Flower planter box ideas
20 Planter Box Ideas to Inspire You
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
1
Wicker
Marlijn Vorstenbosch / EyeEm//Getty ImagesA wicker or basket-style window box lends a genteel English country garden feel, so go ahead and fill it with herbs or lavender.
2
Terra Cotta
Michel VIARD//Getty ImagesThis clay planter overflowing with geraniums has on Old World European feel. Mount it on a fence or beneath a window.
3
Vintage Washtub
Janis Christie//Getty ImagesVisit antique shops or vintage stores to find an old metal washtub that makes the perfect addition to any country garden.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
4
Rain Boots
Imagesbybarbara//Getty ImagesRain boots make a whimsical garden planter for annuals like these impatiens, vinca, begonias, and pansies. Use one pair of boots as an accent, or line up several in different colors for more visual impact.
5
Wrought Iron
lawcain//Getty ImagesA wrought iron planter box with scrolls and embellishments makes it feel as if you're strolling along in the French Quarter.
6
Wheelbarrow
Leschenko//Getty ImagesScour yard sales for an old wheelbarrow to fill with summer annuals like these petunias. The more weathered, the better the effect for a cottage-style garden. Bonus: You can move it as needed.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7
Old Suitcase
okskukuruza//Getty ImagesGet out of a rut with this creative planter box! A bright and battered suitcase makes the perfect backdrop for cheery marigolds in a country-style garden.
8
Saucepan
Westend61//Getty ImagesThis trio of old cooking pots make a clever home for easy-care succulents with a peace lily as a vertical accent. Place this display near your outdoor dining area as a conversation starter.
And don't forget to drill holes for drainage!
9
Hypertufa
ChuBlue//Getty ImagesHypertufa, a mixture of coco fiber, Portland cement, and perlite, is a versatile concrete look-alike, only much lighter (and you can make it yourself!).
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
10
Wagon
Mark Edward Atkinson//Getty ImagesAn old wagon holds pots of springtime flowers in a casual garden. Move it to sunnier (or shadier) spots as needed throughout the growing season.
11
Tree Trunk
knaufb//Getty ImagesA tree trunk, with a section hollowed out, makes a rustic planter that's at home in a cottage garden.
12
Boat
plcintercomms//Getty ImagesAn old boat is converted to a planter box with a pond liner and water lilies in this creative take on a water garden.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13
Chair Frame
jeangill//Getty ImagesAn old wooden chair frame is the perfect base for succulents, which are shallow-rooted enough to work well in this type of planter box.
14
Stock Tank
Leon Justice//Getty ImagesA galvanized aluminum stock tank makes a great water garden or traditional planter box because it comes in various sizes and shapes. It lends either a rustic or modern edge, depending on the style of the rest of your garden.
15
Bicycle Baskets
Sir Francis Canker Photography//Getty ImagesAn old bike with baskets on the front and back offers interest and whimsy to a country-style garden. It's also a way to keep your flowers safe from hungry bunnies if they're a problem in your yard!
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
16
Colander
Westend61//Getty ImagesTiny grape hyacinth bulbs make a cheery addition to your back porch for a springtime display in this old colander.
17
Hayrack Frame
Grace Cary//Getty ImagesThis metal frame, called a hayrack, is lined with spaghnum moss, and has a decidedly formal, romantic feel.
18
Repurposed Pallets
Anfisa Kameneva / EyeEm//Getty ImagesUse scrap pallets to create a wall planter box in vibrant colors. Plant directly in the box or fill with individual potted plants such as sweet alyssum, begonias and petunias.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
19
Old Dresser
wwing//Getty ImagesUse an old dresser to make an instant garden anywhere, even along a sidewalk. Either plant all the drawers or just one, and store garden tools in the rest.
20
Concrete
Jacky Parker Photography//Getty ImagesAlmost indestructible, concrete planters add a solid sense of Old World charm. They work in most garden settings, and they acquire an attractive weathered patina over time.
10 ways to create spectacular displays |
If you are seeking stylish planter box ideas to give your yard a lift, then look no further.
Choosing stylish containers, pairing plants and pots effectively, and locating them for maximum effect can transform your outside space.
When it comes to choosing the perfect planter to realize your container gardening ideas, there are plenty of materials, shapes and sizes to choose from. And brave and bold planting choices will immediately draw the eye and make an impact.
