Planting containers are available to us in many different materials, sizes and designs. No matter what, it's nice to follow the rule that the container should play second fiddle to what is planted within. There are times when bright color and pattern are appropriate on the surface of a container and there is nothing like good old exterior latex paint for this purpose.
Most times however, I prefer a muted, natural finish. Time and weather usually create a nice natural looking surface but it takes a long time to get there. I usually am working with brand new containers, specifically concrete and/or hypertufa. These are both natural finishes, but they are too clean and too gray and need something to integrate them into the garden setting. These surfaces can be changed with all sorts of finish solutions from the craft or hardware store but usually with a hefty price tag. There is a very simple, natural technique for giving ceramic, concrete or hypertufa a wonderful natural finish we’ll call "Mudcoat". It uses materials you already have at home in your garden…dark garden soil and water...and with all this rain we have been having lately, you should have plenty around.
Look around for a spot with dark soil, even dense clay will work for this , in fact it is what you want versus composty loam- no mulch, potting soil or sand---just good dark soil. Cover about 4 cups of soil with water and stir vigorously to make a thick brown creamy goo! Use an old window screen to strain the mixture into another plastic container and you are ready to go.
Wearing mudgloves, use an old brush to apply the mudcoat to the surface of your container, making sure to cover everything with a thick coating. Every surface should be covered and every hole filled, inside and out. Eventually I found myself using just my gloved hands to apply the coating because it was easier to rub the mud into the surface of the container.
Allow the coated container to dry in the sun and then you can plant it. Because the container is dry when you apply the mudocat, it really soaks it in deeply and will stay on the pot even through rain and weather. Over time, it will slowly wash away but the deep color remains as a natural stain on the surface of your container. You can’t get more natural than that!
