercial history. It turned out to be an ideal place for mobile greenery.

The vivid colors of the containers are a bold step. The success was achieved due to the balanced colors of the facades surrounding the market. Thanks to this, green, yellow, orange, blue and red pots have become a distinctive accent that does not create the effect of an urban mishmash. It turned out to be a great idea to arrange the containers in groups of 3 at numerous places on the square. Various models, colors, sizes as well as plantings create unique compositions, and the whole looks very coherent.

The case from Torgau shows that it is sometimes worth choosing less popular solutions to achieve an even better effect. Thanks to the colorful, large city planters, the square has gained its individual character and it will look fabulous on postcards or in holiday photos. If you want to see more pictures of the Saxon town, be sure to check out our Torgau post.

Large urban pots make the squares green

Large urban pots are a great solution for concrete squares. They launch plants into the most representative areas without the need for costly renovations. It is worth choosing models in which you cannot only create beautiful floral compositions, but also those that are distinguished by form, color and functionality. This way you can kill several birds with one stone. Therefore, eye-catching greenery will appear in the square, providing a place to sit or eat a meal comfortably.

Thanks to large pots, a bit of color is brought into the urban space. From the beginning of spring until late autumn, you can admire beautiful flowers. When the temperature drops below zero, and frozen plants need to be removed, the question arises, what to do with urban pots for the winter? Transport and store them? Or rather not move them and only protect the pots from cold? Both solutions have advantages and disadvantages. However, are these the only possibilities? In the case of Gianto pots, there is one more option. Leave the plant conatiners in their place and create an unusual Christmas decoration.

What to do with urban planters for the winter?

The transport of large urban pots requires, first of all, financial expenditure, and second of all, storage space. Both aspects will grow at a dizzying pace with the increasing number and weight of pots being transported. You must also take into account the risk that they may be damaged while traveling to the warehouse. However, the stable temperature and the roof overhead will allow all pots (regardless of the quality) to wait out the coldest months in an unchanged way.

The second option is to leave the urban pots in their place and make sure that the frost during winter does not harm them. Resistance to cold and unfavorable conditions mostly depends on the material and quality. The winter period will be difficult for wooden pots to survive. There is no doubt that you will have to plan an appropriate impregnation in the spring to keep them looking good. In the worst case scenario, you have to reckon that they can decay. Those made of poor quality plastic, if left to frost, probably, will not survive until the next season. Metal counterparts will be prone to rust, but this can be dealt with by painting. Pots made of architectural concrete and polyethylene are best prepared for the winter. They are not afraid of frost or snow.

When you decide to leave your city planters outside for the winter, consider adding some Christmas decorations. Thanks to this, empty containers will gain an additional function. They will become a Christmas decoration, meaning you will be able to kill two birds with one stone! Moreover,  you will save on transport as well as on a place for storage and you will avoid the risk of damage, pleasing the residents with an original decoration. Additionally, as soon as the weather permits, the pot will be ready for spring flowers. Thanks to this, your city will start to impress with colors the fastest of all.

Christmas with a natural tree

A live Christmas tree in a pot in public space is not as common as it used to be. This is most likely due to the greater care requirements than in the case of their artificial equivalent.

However, a natural Christmas tree always draws attention, and a container for urban plantings is a great place for spruce. Why? Gianto pots are large enough to plant a medium-sized conifer, and their depth allows it to be placed in the ground with a root ball. Thanks to this, you will successfully plant the tree in a different place after the Christmas season. It is a win-win situation.

Nature is beautiful in itself, so a live Christmas tree in a pot will look good even in the sauté version. However, to follow the tradition, it is worth decorating the tree so that it becomes a real queen among the city decorations. No idea how to do it? You can look for inspiration on our blog or take some advice from the residents. If there is more than one pot in your neighborhood, plant a conifer in each and leave their decorations to schools or organizations, sports groups, etc. Then you will get a unique gallery of Christmas decorations.

An original Christmas tree in a pot

The second solution is extremely convenient and will surely decorate the area for many winter seasons. For Gianto pots with a diameter of 80, 95 and 120 cm, you can choose a dedicated cone-shaped TerraChristmas cover that will resemble a real Christmas tree. Despite the fact that the Christmas decoration is based on a strong steel structure that has been densely braided with high-quality garlands, it remains light. Also it allows for assembly without the use of heavy equipment, which is required for other urban decorations.

The cover placed in the pot makes a great impression as the twigs slightly bent away from the cone. Thanks to this factor, the cone tree does not resemble a perfect geometric figure aymore and takes on a more natural character. It only takes a few moments to install it – the cone is anchored to the ground in the pot.

This solution is simple and effective, the Christmas decoration will not tip over due to winter wind and it will delight residents throughout the whole Christmas season.

A cone tree in many forms

Gianto pot covers have another siginifcant advantage that cannot be overlooked. They will adapt to your needs and ideas. Together with an experienced account manager, you will be able to create your dream cone tree that best suits your surroundings. Take the reins of designing Christmas decorations and decide on:

• garland color – choose classic bottle green or one of the bolder options: red or white,
• decorations – the cone tree can be decorated with baubles of any color,
• lights – to make the Christmas decoration also noticeable in the evening, it is worth adding LED Christmas tree lights to it, according to your preferences, they can have a warm or cold color.

Openwork Christmas tree and more

Although light, white openwork constructions are not what comes to mind when you think about Christmas decorations, when combined with Christmas lights, they can impress everyone. For this reason more and more such Christmas decorations appear in public space. These can be large figures or smaller accents. If you want to know more about it, see our post on openwork decorations.

For winter, Gianto pots can be decorated with such subtle elements. You will have a choice of an openwork Christmas tree or a hemisphere. The method of assembly is very similar to the aforementioned covers for pots – they are anchored to the substrate left in the plant container. These are not all advantages of this solution. In addition to its amazing appearance, the translucent structure allows sunlight to enter the interior. Thanks to this, if there are evergreen plants in the pot, they will not be completely deprived of light.

Proven Christmas city decorations

It has been known for a long time that solutions combining several functions assure the greatest savings. This is the case with the Gianto urban pots that are left outside for the Christmas season. Choose one of the options: a live tree, a cone tree or openwork covers from the TerraChristmas collection and enjoy additional Christmas decorations. This way, you will not have to invest in additional seasonal decorations and organize transport or storage space for them.