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Daily gardening tip · Northern hemisphere · Thursday 8 October 2026 · mid autumn

Raise Terracotta Pots onto Feet

As winter approaches, wet soil trapped inside terracotta pots can freeze and crack the clay.

Raise Terracotta Pots onto Feet
5 minuteseasycontainers
  1. Gather three or four clay pot feet, brick pieces, or flat stones for each container.
  2. Gently tilt one side of the terracotta pot upward.
  3. Slide the feet or spacers under the base of the pot.
  4. Ensure the drainage hole in the bottom of the pot is completely clear of the ground.
  5. Lower the pot back down and wiggle it to make sure it is stable and does not wobble.
A garden in mid autumn

Why it works

When a pot sits flat on wet ground, water cannot drain out of the drainage hole. If this trapped water freezes during winter, it expands, which easily cracks terracotta and damages plant roots. Elevating the pot allows excess water to escape freely.

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