Whether you are after a window box bursting with seasonal blooms or a majestic large-scale container with small tree, your choice will contribute hugely to your property’s appeal.
Planter box ideas
Planters are ideal when you’re looking for small garden ideas or if you have a larger backyard. Place in pairs either side of the front entrance, line up along the walkway or poolside or plant up a standout design to bring seasonal interest to your porch.
Use them for flowers, foliage, or trees, or opt for herb planter ideas so you can bring your herb garden ideas to life, taking inspiration from the planter box ideas we’ve put together here.
1. Introduce rhythm and interest with planter boxes
(Image credit: Authentic Provence)
If you want your planter box ideas to create a true spectacle, line them up along a terrace or at the poolside and intersperse them with topiary. Choosing a striking shape and color and pairing them with dark leaved evergreens makes them an eye-catching feature.
Wooden planter boxes add a formal note and have a rich heritage, as Sarah Casey from Authentic Provence explains. ‘The handmade Authentic Provence Versailles garden planter is an exact re-edition of the French planter boxes from the 17th century as seen throughout the gardens at the Château de Versailles. Traditionally, citrus trees are planted within these vessels. Our Versailles planters have removable wood panels in order to easily extract the citrus tree, or care for its roots.’
2. Go for circular planter boxes
(Image credit: Jo Alderson Design)
Elegant and ideal for planting trees and sprawling blooms, circular planters add instant grace to any outdoor space.
Besides adding a sense of movement and gentle lines to a design, they also contrast beautifully with square and rectangular paving, rills, walls and fencing.
Pepper a space with two or three large scale circular planters – as shown in this design by Jo Alderson – to encourage guests to wind their way between them and explore the space beyond. Plant them with an ornamental tree and they will cast a delicate dappled shade beneath them, creating the perfect place to sit out of the sun.
Jo Alderson explains, ‘Being mature these trees did the job instantly and are one of the main architectural features of the garden. These trees weigh well over a ton each so specialists were employed to use tele handlers to place them. Each tree is guyed using tensile steel wires beneath the ground and planted in organic compost with a timed irrigation system.’
3. Brighten up railings and balconies
(Image credit: Elho)
Make the most of flower power with balcony garden ideas like this bridge-style planter.
Designed to slot over the handrail it can become home to cheery annuals for a seasonal display, trailing vines and or even herbs and homegrown crops. Place at regular intervals for a smart symmetrical look or maximize the effect by nudging them up right next to each other.
The team at Dutch sustainable flowerpot company Elho say, ‘The flower bridge model offers a simple way to create a sea of flourishing plants that disguises urban surroundings, as they are suitable for almost any balcony, easily slotting on to a variety of railings up to 2.6 inches (6.5cm) wide. Each of these pots has a large growing space allowing plant roots plenty of room to grow.’
4. Style up a corner with planters
(Image credit: A Place in the Garden)
Want to add some leafy interest to an empty corner of your yard? Then planter box ideas are the answer. Not only can you group and position them to make the most of your available space, but you can also tailor the planting to suit your style and your yard’s aspect.
Many designs come in a range of sizes and heights, so why not opt for a trio to create a smart and cohesive display at slightly different levels?
Add a touch of variety by mixing in a few containers of contrasting shape or size but do stick to the same finish or material for a smart, co-ordinated display.
When it comes to choosing plants, decide on how bold and colouful you wish the result to be. A mix of clipped evergreens and slender deciduous trees – such as these white stemmed birch trees – create a timeless feel that also reflects the change in seasons, but tropical garden ideas using cannas, fatsia and palms would suit warmer climes or try sculptural drought lovers such as agaves, manzanita, cactus and lantana.
5. Go big with Corten steel planters
(Image credit: Adezz)
Bold and beautiful, large scale weathered steel planters make a striking statement either side of a walkway or in the middle of a border. With their rich rusted surface that develops and intensifies with age, they make the perfect foil for lush foliage and textured grasses.
Substantial in size with circular, square and rectangular shapes all on offer, they are perfect for showcasing trees for small gardens, ornamental grasses and low growing evergreens such as carex, brunnera and Coral Bells (heuchera).
6. Choose a planter for the perfect growing conditions
(Image credit: iBulb)
Planter boxes provide portable and versatile growing opportunities. Not only can they be repositioned – with the caveat that some may take more effort and ingenuity to move than others – but the soil and drainage can be tailored to suit the plant you wish to grow.
