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Deck ideas with planters


8 deck planter ideas for a seamless planting scheme

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(Image credit: Reveal Design)

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These deck planter ideas will help you integrate plants into your deck without needing to get lots of small pots. Whether built-in or freestanding, planters work very well for smaller decks in particular and can often double up as seating, storage, and even backyard screening, complementing any of your favorite patio furniture and the like.

Easy to incorporate into your deck ideas, these planters will suit backyards of all styles and sizes. We've also selected options for a wide range of budgets – from permanent built-in designs created by landscape architects to freestanding planters you can buy online for a couple of hundred dollars. 

1. Combine planters with built-in seating in small spaces

(Image credit: On Common Ground Landscapes)

One of the most satisfying deck planter ideas, this gorgeous design by  On Common Ground Landscapes features concrete planters along the perimeter of a small urban backyard with seating attached. A great space-saving, contemporary design that city dwellers with small decks will appreciate. 

2. Alternate planters of different heights for a playful effect

(Image credit: Amber Freda)

If you want a movable solution for a decked terrace or balcony, containers are your best bet. Choose sleek geometric shapes for a more streamlined look. You can also play with color for more design impact, as in this playful alternating container arrangement on a decked roof designed by Amber Freda .

3. Consider vertical planters

(Image credit: On Common Ground Landscapes)

Vertical garden ideas are worth exploring if your outdoor space is really tiny. Mounting wooden raised beds onto a wall is the easiest – and most impactful – option, and the wood of the beds will harmonize with the wood of your deck.

4. Pick slimline planters for small decks

(Image credit: Reveal Design)

Typically, decked outdoor spaces look better with taller and slimmer designs rather than squat and sprawling ones. The slim planters on this rooftop deck by Reveal Design Chicago create an unobtrusive lining of plants, keeping the center free for the furniture. 

5. Invest in a planter with trellis

(Image credit: Wayfair)

Need to conceal a neighboring backyard? You need to look into trellis ideas. Installing a separate trellis to your existing planters is an option, but it's much easier to get a planter that already has a trellis attached to it. For best results, choose a finish that matches your deck. The Wood Planter Box with Trellis is from Wayfair . 

6. Improvise a raised bed 

(Image credit: Gay Bumgarner / Alamy Stock Photo)

Raised beds are a must if you're considering a veggie garden, but damp wood will not be kind to your deck. Fortunately, there is a simple solution – prop up yours with terracotta pots to help preserve your deck. Or you could attach castors to the bottom and make your raised bed mobile. 

7. Get a planter that doubles up as storage

(Image credit: Wayfair)

Need clever garden storage ideas for a compact deck? Your planter could provide the solution. In smaller spaces, all items, including planters, need to work harder, so why not pick a design with an additional shelf for storing your tools and wellies? The Ashok Wood Planter Box is from Wayfair . 

8. Choose a bicycle planter for an elegant look

(Image credit: agefotostock / Alamy Stock Photo)

One of the main concerns when exploring deck ideas with planters is whether your chosen planters could eventually damage your deck. To prevent rotting or splitting, always go for a slim, lightweight design that will make a minimum of impact on the wood. Why not consider a delicate wired design? A bicycle planter can be bought from Amazon . 

What can I put under planters on a deck?

If you are going for a heavier option and are concerned about stains and/scratches and splitting, you can attach pot feet to your planters. Pot feet can be bought on Amazon and work in much the same way protectors work on your indoor furniture. Pot risers can also work quite well. You can also, as a last resort, line the bottom of your planters with plastic sheeting cut to size. 

How can I attach a planter to deck railings? 

If you really don't want to put anything on top of the deck itself and have deck railings, you have a great alternative location for a slimline planter or trough. Deck plant hooks can be bought from Amazon and don't involve any drilling – you just clip them on. Of course, you will need to measure your planter and make sure it's the right size for the hooks. You can actually buy planters with hooks, also from Amazon , which makes the job even easier. 

Anna is Content Editor at Real Homes. She moved to the world of interiors from academic research in the field of English Literature and photography. She is the author of London Writing of the 1930s and has a passion for contemporary home decor and gardening. At Real Homes, she covers a range of topics, from practical advice to interior and garden design. 

