Make a clean sweep

If you’re planning to re-use your pots, canes and labels, make sure they are given a clean bill of health, says Bob

- Bob Flowerdew

EVERY so often, a garden presenter is shown washing pots. These pots will look suspiciously new, barely in need of cleaning. And of course they’re plastic, which is sort of important. You see, the notion of washing pots was introduced when all pots were earthenware (fired clay). Now it’s true, washing can remove or kill overwintering pests and (perhaps more importantly) their eggs.

But originally, pots were also washed before being used because this was one way to wet them through. Clay pots absorb (and evaporate) water, and if filled when bonedry they may suck water out of the compost instead of keeping this moist. As we seldom use clay pots nowadays, this is no longer a factor.