Water-loving Calla or Arum lilies thrive in cool, moist compost and like to have their heads in full sun, so raising them in a pot is the perfect way to meet their complex needs. Likewise, if the soil in your yard tends to be acidic or clay based it will make growing some plants such as lavender, Euonymus and lilac almost impossible. Naturally lime loving, these striking and fragrant plants could be among your planter box ideas instead as you can go for an alkaline soil mix.
Planters also enable you to make the most of the different aspects of your garden. Cool shady spots are ideally suited to growing ferns, foam flower (Tiarella) and hostas.
7. Plant up a wild and wistful display
The Rectangular Metal Planter, Architectural Heritage
(Image credit: Architectural Heritage)
There’s something magical about a large-scale industrial-style planter teamed with a mass of airy and delicate blooms. The contrast of textures is enchanting and whether the container is made of concrete or sheet metal it’s sure to highlight the intricacy of the tiny flowers.
Go for as big a design as your yard will accommodate and fill with four or five plant varieties to create look of a wild grassland or prairie. A long, rectangular planter such as this antique copper design is ideal for edging a terrace or subtly dividing up a vast patio or courtyard into smaller, more intimate spaces.
Osaka planter in five sizes, the Boulevard range, IOTA Garden
(Image credit: IOTA Garden)
‘On a large terrace or patio, sometimes one or two large planted containers suited to the scale can have much more impact than several smaller ones, which may look insignificant or a little fussy,’ says the team at planter specialists IOTA Garden .
‘If you are looking to plant a tree or large shrub in a container, be sure to pick one that is large enough to accommodate the tree as it grows, so you do not need to re-pot it after a couple of years. If there's plenty of space around the trunk, you can add interest by underplanting with low-growing grasses or add some seasonal color.’
9. Guide the eye with a pair of planter boxes
(Image credit: Arthur Jack)
Nothing says grandeur better than walking down a garden path or terrace flanked with identical containers. Punctuating the walkway at regular intervals, they instantly lend a formal and rather European note to a yard without visually dividing off the space.
Sticking to the same container and planting scheme is key to maximizing this space-stretching effect. Opt for a dreamy combination of tall standard pink roses in galvanized steel planters to strike a romantic note or try over-sized terracotta flowerpots with sky-soaring cannas or phormiums for pure Mediterranean charm.
10. Fill a planter box with homegrown produce
(Image credit: Suttons)
Not just for blooms, planters are ideal for raising a crop of delicious veggies. Homegrown pole and bush beans, carrots, cukes and peppers will all happily thrive in a container as long as there is adequate drainage and rich soil.
Depending on your available space and choice of container you could stick to one crop per container. A minimum depth of 6 inches (15cm) is enough for most crops – although some root crops prefer more – but aim to go as big as you can. Not only will this mean less watering, but it can help reduce crop stress resulting in healthier and more flavorsome produce.
A large rectangular planter doubles as a mini veg garden. Look to arrange crops in strict rows for traditional homestead charm or try a more decorative approach mixing in beneficial flowers – such as marigolds, nasturtiums, and alliums – which also keep pests at bay.
What should I line my planter box with?
Liners are only really needed for wooden or metal planters.
In both cases having wet soil against the sides of the container will cause rot or rust to develop over time, weakening it. Cover the inside with a layer of thick plastic sheeting – making sure to pierce several drainage holes at the base – before filling with soil and adding the plants.
How can I fill a super-sized planter box?
Filling a very large container completely with compost not only makes it impossibly heavy to move without bringing in serious lifting equipment, but it can prove very expensive, too.
Instead, bulk out the bottom third of the planter with lightweight material that will also aid drainage. Plastic take-out plastic containers, milk jugs, empty detergent bottles, spare plastic plant pots and plant trays all work well.
How do I pick a planter in front of my house?
Getting the scale and style of a planter right for your home’s front yard is key to creating a stunning first impression. Think about key sight lines and positions and work out how high the container and plant need to be to make a real statement.
Choosing a planter that mirrors an element of your property’s exterior – it could be the color of the front door, timber shingles or stonework – is a great trick for creating a smart, cohesive look. Consider whether you want the planting or the container to be the real feature – neat topiary spheres and cones work well planted in an ornate design, while robust industrial-style planters suit finer and more delicate flowers and grasses.