Deck planting ideas – using beds, planters and living walls |

(Image credit: Future / Annaick Guitteny)

If you want a seating or dining space that blends into your backyard, beautifully then great deck planting should be high on the agenda. Whether it’s a question of building beds into the overall design, adding planters, or opting for living walls, the best ideas will harmonize hard and soft landscaping to wonderful effect.

See: Deck ideas – creative decking ideas for your garden, patio or terrace

‘Plants are one of my favorite elements of designing a deck,’ says Karl Harrison of Karl Harrison Landscapes . ‘Think decking and plants at the same time to create a seamless garden design.’

Deck planting ideas

To inspire your deck design, or bring flowers and foliage to an existing space, take a look at our wonderful deck planting ideas.

1. Opt for architectural plants

(Image credit: Future / Alisdair Mcintosh)

With fabulous spreading fronds and a thick trunk, tree ferns are a deck planting option that will draw the eye. Build a bed into it or locate it alongside, and when you plant the tree ferns ensure there’s room at the top for their fronds – which can reach a length of 6 feet (2m) – to spread into. 

Tree ferns are very slow growing, so invest in plants of the height that suits the deck now unless you’re prepared to wait over years for them to create the spectacular display the examples in this garden do.

2. Build in planters

(Image credit: dSpace Design Studio)

Incorporate planters into the deck design, and you can add a living element to the area without compromising the space available for lounging or positioning a dining set. You could opt to put in evergreens for year-round interest. 

Here, space has been left in the middle of the structure for seating – all that’s necessary to make it a comfortable perch is to add a seat pad. If you follow this example, bear in mind that you’ll need to keep up with pruning to stop the plants growing into the bench area. 

3. Go contemporary  

(Image credit: Havwoods)

Looking for deck planting ideas that have contemporary style? Design in beds with geometric lines to complement the deck. Shapely evergreen shrubs are the ideal choice for a modern structural scheme, and beds can be top dressed with slate chippings to complete the look and keep the space low maintenance by suppressing weed growth.

See: Deck color ideas – how to choose the color to paint your deck

4. Grow a living wall

(Image credit: Future / Veronica Rodriguez)

If space is limited, you can’t build in beds, and even containers would take up too much of the area, a living wall is a brilliant deck planting idea. It transforms a boring vertical expanse into something impactful without intruding on the deck itself.

Choose annuals, perennials, and even herbs or vegetables as part of a living wall design. Just make sure they’re compact, or they won’t suffer if you prune them to keep the wall in shape. 

5. Follow the curve

(Image credit: Future/Leigh Clapp Photography)

Complement a curved deck design with an adjoining bed following the same curve that will make any planting feel like an integral part of the whole. ‘Curved edges can be used to soften the look and feel of an outdoor space,’ says Charles Taylor, Director of Composite Prime .

‘Circular fire pits in the centre of composite decking is a trend we're seeing in new garden renovations, and bay trees and ornamental topiary are also popular to prevent straight lines.’ Or, you can copy the look above, with a circular deck around a  water feature, complemented by circular deck planting around it.

6. Work with the landscape

(Image credit: Future / Mark Bolton)

You might be able to add a deck to the planting rather than adding the planting to the deck in some landscapes. Located by a river, the deck in this backyard is cantilevered over the water and is set amongst the plants that grow there naturally so it’s immersed in greenery. It’s been designed around the tree that was already there, too, with a hole cut for the trunk to emerge through the deck opposite the built-in seat.

7. Dress it like indoors

(Image credit: Future / Manolo Yllera)

A covered deck creates a fabulous outdoor room, and deck planting that echoes what you might choose indoors can be a great option for an area like this. In this comfortable seating area, palms set in wicker planters add to the cool shady feel and introduce organic color and shape. 

Follow this deck’s example of choosing tall plants to make an impact and position them to echo the symmetry of the furniture. They can be combined with smaller planters at eye level from the seating.

