Christmas trees are one of the most important Christmas symbols in our culture. Although the custom of decorating a coniferous tree came to us from abroad, at this moment we cannot imagine Christmas without a Christmas tree. Many people decide to buy an artificial tree since such a decoration can serve for many years. Despite this, interest in live Christmas trees in pots has increased significantly in recent years – such a tree looks more natural and smells beautiful, which greatly contributes to creating a real Christmas atmosphere. However, the following question arises: what to do with it after Christmas?

Planting a Christmas tree in a pot in the garden

It is obvious that we prefer to avoid composting a beautiful coniferous tree, therefore, if you managed to buy a Christmas tree in a pot, you can try to transplant it into your garden so that it can permanently join the plant decorations outside. However, you must be careful as it happens that producers cheat their customers by selling them ordinary, cut Christmas trees put in a pot. Therefore, it is worth checking before buying whether the tree is rooted.

If everything is all right and your Christmas tree has roots, you can start preparing to replant it outside. You will need a shovel or spade and potting soil. At the beginning, it is worth putting the tree outside in a pot so that it gradually gets used to the temperature. After a few days, you can take it out of the pot and transplant it into the prepared pit in the garden. Importantly, Christmas trees should be planted when the temperature is above zero – so wait for the frost to subside! Also remember to use the right potting soil, which will ensure that your tree is well established in the soil. In popular stores, you can even buy special soil for planting conifers.

Planting a Christmas tree in green areas on your estate

If you live in a block of flats or a tenement house, and you don’t possess your own garden, you don’t have to write off the Christmas tree at all. Use it as an additional element of greening the areas of the housing estate where you live. Many people pay attention to neglected urban areas, where it is in vain to look for nice shrubs or flowers, let alone a well-kept lawn! Therefore, many residents began to take the initiative and independently implement projects to restore greenery in such places; these can be small green belts at the entrance to a block of flats or a courtyard of tenement houses. It is worth activating the neighbors, or at least informing them that we are going to plant something in this place.

As urban areas do not always have good soil, you may need a shovel and more potting soil. It happens that when digging a hole for your Christmas tree, you will find fragments of rubble or old bricks, on which the tree will unfortunately not grow. After planting the tree, remember to secure it properly – you can put up a self-prepared plate with an inscription informing that you are giving the tree a second life … or simply secure this part of the area with wooden stakes and jute string. Thanks to this, the Christmas tree will be able to root well, and you won’t have to worry about the neighbors’ dogs knocking over the tree just after transplanting.

Decorations made of coniferous branches

If you don’t have any green space to plant a Christmas tree, try using conifer branches as the basis for your new house decoration. Spruce branches don’t have to be just for Christmas! You can use them to make a winter decoration for the door, or compose them with your favorite cut flowers. A bouquet prepared in this way will certainly beautify your table in the dining room or the interior of the living room.

Some creative people also decide to cut the trunk of the Christmas tree. You can conjure up amazing decorations from round slices of wood; if you want to come up with some interesting activity for your children, paint small landscapes on slices of wood and then hang them around the house. Another idea might be making cup coasters out of wood!

Also remember that the Christmas tree does not have to end its life immediately after Christmas. Sometimes it is enough to remove Christmas decorations from it to get a fresh-looking decoration – and not only in the apartment, but also in the urban space!

You can also check one of our latest articles, in which we recommend, how to overwinter a large Christmas tree pot in urban space.

It would seem that bushy ornamental plants are an option only if planting directly in the ground. It turns out that the most beautiful specimens can be easily grown in containers – provided that they are really large containers. A palm tree or cannas  in the center of a paved square? No problem!

Bad Rappenau, Germany | source: www.terraform.pl

In the town centre of Bad Rappenau (Germany), as in many European locations, there is a large paved square with no place for traditional plantings. Nothing stands in the way of launching into this space the most popular “urban” plants in pots – surfinia, ipomea or pelargonium. However, since it is just an individual accent, won`t it disappear in the enormous space of the center?

Bad Rappenau, Germany | source: www.terraform.pl

There is such a risk. In really vast places, large plants, shrubs or ornamental trees will work best as they stand out from the market squares, becoming their most beautiful decorations. But how do you bring such demanding specimens to cobbled areas?

Bad Rappenau, Germany | source: www.terraform.pl

The lack of soil is not an obstacle – in the town of Bad Rappenau there are both extensive palm trees and lush cannas. It was possible thanks to the use of specialized tools. Really large pots  (the classic Gianto model and its variant with a seat) turned out to be capacious enough to provide the plants the right conditions.

