A saucer that saves watering in summer can become a little reservoir of unwanted rain in winter. For ordinary outdoor pots that need free drainage, I remove the saucer and check that water can leave the pot and run away beneath it.
I use Weston Mill terracotta pot feet under suitable containers to create that gap. They look at home beneath terracotta, and they make the drainage opening easier to keep clear. Their useful part is the support and space underneath, not simply their appearance.
Here is what I check before buying, including why a raised pot can still end up standing in water.
A saucer changes from useful reservoir to unwanted trap
In dry summer weather, a saucer can help conserve water beneath a thirsty container. The RHS explicitly distinguishes this seasonal benefit from winter care, when it recommends removing saucers. Rain continues arriving while many plants use less water.
An empty saucer does not remain empty outdoors. Once it fills, water can stand around the pot’s drainage holes. Putting feet inside that same saucer may create a gap initially, but it does not guarantee free drainage if the stored water rises high enough.
This advice concerns containers that need drainage. A deliberately managed aquatic planting is a different system. Likewise, an indoor saucer protecting furniture needs its own watering routine rather than simply being removed onto a floor.
Follow one drop all the way out
Start with the drainage hole, then look at the space beneath it and the surface beyond the pot. Water needs all three parts of that route. A clear hole over a gap still will not help much if the slab sits in a puddle.
For a pot sitting flat against paving, suitable feet can open the middle of the route. Position them so the base is supported and the holes remain clear. Check for rocking before leaving the container; do not stack loose supports just to gain height.
The Weston Mill feet I use have a ledge that bears the pot. Overall height is not the same as the actual lift beneath the base, so check that ledge if you need a particular clearance. For an unusually heavy or tall planter, confirm the supports suit its load and shape.
Keep checking compost through winter. A pot tucked under cover may dry out while exposed pots beside it stay wet. Good drainage and enough watering still have to work together.
| Container situation | Useful action | What feet cannot fix |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor pot sitting flat on sound paving | Check holes and fit stable, suitable feet | Waterlogged compost caused by poor growing conditions |
| Saucer repeatedly full after rain | Remove the saucer for winter drainage | A closed outer cachepot that still traps water |
| Pot stands in a low puddling area | Move to a freely draining position | A patio surface that remains submerged |
| Sheltered evergreen under cover | Check moisture regularly and water when needed | Drought caused by assuming winter means no watering |
| Very heavy or unusually shaped container | Use supports rated and shaped for the load | An unstated load limit on decorative feet |
Check the support ledge, not just overall height
Weston Mill lists its medium traditional feet at 4cm wide, 7cm long and 4.5cm overall height. The last figure is not automatically a 4.5cm lift beneath the pot. The pot rests on a lower ledge, while part of the foot rises beside it.
That distinction matters when you are trying to clear a raised paving edge or ensure a drainage gap. Ask for the actual ledge height if the dimension is critical, and compare the ledge shape with the pot’s base. A rounded or recessed bottom may not sit as expected.
The Weston Mill set contains three solid-clay feet, made in Suffolk. The source specification used here does not state a kilogram load rating. Do not infer one from the description “medium” or use the set under an exceptionally heavy planter without confirming suitability.
Three supports need sensible placement
Set the feet evenly on a firm, level surface before the pot becomes too heavy to handle comfortably. I check that the base bears on each ledge and the whole pot is steady after moving it.
For a compatible round pot, distribute the supports evenly around its base on a firm, level surface. Keep them away from drainage openings and make sure each bears properly on the intended base edge. Check the whole assembly for rocking before leaving it.
Do not assume that stacking feet provides a safe extra lift. If the original set does not create the needed clearance, choose a properly designed alternative or change the position. Loose stacks introduce another point of movement beneath a heavy container.
Drainage and frost protection are different jobs
Once the drainage route is clear, my guide to fleece and bubble wrap for pots explains which part of the plant or container each material protects.
A pot on feet can still freeze. The RHS identifies freezing compost as a major winter risk and suggests protection or temporary cover where necessary. Raising the base is not a frost-hardiness guarantee for either the plant or the pot material.
During very wet periods, shelter from excessive rain can help sodden compost dry a little. A wall’s rain shadow may be sufficient in some gardens, but sheltered evergreens still need checking: the RHS recommends at least weekly moisture checks for evergreens and conifers under cover, with watering if needed and avoiding watering when frost is forecast.
Check moisture in the compost rather than judging only the surface colour. A dry-looking crust can conceal wet material underneath. Equally, a pot sheltered from rain can become too dry while nearby exposed containers remain wet.
Buy for the pot you have
Measure the base, inspect its shape and decide where the water will go. The medium Weston Mill terracotta feet make sense when they fit securely and suit the load; they are not a universal fix for every planter.
For plant selection in an exposed site, our lavender guide for sandy and coastal gardens adds context about matching plants to conditions. Our watering advice for fast-draining gardens covers the opposite seasonal problem: how quickly a free-draining site can dry out.
Buying decision: remove the winter water trap first, then choose properly fitting pot feet where the base needs lifting. A clear hole, stable support and somewhere for the water to escape are the three checks that make the purchase useful.