8. Create a green canyon

(Image credit: Future / Franchie Cristogatin)

Soften a deck that’s surrounded by high walls whether of the house or the garden’s boundaries with planting that extends from the deck to the highest level. Layering the plants can maximize the feeling of being surrounded, so fill borders even if they’re narrow, grow climbers behind, add trees in containers rather than smaller plants, and plant up any balcony space, too. 

9. Enjoy color

(Image credit: Photography © Jonathan Buckley)

Containers filled with flowers are a lovely planting idea for a deck, as well as a fantastic way to bring color to other parts of the garden. ‘If I had to name one thing I’ve increasingly enjoyed in my garden over the last few years, it would have to be our ever-burgeoning tribe of pots and containers,’ says gardener and writer Sarah Raven.

‘They’re a powerful strand of color that draws lines, creates groups, curves and circles, highlights layers and steps, but most of all gives the Perch Hill garden crucial dollops of full-on painterly color. ’

‘For smaller pots I love pelargoniums,’ Sarah adds. ‘Most flower without cease, with little water and almost no dead-heading. My top all-round favourite variety is the scented-leaved Attar of Roses, but this soft pink flowered pelargonium couldn’t be claimed to be a full-on color merchant. For bold and brilliant color you want Pink Capitatum (syn. P. caprifolium), P. Clorinda, or Lara Starshine, all three bright, breezy, easy to look after and always flowery.’

Find the products shown above at Sarah Raven .

10.  Scale deck planting to the size of the backyard

(Image credit: Laara Copley-Smith Garden Design)

Bear the proportions of the backyard in mind when planning deck planting. ‘To maximize light and space in a tiny basement yard, the planting for the
deck had to be minimal,’ says designer Laara Copley-Smith of this London garden. ‘Bamboo was a must on the client brief and I advised this must be contained to avoid it spreading and so planters for it were built into the design.

‘Two multi-stem Acer palmatum were planted alongside the deck for their shape, form and foliage with a Trachelospermum jasminoides on a stainless-steel trellis bringing scent and flowers to the garden.’

See: Small garden decking ideas – clever ways to enhance your space

11. Overlook blooms

(Image credit: Composite Prime)

A bed at the immediate edge of a deck can allow you to plant flowers in the foreground of your view, as well as enjoy the vista over the length of the garden. Choose scented blooms and you can take advantage of the fragrance as well as the shape and color of the deck planting. 

Take note of the eventual height of what you plant in this scenario, which will be influenced by the height of the deck above the garden beyond. The blooms should be easily visible but not grow so tall as to obscure the outlook.

12. Edge the deck with planting

(Image credit: Sadolin)

Build beds into the deck’s structure that can create living borders in glorious color. For small flowers a narrow channel is all that’s required. A single flower choice can create a ribbon of color that makes a splash, while a pair of different colored plants is a pretty alternative.

These mini beds can be combined with other built-in planting as in this design. They’re especially effective positioned alongside steps to create a direct view of the planting as you climb.

13. Match planters to the deck

(Image credit: Ronseal)

Go for planters that match the color of the deck boards for an easy deck planting solution that ensures the look is pulled-together. Groups of odd numbers like the three gray planters here look best for a casual scheme, while symmetrical positioning will suit a formal entertaining area. But if the latter’s the case, size up the planters chosen so they don’t look lost on the expanse of the deck. 

You can find more deck color ideas in our dedicated gallery of inspiring images.

14. Grow climbers between the deck and house

(Image credit: Ikea)

If the deck sits right up against your house, planting between the two can soften the boundary – and growing leafy, evergreen climbers are a clever way to add greenery without taking up floor space, ideal if you are looking for small garden decking ideas.

15. Suspend the deck above the planting

(Image credit: Jay Graham Photographer)

This deck planting in this Californian backyard is the focus of the entire home, with the deck itself suspended up in the tree canopy. Created by Gary Marsh Design, the whole design concept aims to make the deck blend into the planting surrounding it, with a slim railing to allowing the view to be the focal point.

You can see more deck railing ideas in our dedicated guide.

What can I plant next to my deck?

What you plant next to your deck should complement the rest of the planting in your backyard. In other words, if the space has contemporary style, you’ll want to continue this theme alongside the deck, likely with sculptural foliage plants. Likewise if the back yard is full of cottage-style flowers, stick to similar choices, and so on.