13 ideas on how to make an unusual flower container with your own hands
Do not rush to get rid of, at first glance, unnecessary things. Many of them can easily become an excellent material for making original flower vases that can be used to decorate a garden, veranda or balcony.
Sometimes for inspiration it is enough just to look around, and now the idea itself comes to mind! Look in a closet, a garage, a kitchen drawer with unnecessary utensils - for sure, among the "trash" there is something from which you can easily make a beautiful "designer" container.
1. Wine corks
You have been collecting bottle caps for several years, but still haven't figured out what to make from them? In the meantime, all this "good" only does what it successfully collects dust and takes up space on the shelf. Use corks as a material to create a textured flowerpot. Find a suitable container, glue wine corks on the outside (you can also use small wooden blocks), then paint the flowerpot in your favorite color. Monochromatic "spiky" flowerpots, for example, white or black, look spectacular.
2. Concrete slabs
If you've recently completed your landscaping and garden paths, you probably still have concrete slabs for your path. This strong and durable material will make beautiful minimalist flower containers. Take 5 tiles of the same size and join them together with a special construction adhesive. If desired, you can paint the container in any color, but even without paint it will look original.
3.
Concrete blocks
Continuing the topic of concrete, we would like to add that there is an easier way to make a flowerpot using the material left over from construction work, which is probably hiding somewhere in the corner of your yard. As a matter of fact, the composition of concrete containers will look great just in the corner or against the wall of the house. Paint the blocks with spray paint (because it's convenient, and spray paint has a brighter color scheme), arrange the containers however you like, and plant the plants.
4. Cans
It's really hard to find something as functional and "reusable" as a tin or coffee can! Long proven to be an excellent container for worms (those that are taken with them on a fishing trip), an excellent ashtray and a modest pencil holder, the tin never ceases to amaze and appears before us as a stylish piece of furniture. Slightly bend the jar with a hammer, then paint with golden spray paint.
5.
Glass jars
Do not lag behind tin and their glass counterparts, of which there are plenty on any balcony, mezzanine or in the pantry. Of course, glass jars are useful for preparing blanks from the crop harvested at the site, but why not select a couple of jars for the design of the dacha from the inviolable "glass" stock? Here paint will help you again: choose a color scheme, paint the inside and outside of the jars. You can use a stencil to make a pattern on the flowerpot (see photo above).
6. Car tires
Yes, yes, those same tired rubber tires are also on our list of flower container ideas. But don't make a face at the mention of these words in a conversation about site design. Here, as in any other case, the main thing is not to "overdo it": paint the tires, but do not make patterns - the "native" wheel texture will be enough. Place such containers in one place, having thought over the composition.
If you are against "tire" design and are going to get rid of old tires, do not in any case burn them, but rather take them to a specialized center for recycling.
7. Log or log
A garden container can be made not only from a log or a log, but also from a stump, driftwood and other natural wooden materials with an interesting shape. To do this, clean the log you like from debris, carefully remove the core, fill it with earth and plant flowers.
8. Old furniture
Of course, you shouldn't put all the old furniture in the garden, but a nice chest of drawers, a chair or a table with drawers will become a charming decoration if you plant low flowers in them. Before filling the boxes with earth, treat the wooden furniture with a special protective agent.
9. Unused crockery
Let's say you've already decorated your garden with an old table stylized as a flowerpot (or vice versa, it's up to you!). Why not put some cracked cups from your favorite service on this table? Metal objects also look good: a teapot, a coffee pot, a saucepan. A colander can be used as a hanging planter, pre-painted with paint.
10. Chandelier
An ordinary chandelier looks just as good as a metal colander as a hanging planter. You can’t plant many plants in such a container, but how impressive such a decoration looks! Monochromatic painting will make the chandelier pots brighter and more original.
11. Paint can
We are back to the banks again - and where without them! This time the container will be larger than in the case of the tin and glass jar. If after painting work you still have cans of paint, add (if necessary) a few "streaks", cut a drainage hole and plant a flower in a flowerpot.
12. Broken tiles
Broken ceramic tiles are an excellent decoration material. To make a beautiful flowerpot, find a container (like an unsightly flower pot) and arm yourself with glue. Break the tile (if necessary) into smaller pieces, wash and dry the base pot. Using glue, fix the pieces of tile on the surface of the pot, then varnish the product.
