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Want to grow plants outdoors, but don't have the space to dig into the dirt? Then you're ready to start a container garden!
Container gardening is an easy way to bring a fresh look to your front porch, patio, back yard or any outdoor space. You can add color and greenery to liven up drab spaces. And you can grow a range of cut flowers, herbs and vegetables for indoor use.
Container gardens are useful for getting around problems such as poor soil or insufficient sunlight, as well. There's no need to worry about soil amendments when you're using quality potting soil and plants that need more (or less) sunlight can be moved in their containers to follow (or avoid) the sun.
Your plant palette is also much less limited. "Many plants thrive in containers," says Barbara Wise, author of Container Gardening for All Seasons. "The most important thing is good drainage. Make sure there's a hole in the bottom of your pot so plants don't drown."
Don't forget to read the plant tag so you choose plants for the right conditions. Full sun means 6 or more hours of direct sunlight per day, while part sun is about half that. Shade means no direct sunlight or only a bit of morning sun.
Most importantly, make sure to keep your pots watered, especially in the heat of summer, because they dry out fast. Pots made from materials such as terra cotta tend to need to be watered more frequently than plastic because water evaporates more quickly from porous materials. You may need to water once or twice a day during the height of summer when your plants are mature and have filled out the pot.
Finally, because nutrients leach out of pots faster than in-ground plantings, feed your pots regularly with a water-soluble fertilizer or slow-release granular type. This ensures your flowers will keep blooming all summer long.
Ahead, our favorite container plant ideas for every season:
1
Plants: Violas and Pansies
Add welcome color after a long winter to pots near your front door with these early spring bloomers. Some types of violas and pansies will last well into early summer and will revive in the cool temperatures of fall.
2
Idea: Vary Pot Heights
Create varying display heights by stacking containers on top of extra upside-down pots. Here, an early spring garden glows with cool-season favorites such as lobelia.
Read more: 86 Best Types of Flowers You Should Have in Your Garden
3
Idea: An Edible Container Garden
Herbs are super-easy to grow in pots. You can grow plenty of fresh herbs (and greens such as lettuce!) right outside your kitchen. Container gardens go well on a deck or patio, too, making an empty space feel more lush and vibrant.
Read more: How to Start an Herb Garden
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4
Idea: Add Lush Window Boxes
Window boxes add charm to any building and they provide additional growing space if you don't have a garden bed or space on your patio for planters. This one is overflowing with ivy and annuals such as violas. You can pick flowers that complement the walls—or grow herbs outside your kitchen window!
More: 20 DIY Window Boxes to Step Up Your Outdoor Décor
5
Plant: Fuchsia
This beautiful annual with exotic-looking flowers is a favorite of hummingbirds. Fuchsia also looks great in hanging baskets, putting the flowers at eye level so you can enjoy pollinators that visit.
Exposure: Full shade
6
Plants: Spring-Blooming Bulbs
Cheery daffodils add splashes of springtime color to containers. Underplanted with dainty violas, this is a winning combination for early-season blooms.
Read more: 16 Best Spring-Flowering Bulbs to Plant in the Fall
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7
Idea: Line Your Front Steps
Liven up a boring front entryway with pots of pretty annuals on each step. In this display, petunias, New Guinea impatiens, and pansies add splashes of vibrant color.
More: 20 DIY Front Step Ideas to Up Your Home's Curb Appeal
8
Idea: Tiered Hanging Baskets
This handsome three-tiered basket offers depth and interest to a front porch. Overflowing with ivy, the baskets are a simple but elegant way to accent the space.
More: 16 Best Flowers to Grow in Your Hanging Basket
9
Plant: Strawberries
Who knew fruit could be so ornamental? New varieties of strawberry plants are as pretty as they are delicious!
Read more: How to Grow Strawberries
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10
Idea: Dress Up a Fence
A privacy fence does not have to be bland and boring. Mount window boxes on a wooden fence to add splashes of seasonal color.
More: 35 DIY Vertical Garden Ideas to Show off Your Green Thumb
11
Olive Tree
Can't jet off to Italy this summer? Olive trees are surprisingly easy to grow as long as you have a hot, sunny spot. (They can come indoors during the winter.) It will make your patio feel like you're on vacation.
Note: While container trees do fruit, it takes about five years, and olives need to be cured before they are edible.
Exposure: Full sun
12
Idea: Colorful Pots
Sometimes more is more! Paint your terra cotta pots with bright colors then fill them annuals such as zinnias, begonia, and petunias.
More: 24 Seriously Creative Ways to Spruce Up a Flower Pot
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13
Plant: Hardy Hibiscus
Add some tropical flair to your balcony, deck or patio with pots of hibiscus. In cold climates, you can bring the pots indoors to overwinter.
Exposure: Full sun
Learn: How to Grow Hardy Hibiscus
14
Plant: Lavender
Lavender is a classic garden plant that's well-suited to growing in pots. Place containers near seating areas so you can run your fingers over them to release the delicate scent.
Exposure: Full sun
Learn: How to Grow and Care for Lavender Plants
15
Idea: Boxwood Container Garden
Create an English garden vibe by planting boxwood shrubs in containers and setting them around your deck or patio. Shear to shape, or let them grow into their natural forms.
Exposure: Full sun
More: 20 Best Boxwood Shrubs to Plant in Your Garden
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16
Plant: Impatiens
For full shade, impatiens can't be beat for their non-stop color all summer long. Make sure to buy newer varieties that are more resistant to powdery mildew and other diseases.
Exposure: Full shade
17
Idea: Modern Concrete Planter
A modern planter is accented with a philodendron in the center, surrounded by colorful annuals such as coleus, floss flower, and geraniums. This unexpected combination pops against the grey concrete.
18
Idea: Cottage Garden Window Box
This cottage garden-style window box includes upright New Guinea impatiens as well as calibrachoa and sweet alyssum tumbling over its edges. This combination is ideal in full sun conditions.
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19
Idea: Tiny Pots of Grape Hyacinth
Who says you need big pots to make an impact? Three petite pots of grape hyacinth add springtime charm to a deck or front porch.
Exposure: Full sun
20
Idea: Succulent Container Garden
Succulents come an array of shapes and colors. Here, they're arranged in a hanging basket for an especially charming presentation.
Exposure: Full sun to part sun, depending on the variety
More: The Complete Guide to Growing Succulents
Arricca Elin SanSone
Arricca Elin SanSone has written about health and lifestyle topics for Prevention, Country Living, Woman's Day, and more. She’s passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
Expert consulted:Barbara Wise
Barbara Wise has worked as a commercial landscaper and horticulturalist, and has written for multiple national publications. She is the author of “Container Gardening For All Seasons.”