Start by picking out the larger plants you want to include: shrubs or even small trees can suit if the deck is raised so there’s plenty growing at eye level from the deck. Ornamental grasses are also ideal alongside a raised deck.

If you want a great show of blooms, pick some perennials to go in next to the deck. There’s a world of choice, but you might go for tall bold cannas or day lilies for summer color. Want fragrance and a sea of color? A bed of lavender is hard to beat.

If there’s a wall or fence near your deck make sure you put in some climbers, too. Star jasmine and Clematis montana can create a wonderful display next to a deck.

What to put under pots on a deck?

Put pot pads or risers or planter feet under pots on a deck. They’ll lift the pots a little way off the deck so water doesn’t collect under them. This could stain the timber and even eventually rot it, and it creates a situation in which mold and mildew thrives.

If planters are light enough, you could move them around instead. Don’t keep swapping them to the same spots, though. It’s worth putting smaller planters away in winter, too, if they were home to summer blooming plants.

How can I make my deck look good – with planting?

To make your deck look good consider setting the deck planting against the color of the decking. ‘Decking – like Trex – has many different color combinations which makes the planting even more exciting,’ advises garden designer Karl Harrison.

‘Living walls are in vogue at the moment and you can create a similar effect by asking your decking designer to incorporate some stainless steel trellis cables,’ Karl adds.

‘If you wanted a less architectural look and a more natural effect, try wild flowers. There are many companies that supply wild flower mix, and you could also buy wild flower turf which helps to attract a whole plethora of bees, butterflies and the like.

‘When it comes to container planting on a deck, an idea is to design the decking frame to accommodate the planter. Once the decking frame has been constructed simply place the container into the slot. Now you can fit the decking up to the planter.

‘The cherry on the top would be to place lighting in the planters, a few uplighters or an LED strip hidden under the lip of the planter will add a romantic warm glow in the evenings. Be sure to use warm white for the best effect.’

How can I make my deck more inviting – with planting?

To make your deck more inviting with planting there are a whole host of options. ‘Go for impact,’ suggests garden designer Tracey Parker of Tracey Parker Landscape Design . ‘Large feature planters filled with evergreen architectural foliage such as fatsia underplanted with trailing plants will create a year-round focal point.’

Evoking a vacation mood with planting can also make a deck inviting. Try just a few planters filled with large colorful flowers and tropical leaves, Tracey suggests.

See: Decking design mistakes – the common errors to avoid

Shelter around the deck can turn it into a cocooning space. ‘Use deep trough planters filled with tall grasses such as Miscanthus ‘Morning Light’ to filter the wind and create a sense of enclosure whilst seated,’ says Tracey.

A touch of hotel style could also be a winning strategy to make a deck inviting. ‘Cut a hole in the deck to grow a specimen tree through; one with multi-stem trunks or interesting bark will give the feel of a luxury hotel,’ Tracey advises.

Sarah is a freelance journalist and editor. Previously executive editor of Ideal Home, she’s specialized in interiors, property and gardens for over 20 years, and covers interior design, house design, gardens, and cleaning and organizing a home for H&G. She’s written for websites, including Houzz, Channel 4’s flagship website, 4Homes, and Future’s T3; national newspapers, including The Guardian; and magazines including Future’s Country Homes & Interiors, Homebuilding & Renovating, Period Living, and Style at Home, as well as House Beautiful, Good Homes, Grand Designs, Homes & Antiques, LandLove and The English Home among others. It’s no big surprise that she likes to put what she writes about into practice, and is a serial house renovator. 

Terrace design: a collection of ideas | ELLEDECORATION

Tips

White House

Decorator Kirill Istomin: “I think that a wooden veranda is a necessary attribute of a country house. I really like that this veranda is open and has access to the street. Wooden structures are painted white, which, combined with brightly patterned fabrics, creates a joyful summer mood. A spectacular technique is flowers and plants in pots on the steps. This veranda looks like a full-fledged summer room, so white linen curtains can be hung between the columns.”

