How to keep your outdoor plants upright

When it comes to keeping your outdoor potted plants upright, prevention is always best. Even the hardiest of plants can become damaged if they’re knocked over and if your plant survives, you’ll probably have some clean up with spilled dirt and broken pots.

Here are some easy ways you can keep your outdoor pot plants upright: 

• Put something heavy in the bottom of the pot. A couple of inches of pebbles or rocks under the soil will usually do the trick. 
• Arrange pots against a solid structure like a fence. This creates a windbreak and gives your plants support when the weather gets wild. 
• Group pots together. Bonus points if they’re in a corner, but a few pot plants together is going to be stronger than a lonely plant trying to get by on its own. 
• Consider your pot size and what it’s made of. If you know you’re in a windy spot, use a pot made from a heavier material. Concrete pots won’t fall over as easily as plastic will. Tall pots can pick up the wind more easily, making them more susceptible to being knocked over.  
• If you can, arrange your pots on flat ground. A slight slope can make it more likely for your plants to tumble when faced with a strong gust. 
• Consider supporting plants with a stake, particularly taller varieties like trees or shrubs that are more susceptible to being thrashed around in the wind.

The first thing you need to do is make sure your plant is ok and provide some TLC if it seems to be damaged. Repotting may be your only option, particularly if the original pot broke.  

If the pot is intact and the plant seems to be ok, just pick the pot up, cut off any damaged leaves and give your plant a light water.

If the plant has fallen over before, or that spot always gets a bit windy, you might need to consider moving the plant elsewhere, weighing down the pot or supporting the plant.

Some plants can come back from damage but it will depend on how severe the injury is.

Plants don’t have the same kind of healing system as people so if you’re dealing with a damaged leaf, you’re often better off removing it completely so the plant can grow a new one in its place.

You can sometimes save bent or damaged stems by creating a splint to provide extra support while your plant heals. Be creative for smaller plants - bamboo stakes pushed into the dirt and attached with tape or twine can work a treat. Keep the plant supported until the stem appears to be “back to normal” and you’re starting to see new growth.

Severed stems can be a little harder to fix and sometimes you need to just prune them back. Give the plant some TLC in a sheltered area with regular water and fertilising, and wait for it to grow back.

You’re never going to be able to stop the wind from blowing, but with a few easy preventative measures you can make sure those gusty days don’t give your garden grief.