Container Knife: “Brown is a colour too”

With the appearance of seeds, dead leaves, plant debris and withered flowers, the end of the garden cycle draws near. For many perennials that are not evergreen, this means they retreat back underground in winter, whilst the above-ground parts die back before winter sets in. The arrival of autumn is a time for pruning back plants, whilst the arrival of winter means waiting for spring. But as Piet Oudolf, known for his four-season garden, says: “Brown is a colour too”.

In spring, the underground parts of the plant begin to sprout again slowly. Perennials grow outwards from the centre, which means that the youngest, most vigorous plants are found on the outside of the clump, causing the centre to become less vigorous. As soon as you notice this, it is time to rejuvenate the plant by dividing or splitting it.

To divide the plant, you need to cut it loose from the pot. However, this can present some difficulties if the plant’s roots have become entangled with the porous parts of the pot. To make cutting the plant free from a pot quicker and easier, we developed the Flower Pot or Container Knife in 2019, which was also nominated at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2020!

1. To cut through the roots, use both a forwards and a backwards motion; the knife is therefore sharpened on both sides.
2. The handle has been designed so that your hand cannot slip towards the blade during forward and/or backward movements.
3. Thanks to the variety of containers and flower pots available, it has become a long and versatile knife that can be used anywhere.
4. The tip of the blade is rectangular but has a sharp edge. If the plant’s roots have grown through the hole in the flowerpot, you can easily cut through them.