Botany lessons

Designer Maxim Languev: “Climbing plants on an open terrace are a beautiful solution. Judging by the wisteria, this is happening in a more comfortable climate than ours. I saw a wonderful reception in the Helsinki Botanical Gardens: on one terrace, all the loaches of the region were presented. I would gladly repeat, although it is an art to plan plantings so that more active plants do not overwhelm those that are weaker. The wall with a row of windows surrounding the terrace in the photo creates a certain microclimate for plants. But I would prefer to have a roof over my head - we, alas, do not have much heat. As for wooden flooring in the open air, in our conditions you can use Finnish “semi-finished products” - they last a long time, tested on our own experience.”

Everything is transparent

Decorator Tatyana Alenina: “Terraces built into glass extensions to the house make it possible to achieve a feeling of complete unity with nature. The roof freely passes the sun and at the same time protects from the rain. Transparent walls do not interfere with admiring the garden. On such a modern terrace, old furniture looks perfect. I really like the table with peeling paint in the photo, wooden chairs, wrought iron chandelier. Stone slab floor - travertine and marble are suitable for these purposes. The floors can also be plank, for example, from larch. As for the plastic in the finish, I'm against it. In a natural environment, you don’t want to surround yourself with anything artificial.”

Summer shift

Designer Jonathan Adler: “The terrace is the boundary strip between the street and the house. This duality gives the designer food for the imagination. You can make the terrace look like a garden: wrap the walls with greenery, make everything tubs with flowers, do without a canopy at all. Or, on the contrary, you can place the terrace in the extension, emphasizing its involvement in the house. The architects from the Gray Organschi Architecture bureau, who designed my terrace, took the second path, although they opened it to all winds. The decoration used tinted wood. I often work on the terrace, sometimes even at night. Therefore, there are several light sources here: a chandelier, lamps built into the ceiling and floor lamps.

Colorful ribbon

Designer Matteo Thun: “This is our terrace in a house on the island of Capri. The key role in the project was played by the material - bright ceramics, traditional for these places. She is not at all afraid of moisture, and the drawing does not fade from the bright sun. At the same time, the colors are natural. We tiled the railings, as well as the bench in front of the table. The tabletop is decorated with ceramics with a different ornament. Since we are gathering on the terrace with a large group, additional seats were needed. Folding chairs in red, matched to the tone of the facade of the house, fit perfectly.

Natural phenomenon

Decorator Svetlana Arefyeva: “I like a certain austerity inherent in the interior in the photo. This terrace will be good both surrounded by fresh spring greenery, and with a background of flaming autumn leaves, and even in a colorless winter with graphic tree branches. But I have some doubts about comfort. I'm not sure that folding furniture adds coziness. With her, the room is perceived exclusively as a summer dining room, but why such frames? Replace chairs with wicker chairs and the feeling will change immediately. In addition, it is not very clear how the lighting is decided. The light from the window of the house is clearly not enough. I would add floor lamps or table lamps.”

Oriental accent

Designer Evgenia Zhdanova: “In this project near Moscow, we tried to recreate the special peaceful atmosphere inherent in the Uzbek tea house. The open area with a diameter of 8 m has three functional areas: a kitchenette, a dining room and a lounge with deep sofas. More than 30 guests can comfortably accommodate here. The furniture is made to order. The seats have removable covers for easy maintenance. The space is built around a barbecue. According to safety precautions, the hearth is located strictly at a safe distance from the recreation area. Traditional Uzbek utensils and textiles helped to complete the image.”

Ambient

Designer Bill Jason: “Terrace wood like this one is one of the most requested options. An alternative is an open podium taken out into the garden. Please note that even with a roof, canopy and protective fences, on windy days, slanting rains can flood the deck. Therefore, floorboards are usually not fitted tightly to each other, but leave a gap of 1–2 mm. Under the floor of the terrace, a drainage system should be arranged that removes moisture outside the house. As for the choice of wood, larch or beech will do. And be sure to treat the surface with ship varnish.

