Pilone Liscio Italian Terracotta Terrace Planters

Bold Italian terracotta planters, perfect for adding formal planting along a terrace or to frame an entrance.

Ideal for topiary, trees and other structural plants, these square, tall, heavy planters feature a minimal, elegant design. Good planting depth.

Hand-finished and made from quality Galestro clay in the heart of Tuscany. Frost hardy to -20°C. Read more about the process below.

Every week of the year pots are being sent out across Great Britain.

1) I offer a local ''white-glove'' delivery service that covers a 45 mile radius from Tom's Yard HQ. This fee (calculated off your postcode) covers an entire consignment no matter how many items on order.

2) An economy England & Wales pallet service for just £55. Scottish or off-shore addresses requires a quote. This is charged per pallet however in most cases I can fit more than one pot on a pallet. Sometimes up to 6.

3) A courier service at request for larger jobs or when a more personal service is required.

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Delivery prices are automatically calculated at checkout. For further information on the various services, click here or get in touch to chat through your order.

At Tom's Yard we choose to import clay pots made from the best materials that are put through extensive firing processes, tried and tested by our Potteries for many years.

All of our clay pots are made to be left outside and enjoyed for 365 days of the year.

With that being said, there are simple steps you should take to ensure the longevity of your pots and also the health of your plants.

Winter

If prolonged or sudden, harsh freezing conditions are forecasted, we recommend wrapping your pots in bubble plastic or fleece; this should prevent the earth from freezing solid (and avoid the risk of splitting the pot) and at the same time protect any plants growing in them; a frozen pot will kill off a plant far easier that if it were growing in the ground.

Following the steps below will go a long way to mitigating harmful effects to your plants and will ensure that your pots last for years to come.

Drainage

Drainage holes are vital if a pot is going outside. If not already in the pot, unless specified, we always drill holes before a pot leaves the Yard. Every so often check that the holes have not become clogged up, otherwise water could be retained within the pot, leading to root-rot, or the risk of damage to the pot during freezing conditions.

Although not always necessary, you can raise your pot off the ground to assist with drainage. Flat stones, tiles, wooden batons, plastic matting or terracotta feet are ideal.

Planting

If you are using the pot for planting, put a good layer of gravel and broken crocks at the bottom. This prevents the holes from getting clogged up with soil and aids drainage. Top up with a suitable compost/soil blend depending on the plants.

If the pot is enclosed with a narrow neck we advise that you avoid permanent planting or have a removable plastic pot within the terracotta pot. Otherwise the roots will grow into the ‘belly’ of the pot making the plant extremely difficult to remove.

Even in straight pots, do be aware of garden favourites such as Agapanthus and Phormium. These plants produce very strong roots than can split a pot. It's far better to grab a hori-hori and to split the plant.

Sitting

Never stand your pot on bare earth. Being porous, the bottom few inches will soak up the moisture, frost playing on permanently wet terracotta may not be in the best long-term interests of the pot. Instead sit it on feet raised on a paving slab or dig a circle lined with metal edging and fill it with gravel.

Clay

The clay used to make our pots is unique to the region around Tuscany. Our finest quality Tuscan Pots are made from Galestro, a clay rich in iron oxides, and hard minerals. Once formed together and then fired, the finish is divine.

Detail

All of our Tuscan pots are moulded with moulds routinely replaced. This means that the festoons, ribs, lines and roses that adorn our pots can stay consistently crisp and pronounced with great effect.

Firing

All of our Tuscan pots go through the same tied-and-tested firing process, perfected by our pottery.

Once the pots have been produced by hand through a moulding process, they are left to dry for over 20 days. Over this period the clay pots are allowed to rest as they release extra moisture before heading to the kiln.

After bring cured, the pots are fired at very high temperatures for three whole days (72 hrs). Although it may seem like a lengthy process, it ensures that your pots are correctly prepared and thoroughly heated. That is the secret to making what we call, a proper pot.

The total time individually making these pots can vary. However, at most, each pot can take over 1 month from first being made to then being released from the kiln.