13. Rope
Jute rope, twine or other material in the right hands can transform any container. Pay attention to the image on the left below (see photo above) - by the way, this is a tire unloved by many! You will need glue, a base container and a rope: smearing the surface and the rope with glue, wrap the base and let dry.
We hope we were able to inspire you to create unusual flower containers. We will be glad to see photos of your beautiful "crafts" in the comments to the article!
TOP-5 ideas for New Year's decor with planters
New Year's holidays are an occasion to take stock of the outgoing year and outline plans for the future. And if you are ripe for change, then you need to act differently than before. For example, take a fresh look at Christmas decor.
We offer you the TOP 5 New Year's decoration techniques for an apartment and a country house, in which the planter occupies a key place. And where you put it - under the Christmas tree, at the entrance to the house or right on the festive table - is up to you.
The main thing to remember is that “Every day it's a holiday” (Every day is a holiday)! Let the words of this popular song become the motto of the upcoming New Year. Arrange a holiday for yourself every time your soul requires it. And the pots are always happy to help!
Luminous Kashpo
. Candles on the New Year's table, garlands on the Christmas tree, soft side light from a floor lamp and ... a luminous planter! The 3D plastic from which the luminous planters are made makes them incredibly impact-resistant - they will easily survive even the noisiest party. The choice of sizes allows you to put a luminous planter on the table as a decor (for example, Surprise planter), and place a real Christmas tree in it (Standard planter)!
Incredibly spectacular luminous planters look in the design of exteriors: a suburban area, the entrance to a restaurant or boutique, and even a city square.
In winter, daylight hours are short and the entrance group of luminous planters will undoubtedly attract the attention of passers-by. And you can set the New Year's atmosphere without much effort and expense - put cones, Christmas balls and other New Year's decor in a flower pot, as they did in Moscow Bosco.
The grandiose decoration of the Duoma central square in Milan was also created with the help of luminous planters. Well, the luminous planters standing on the steps of a country house will definitely turn into a fairy tale every day of the New Year holidays!
Red, glossy and more
Perhaps the most popular colors of the new decor are red and gold. The red color refers to the outfit of Santa Claus, and the gold emphasizes the exclusivity of the event.
But the point is also that these colors are psychologically very warm and create a cozy and intimate festive atmosphere: red enhances the heat from the fireplace and candles, and gold reflects their radiance. Yes, and it’s commonplace to fit such a combination into the interior, as a rule, simply. Moreover, the upcoming year 2016 according to the eastern calendar is the year of the fire monkey.
And a brand new glossy Delta Windowsill box from Lechuza. In the spring, you can plant seasonal flowers in it, but for now, on the New Year's table in its glossy surface, the lights of candles will soothingly dance ... comfort on the stairs!
Out of town
In snowy winter, black planters and flowerpots will look especially advantageous on a country plot.
Black and white contrasting classics will attract attention both in sunny weather and on a cloudy day.
Brightness, color and radiance of this basic color composition can already be given with the help of decor. As for materials, for the Russian winter we recommend low-temperature planters made of 3D plastic, Galestro clay and glazed frost-resistant ceramics.
In close proximity to the house, on the porch and terrace, it is good to place pots with a glossy surface, metal pots or glazed ceramics. Such models will reflect light from lamps, garlands and candles, enhancing the warm and fabulous atmosphere of the holiday.
Wooden planters will echo crackling firewood in the fireplace. They can be made by yourself or made to order.
Very often the owners of country houses plant a Christmas tree on their plot just to decorate it for the New Year.
This is a compromise option for those who, on New Year's Eve, just need to have a live Christmas tree!
In pots, boxes and flowerpots, it is better to place decorations from toys, dry tree branches and pine needles. It is not worth putting a live thuja, spruce or Christmas tree in a shipping pot in a flower pot. In the cold, the earth in a pot will turn into an ice ball and the tree will most likely die.
In the house, instead of (or together!) with a Christmas tree, you can use such an interesting option as a combination of planters and no less New Year's mood arborvitae. After the holidays, you can plant “non-New Year” plants in a flower pot.
Unusual solutions
A duet of a flowerpot and a garland looks very romantic, elegant and at the same time festive at home. The combination of ancient forms of flowerpots and amphoras with the achievements of civilization in the form of LED garlands makes this decor really unusual.