The Tree of Life

Architects Stanislav Samkovich and Taras Bezrukov: “The outdoor terrace adjacent to the glazed veranda is a universal solution: in good weather you can enjoy the sun, and in rainy weather you can relax under the roof, wrapped in a blanket. We love the boardwalk and wooden furniture. As an option, you can paint the table and chairs with white paint and put a small rattan sofa instead of a bench. A great idea is greenery and flowers in a flower pot: every year you can change the palette due to annual plants. In the evening, candles are suitable for creating an atmosphere: they can be arranged or hung in lanterns.

Kananykina Elena

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Vases and pots for the veranda and terrace photo and description

We decorate the veranda and terrace with our own hands

The main difference between a vase and a planter is their purpose. A vase is a direct container for a plant, and a planter serves as a decoration for a flowerpot, since a flower pot is placed in it.

Variety of flowerpots for verandas and terraces

There are a lot of varieties of vases. When choosing the shape or size of the container, it is necessary to build on the amount of free space. The color scheme is also of great importance: the vase is an addition to the plant, and its appearance should not exceed the flowering culture itself. It is best to choose neutral white, beige and terracotta shades.

Large vase for decorating an outdoor terrace

Stone vases

This material is very popular, and both natural and artificial stone can be used. Such compositions will look harmonious in the antique style. Stone flowerpots retain moisture for a long time, which prevents the soil from drying out for plants.

Stone sculptures for flowers

Ceramic

Ceramic containers look very modern and aesthetically pleasing. They can be used for both indoor and outdoor spaces. The material is resistant to adverse weather conditions.

Ceramic vases suitable for both home and terrace

Concrete

If the terrace is large, you can decorate and diversify the interior with the help of concrete containers. Moreover, you can use various containers intended for construction.

Easy-to-make concrete block flowerpots

Plastic vases

Plastic flowerpots are the most popular due to their mobility and ease of care. Low cost, a variety of colors and shapes allows each summer resident to decorate the room to their liking.

Plastic flowerpots are versatile and affordable

DIY containers for flowerpots

It is possible to make a flowerpot with your own hands from a wide variety of items. An old leaky bucket, large dishes, an unnecessary barrel or a wooden box will do.

Flowerpot from an old barrel

It is recommended to disinfect the container inside and open it with varnish from the outside - this way the flowerpot will last longer and the plants will be healthy.

Use of old furniture as flower beds

Craftsmen often use clay. Thanks to it, you can create unique shapes, and a special glaze will help protect the material from destruction.

Easy-to-make clay flower vases

Decor plays a major role in creating flowerpots with your own hands. For decoration, you can use ribbons and lace, beads, fragments of broken mirrors, shells and fancy-shaped stones.

Flowerbed from an old bathroom decorated with mosaics

Flowerpot from old shoes

Veranda and terrace planter ideas

The word cache-pot (from French cache-pot) literally translates as "hidden pot". Its main function is to be a decorative shell. It is conditionally possible to distinguish 2 main varieties of planters:

Indoor planters are made from any material: plastic, clay, macrame, metal, glass, wood or ceramic. First of all, it is part of the interior, so its main function is an original addition to the flowerpot.

Veranda and terrace planter

Planters used for outdoor verandas and terraces should not only be beautiful, but also resistant to adverse weather conditions. They are most often made of plastic, faience or ceramics.

Regardless of where you will use the pots, they are divided into the following groups:

Wall planter

Wall pots must be well fixed, and it is not recommended to put large flowerpots in them due to their heavy weight. The design itself should be not only beautiful, but also reliable. For the manufacture of most often used metal or plastic.

Metal container holder to decorate the exterior wall of the building

Hanging planter

This species is the most common. The most popular hanging planter is wicker. It can be easily made by yourself with coarse strong threads. Hanging pots can be in the form of a metal structure, or a wooden figure.

Hanging planter on chains with coconut fiber stand

Table planter

The most bizarre forms of flower pots can be found among the desktop. They can be made from any material, even glass. They can be used both in a closed veranda and on an open terrace. Table pots are quite mobile and practical.

Bicycle-shaped porch table planter

Floor planter

This species is quite large compared to others. Since this planter is designed for large flowerpots, it takes up a lot of space. Most often they are used to decorate outdoor terraces. It is necessary to take into account the material from which such decoration is made - it can be stainless metal, wood, plastic or ceramics.

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