Bad Rappenau, Germany | source: www.terraform.pl

An additional benefit is the mobility of such elements – this is important especially in places where sometimes free space is needed, for example, for open-air events. Gianto Sito is equipped with the function of the bench which is a very desirable element in the heart of every city.

Light and at the same time solid large pots that went to Bad Rappenau allowed to create a really interesting arrangement. Both the cannas and the palm trees have grown to impressive sizes.

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Nobody needs to be convinced about the importance of natural decorations in our cities. Fortunately, the trend of ‘concreting’ city centers has been diminishing, however, this is not always a fast process. Large flower pots are perfect for places that still need colors. Effect? Immediate!

Höchenschwand, Germany | source: www.terraformdesign.eu

Colorful plant containers have already become standard items on the public space decoration list. They appear wherever, for various reasons, it is impossible to plant flowers and bushes in the ground: sometimes practical issues decide and the need to have an extensive square for various events, sometimes a complicated underground sewage network or the presence of underground parking lots. Traditional gardening is significantly more difficult.

Höchenschwand, Germany | source: www.terraformdesign.eu

In return, European cities received an alternative – XXL flower containers, not only colorful and capacious, but also … mobile. They work well where urban outdoor events take place, as they can be easily moved – all you need is an ordinary, lightweight pallet truck. It is a good and economical solution for places with a complicated underground infrastructure network – the presence of flower pots, unlike traditional plantings, does not require pavement damage and burdensome, expensive construction works.

Torgau, Germany | source: www.terraformdesign.eu

Large city planters decorate many Eorupean cities. Also, you can easily find them in Germany, for example, in Höchenschwand and Torgau cities. The authorities of Torgau took a step further and, in addition to classic plant containers, chose innovative models: a flower pot with a table function and a model with a seat. In both cases, the results of the makeover were immediate – the cities gained natural decorations, in seemingly unfavorable conditions for traditional planting.

Torgau, Germany | source: www.terraformdesign.eu

What does contemporary public space need? Does the presence of cobbled squares exclude natural accents? How to combine several functions in one solution? The authorities of many European cities deal with similar doubts, regardless of their geographical location.

In terms of the desire to commune with nature, we are not significantly different from the inhabitants of the furthest corners in Europe. Although in recent times many revitalizations have resulted in paving the surface in the hearts of cities, they do not have to be deprived of either comfortable infrastructure or … plantings – also that in the XXL version.

What can large flower pots do for your space?

Interestingly, city centers are required at the same time to gather a large number of people and provide a comfortable place for organizing open-air events. Therefore, the city authorities face a difficult task: to create a space with elements of nature, yet flexible enough to successfully fulfill the other roles entrusted to it.

To deal with such conflicting interests, it is worth choosing mobile solutions, so the elements could be moved if necessary. Large flower pots, which combine several functions, guarantee saving valuable space.

Can large flower pots be used in some other ways?

Nowadays more and more European cities are arranged with large flower pots with a seat or table function. It is the only favorable way to bring both, a comfortable piece of furniture and a flower pot into the city, which will hold a bush or even a tree. Decorations of this type can be placed in the squares without interference in the ground. No complicated construction works or demolitions of pavements are required. Importantly, the individual components of the arrangement are so massive that they cannot be removed or even moved in case of vandalism.

Such innovative decorations allow not only to plant, but also to furnish the space in a creative way … and with respect for the environment. The need for mobile, functional solutions in squares or pavements is directly connected with a fast pace of life and growing openness of citizens to changes. A planter, at which you can eat a meal or where you can sit, becomes the most required option of all.

How to keep some sun in the cities even in a shadowy day? How to get rid of the grayness in cities and invite some colors to them? How to bring some nature to the public spaces? Let’s try to use urban pots XXL:

Many European cities have problems to deal with a square arrangement in the centre – it usually lacks color and nature. A real challenge turns out to be the creation of a nice surrounding of a town hall and other public buildings.

Why do we need urban pots XXL?

More and more often, citizens declare that they need a real contact with nature in public spaces. What is important, they require not only greenery but also a comfortable infrastructure, which allows to enjoy the nature but also positively influences the aesthetics of the surroundings. The answer to such needs is very simple: colorful and mobile urban pots XXL with a seat or table function!

Large urban pots – what can I choose?

An extraordinary form is not the only benefit of flower pots Gianto Sito, Gianto Tablo and the biggest flower pot: Gianto Grande. To discover their next assets, one just needs to take a look at their base: hidden grooves in the bottom for lifts give some new possibilities to cities – pots can be transported in a blink of an eye to free up every space for events under the open sky or just to create some various arrangements.

