Decorative pots enhance outdoors

I don't have much of a green thumb; as a matter of fact it's kind of scary what happens to even the hardiest perennials once put under my care. The digging and planting at the beginning of the growing season go quite well. But my enthusiasm wanes as the first heady weeks pass and I forget about the weeding and watering.

Throughout the years, as disappointments mounted, I have learned to enlist the help of others so that my family could enjoy the peace and beauty of a healthy garden. Go with your strengths, I say, and I'm best suited to searching out plant containers, garden urns and decorative pots to enhance the design of our outdoor spaces.

Terra-cotta pots are readily available in all sizes and can be decorated with paint in minutes. Here's an easy project for a porch railing.

The pot holder is made from a piece of  3/4-inch plywood that's 6 1/2 inches wide. To get the correct diameter for the circles that will hold the pots, place a pot upside down in position on the board, trace around the top, then remove the pot and trace a cutting line 1/8 inch inside the circle. Cut out the circles with a jigsaw and sand the edges smooth.

I like the look of clay pots that have aged over years of use, so I brushed layers of white and green paint randomly over the surface with a dry paintbrush, removing most of the paint with a rag so that the clay was still visible. It looks a bit like moss is beginning to grow on the surface.

Always hang planters and pots securely, as they can become quite heavy when filled with soil and water. This pot holder is safely attached to the railing with metal brackets.

DEAR DEBBIE: I have a very long and narrow deck (7 1/2 feet by 48 feet) in a sunny location. There are two sliding doors into the house, bedroom and living area and stairs at one end. I can't figure out how to put out deck furniture and other décor to make it comfortable to use. Thanks. -- Rita.

DEAR RITA: This layout is a common challenge. The solution is to establish focal areas or zones, just as you do inside.

Set up the space outside your bedroom doors with one or two lounge chairs, a small table and magazine/book rack. Design this to be a more intimate place to relax and rejuvenate. You can even block it off from the more public length of deck with a large planter filled with bushy greenery that has some height (3 feet to 4 feet). A screen is another option that works as a movable wall. Build it with lattice and train ivy vines or morning glory for partial cover.

For the larger length of deck outside the living-room doors, arrange an eating area -- you should have enough room for four chairs around a table. Include another section using benches that can be easily pulled into service when required. Decorate with colorful pads and cushions.

Today, a popular addition to decks and patios is an outdoor rug or floorcloth that defines a seating or child's play area. If space allows, embellish with small garden statuary or a water feature. These elements add to the atmosphere of a welcoming place to gather.

Debbie Travis is a columnist for King Features Syndicate. E-mail questions to her at house2home@debbietravis.com.