Home » Misc » Planter box planting ideas

Planter box planting ideas


10 ways to create spectacular displays |

(Image credit: Arthur Jack)

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.

Jill Morgan has spent the last 20 years writing for Interior and Gardening magazines both in print and online. Titles she has been lucky enough to work on include House Beautiful, The English

Home, Ideal Home, Modern Gardens and Gardeningetc. com. Although much of her career has involved commissioning and writing about reader homes and home improvement projects, her

everlasting passion is for gardens and outdoor living, which is what she writes about for Homes & Gardens. 

Planter Box Plants: The Top 19 Best Plants for Container & Planter Boxes

Looking for planter box plant ideas to brighten your porch, patio, or pool deck? Wishing you could step outside and grab a fresh-picked handful of green beans for dinner? The choices are endless but some of the best choices for container & planter boxes are space saving fruits, veggies, and flowers.

Best Plants for Planter Boxes

Planter box plants can be delicious or delightful whether it’s colorful blooms or juicy tomatoes. Top picks for your spot will depend on the amount of sunlight, first and last frost dates, and simply what you’d most enjoy growing!

Are you leaning towards edibles in the fruit category? As you map out your edible plants, strawberries, blueberries, or raspberry bushes top the list for fan favorite planter box fruits.

Other fruits that don’t require a lot of space initially are lemon and lime trees or dwarf apple trees. These may need to be transplanted during the next season, but you’ll be able to enjoy the beauty and taste of your harvest right away!

Find out some of the best plants to plant for your local climate and then choose a couple of your favorites.

What to Plant in Planter Boxes for the Kitchen Table

The vegetable family has a much more extensive list of plants to choose from for container gardening. The size planter boxes you’re using for your raised garden will determine which vegetables you can plant for your backyard raised garden.

Herbs don’t require quite as much space, so if you have a small cedar planter box you could grow a decent size harvest of herbs to use in cooking. Parsley, mint, and basil are the top herbs planted for home cooked recipes. Fresh cilantro is also a palate pleaser and used in many dishes! Pair that with some home grown tomatoes and lettuce and you’ve got yourself a yummy salad that’s fresh picked

If you are planting in the veggie or fruit category, you’ll want to make sure the type of wood is suitable for planting edible plants.

There are extensive choices for all types of plants, but blooming plants are so plentiful it’s often hard to decide!

Top 19 Planter Box Plants

There are so many beautiful blooms to choose from when planting a flowerbed, container garden, or planter box! We’ve tried to narrow the list down and broke it down into edible and flowering. Top 9 for fruits & veggies and top 10 flowers.

Top 9 fruits & veggies for planter boxes are picks that can be grown in a variety of climates. Are any of these on your list? Maybe you’ll try some during your next gardening season.

When gathering the top 10 flowering plants, we noticed that the top blooming planter box plants also show up on lists as hearty plants for pots or gardens. Many also are butterfly favorites! Are any of these your favorites too? Many of these are time-tested annuals that will thrive in many parts of the country!

If you’ve already built your planter boxes or are planting in pots, this is a quick way to add some color to your backyard patio, your front porch, or underneath your pergola on your pool deck. Still in the planning stages for getting your garden going?

Sketch out your vision and put your plan into action! Or maybe you’re looking for a new DIY project to tackle that results in a pretty new view out your window each morning.

There are many plants that’ll make you smile when you look out your window each morning. We hope you find a couple new favorites when you browse all the brightly colored blooms out there that are ready to plant! During your search, you might also find a combination that makes you think of someone special that you’d like to share your new hobby with as a gardening gift or to include as a helper in planning your planter box project!

How to Plan a Planter Box

Here are a couple simple steps to find a home for your planter box plant ideas. Some of the best planter boxes are those that are already measured and cut for you to assemble! A planter box kit that’s pre-measured & cut with steps to put together is a great way to get started. It’ll satisfy your DIY urge but also take some of the guesswork out of having the right size wood for your garden box.

Then you can spend more of your time choosing the soil and plants for your patio garden.

First, check out the space you have available for growing your garden box plants. Do you have a sunny spot chosen? If so, take some quick measurements so you’ll know how much space you have and what size box will fit.

Second, decide on generally what types of plants you want to grow. Will they grow tall or wide? This will determine what size boxes you’ll want to build for your backyard garden.

Lastly, and I think the most fun – pick your plants! Will you have a colorful array of blooms in your wooden garden boxes, or luscious fruits to enjoy with your morning coffee? Perhaps you can have one with brightly colored flowers and one for growing a nice crop of salad greens?

Hope you enjoy adding some edibles or colorful plants to your planter box and other containers!

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!

Beautiful flower arrangements: 5 ways to plant

07 Aug 2020 No

Contents

8

It is hard to imagine a cottage without beautiful flower arrangements. They can be located everywhere. You can make your site original and unique if you plant flowers in an unusual way or use additional accessories.

Unusual flower beds

A traditional flower bed is a round or square space filled with flowers of the same height and solid color. If you show a little imagination, the flower garden will turn out to be boring. For example, a flower arrangement may consist of giant plants and undersized species.

This design is suitable for a flower bed located near a building or a fence. Tall plants are planted in the background, compact flowers are placed in the foreground. You can arrange a flower bed in the form of an installation consisting of flowers and various materials. The space between the plants can be filled with bizarre stones, sculptures, tiles.

Vases and hanging planters

Planting flowers in vases or pots is another way to transform your garden area. In this case, the space of the garden can be modified at any time at will by rearranging the container with the flower to another place. If the owner of the site prefers a more strict design, pots of the same size are placed in a row at the same interval.

Fans of free style can arrange pots of various sizes and shapes in one place. With the help of hanging planters, you can decorate an empty wall, terrace, gazebo. Tightly standing in a row pots with tall plants will be called upon to perform the function of a hedge.

Wooden boxes

The use of wooden crates would be appropriate for a rustic style garden. You should not plant exquisite and capricious flowers in such containers. It is better to fill the boxes with daisies, pansies, marigolds, daffodils, cornflowers.

It is advisable to choose plants that do not require constant care. Compositions can be made different in height by placing the boxes one on top of the other. Of course, this design will not suit a luxury home with cutting-edge materials. The style of the site should be united by a common idea.

Household items

If you want to create a relaxed atmosphere on your site, it is quite possible to realize such an idea using various household items. To create an original flower garden, anything can come in handy - an old barrel, a garden cart, a bent wheel, a rubber boot, a leaky pan.

Any of these items has a unique flavor and will help make the flower garden original. A thing with volume can be used as a flower pot. Other items will serve as a support for climbing plants. Being in such a garden, guests will be able to feel the ancient atmosphere, which many people like and feel cozy.

Old furniture

It is not necessary to throw away old pieces of furniture. You can successfully use them in garden design.

Learn more