How to clear old soil from terracotta pots?

I have several terracotta pots which are rammed with old soil and I would like to recycle them with fresh compost. Do I drill the old soil to loosen it or is there a better way without damaging the terracotta?

 

Would it not wash out?

G.

 

I hack in the soil with a trowel to loosen the soil then tip it up and knock it out. It works for me and it gets like rock here.

 

Is this post for real? Sounds like a trolls question. Sorry but why not wet it and scoop it out with a trowel?

 

I don't think Who am I? is a troll with 49 posts and terracotta pots can get flakey and crumble, believe me. I have lost many over the years.

 

Think I would go with mixture of what @Jack Sparrow & @Victoria have both said, trowel and loosen, get out what I can then wash out the rest.

 

I would soak them in a big bucket for a while. Sorted.

 

I think soaking and a good stiff brush is a good way to attack the coating. Some might clean up quickly and the you'll have some stubborn ones. Patience and water are our friends.

Let us know how you make out.

Should have had my name as, been there done that, when it comes to the basics instead of Canadian Lori!

 

A tad inconsiderate, some comments. Not Gardeners Corner quality.

Terracotta pots are of value. Dried compacted compost inside them, does call for som TLC etc. To suddenly force a trowl, knife etc simply forces an expansion, thus exerting internal pressure and liable to split the pot. Try immersing the pots upside down in water. Being upside down, the compost will soften and gradually slide out.

 

With all respect to you too @ARMANDII , the OP did suggest using a drill to loosen the soil.

 

Yes indeed redwing, the same drill I use to plant bulbs. It removes soil and avoids the problem Mike Allen mentions of adding pressure to the pot. Thank you all for your more constructive comments. I'll try soaking them in a binful of water and see if that will loosen the soil. Be happy redwing, it's a nice feeling.

 

Ok I now realise the OP is not a troll so sorry for the troll comment. In fairness to me if you read my post above, I did suggest wetting the soil and scooping it out with a trowel.

Sometimes I give long and detailed advice to novice gardeners based on years of gardening experience. (Over 40 years gardening, worked in propagation in a nursery for a few years and married to a farmer). Sometimes there is no thanks and the person asking the question is never to be heard from again. The original question in this case seemed suspicious to me. Anyone remember the watering lawn in winter in Scotland question? It reminded me of that.