How to use broken terracotta pots in the garden

Before you toss that cracked terracotta pot into the bin, pause. Those broken pieces still have plenty of life left in them. In fact, they can be surprisingly useful in your garden – and add a touch of charm while they’re at it.

Here’s how to turn chipped and shattered pots into something practical and beautiful.

Improve drainage in containers

One of the simplest ways to reuse broken terracotta is inside your plant pots. Place a curved shard over the drainage hole before adding soil. This keeps compost from washing out while still allowing water to flow freely.

You can also layer larger pieces at the base of deep containers. This reduces the amount of potting mix needed and makes heavy pots easier to move – especially helpful on patios and balconies.

Create eye-catching garden edging

Broken rims and sides can be pressed into the soil along the edge of a flower bed or pathway. The warm, earthy tones contrast beautifully with greenery and help keep loose soil in place.

It’s an easy way to define spaces in the garden without spending on new materials. The look feels relaxed and natural – perfect for a cottage-style setting.

Build a miniature rock garden

If you enjoy a creative project, stack larger fragments inside a wide container to form little planting pockets. Fill them with succulents, aloes or other drought-tolerant plants.

Add gravel or small stones for texture and you’ll have a compact rock garden ideal for a sunny stoep or courtyard. Over time, as plants settle in, the arrangement only becomes more characterful.

Offer pollinators a water stop

During hot South African summers, bees and butterflies struggle to find shallow water sources. If you have a curved piece that can hold liquid, place it in a shaded spot and fill it with fresh water.

Add a few pebbles so insects have something to land on. It’s a small gesture that supports the life in your garden.

Make a toad shelter

Toads are wonderful natural pest controllers. They feed on insects and help keep the balance in your beds.

Take a larger broken pot, turn it on its side and tuck it into a cool, shady corner. Leave a gap for entry. This simple hideaway offers protection from heat and predators, encouraging these helpful visitors to stick around.

Deter slugs and snails

Crush smaller fragments into chunky bits and scatter them around vulnerable plants such as lettuce or strawberries. The rough surface is uncomfortable for soft-bodied pests to move across.

It’s a chemical-free way to add an extra layer of protection to your crops.

Broken terracotta carries a rustic beauty that only improves with age. Instead of seeing damage, view it as an opportunity to add texture, structure and purpose to your outdoor space.

Sometimes the pieces that seem unusable turn out to be the most versatile of all.

ALSO SEE: WHY GARDENERS SWEAR BY TERRACOTTA POTS – AND YOU SHOULD TOO