The mobility of pots will perfectly fit to the current world trend. All elements creating common spaces should be an answer to the needs of citizens, who expect various solutions and unique ways of arrangement.

Torgau is a small town in eastern Germany famous for its well-preserved Renaissance architecture. As befits a city of great changes (and not only cultural ones!), impressive makeover has taken a place there … From a typical, neat, yet monochromatic to the vibrant with life and colors old town, and all of that in just a few moments!

Torgau, Germany | source: www.terraformdesign.eu

This quick transformation was possible thanks to the huge pots from the Gianto line. Contrary to appearances, the presence of fabulously colorful, modern containers has not distorted the character of the old town … after all, it is located in one of the most progressive cities in Europe!

Torgau, Germany | source: www.terraformdesign.eu

Although Torgau is open to new things, it faces many limitations connected with  preservation of the historic centre heritage. One of them is the restricted movement of heavy vehicles, which make bringing traditional decorations difficult.

Torgau, Germany | source: www.terraformdesign.eu

However, it was enough to put on large flower pots from the TerraForm collection, which are light, and most importantly: mobile. The Gianto Tablo models (pots with table) and Gianto Sito (pots with a seat) have special grooves for a pallet truck – agile, powered by human muscles. Therefore, interference with the historic center does not require damaging the ground or exhaust emissions.

Torgau, Germany | source: www.terraformdesign.eu

The colorful flower pots have reached the heart of Torgau in a completely non-invasive manner, without harming the surroundings. Thanks to their size, colors and form, they constitute a strong decorative accent that cannot be overlooked. Importantly, the Sito and Tablo pots are also additional benefits for passers-by – an alternative bench or table where you can read a newspaper, book or eat a meal comfortably.

The street green belts are different – sometimes they can be covered with lawn and sometimes planted with trees, ornamental plants or shrubs. However, what to do when they do not exist in a traditional form, and instead of the natural substrate, there are only pavements? Greenery may appear in these places too!

Marktredwitz, Germany| source: www.terraformdesign.eu

At first glance, the arrangement of the space directly next to the street may seem to be difficult. How can you launch plants into a place without any natural substrate? And most importantly: how to do it in a way that is effective and safe for drivers and pedestrians?

Marktredwitz, Germany| source: www.terraformdesign.eu

Places with heavy traffic require a slightly different approach: it is not worth investing in heavy, static decorations (including, above all, classic concrete containers), which cannot be moved quickly if necessary, and due to their weight, may pose a threat to drivers. Modern city planters turned out to be a good solution – light and capacious enough to accommodate the largest plants – including Canna, which is very popular this season, and the timeless plant always chosen by city gardeners – Surfinia.

Big flower pots – big plants!

Such a solution was taken advantage of, among others, in the German city of Marktredwitz. Gianto city pots, models in the most intense colors, have appeared directly on the streets. Interestingly, such a choice is dictated not only by a purely aesthetic concept – vivid colors are better seen by drivers, which in turn improves their alertness on the road. The smooth texture of the pots also favors their exposure directly along the streets as dust and dirt easily disappear with rainfall.

Marktredwitz, Germany| source: www.terraformdesign.eu

Marktredwitz, Germany| source: www.terraformdesign.eu

In the German coastal city Greifswald, some unusual urban pots have appeared. Their uniqueness lies in an original form as the edge of a container is extended not without a reason…

Greifswald, Germany | Source: www.terraformdesign.eu

One of the biggest attractions of Greifswald is the marina. Yachts, sailboats and motorboats moor along the channel of the Ryck River. However, not only ”boaters” can find something for themselves. This neat and well-kept area is a great idea for a family walk – admiring the views you can easily wander to the Baltic beach.

Greifswald, Germany | Source: www.terraformdesign.eu

Still, to be able to fully enjoy the panorama, it is worth stopping for a moment …That is why, urban pots with a seat function appeared at marina. How does it work? The secret lies in the well-thought-out design combining two functions – a bench ( an expanded edge plays this role ), and a container for plants.

Greifswald, Germany | Source: www.terraformdesign.eu

The marina in Greifswald can be a role model in arranging problematic public spaces. Although there is a lack of space for new natural plantings, there is plenty of greenery. Trees constituting the axis separating the river channel from the promenade are not the only green accent.

The solution for the area covered with cobblestones turn out to be mobile urban pots – the models enriched with special grooves for a pallet truck, hidden in the base. This is a convenient and quick way not only to bring planted decorations to the area, but also, in the long run – to change their setting according to one`s needs. Arrangement does not require complicated construction works or engaging heavy, devastating ground vehicles – the marina will remain as beautiful as always!