Easy Container Garden Ideas To Spruce Up Your Outdoor Spaces
Do you dream of vibrant and inviting outdoor spaces overflowing with color and creativity? Adding container gardens is a budget-friendly and versatile solution for outdoor decor! With a little creativity and these easy container garden ideas, you can transform your patio, porch, or any outdoor space into a flourishing oasis. With many planting container options, you can let your imagination soar as you spruce up your outdoor spaces.
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Pinterest Challenge
Today’s article is part of the monthly Pinterest Challenge hosted by Cindy at County Road 407. This month’s inspiration photo comes from Carlene at Organized Clutter. Her rustic container garden idea really speaks to my vintage-loving heart. If you are joining me from Marty at A Stroll Thru Life, welcome. I know you were so inspired by her Spring Container Gardening Tips
What Is A Container Garden?
As the name indicates, a container garden is where plants, flowers, herbs, or vegetables are planted in a container instead of directly in the ground.
What Are The Benefits of a Container Garden?
Here are some benefits of planting containers with flowers, herbs, or vegetables.
- One of the best benefits of container gardening is you only need room for a planter or pot to begin your gardening journey.
- Your plants are mobile. You can move them to help decorate different areas around your home, avoid excess sunlight, or make watering easier.
- Require less water than in-ground plants. However, plants can dry out much quicker in pots, so be cautious.
- You can create vignettes with your plants to help decorate your outdoor spaces. Decorative planters and containers add to the decorative aesthetic of your spaces.
- You have more control over the soil, and pest control is easier.
Container Garden Ideas For Outdoor Decor
By gathering several planting containers filled with spring and summer blooms, you can create stunning outdoor decor displays.
Add visual interest to your container gardens by mixing the planting containers with other garden elements.
Display your flowers at varying levels using plant stands, chairs, and stools to create interest.
The antique reclaimed church window provides the perfect backdrop for a flower container garden display. A collection of clay pots and saucers houses the flowers and adds visual interest to the window box garden just outside my workshop door.
Potting Bench Container Garden Ideas
The potting bench is another spot that is filled with container garden ideas. Not only is it handy for planting containers, but I love to decorate it with outdoor decor.
Rustic Herb Container Garden
A rustic metal tray is filled with clay pots filled with fresh herbs. The herbs make a charming display for the potting bench outdoor decor.
As the plants begin to grow, they can be transplanted into larger containers or placed in the ground.
Indoor Herb Container Garden
You can also begin an herb container garden indoors before spring planting. These thrift store green enamelware pots make charming planting containers. For more details, see How To Start An Indoor Herb Garden in Winter.
Container Garden Ideas for Planting Containers
You can create a container garden using many household items as well as purchased planters.
I love using concrete planters, clay pots, galvanized buckets, and colorful ceramic planters around the property for outdoor decor.
Old galvanized tubs create stunning container garden ideas, and I have them scattered throughout our landscape and around the porch.
Brad and I made some tall faux galvanized planters for the front porch to use as container gardens. You can see the DIY planter tutorial to make your own.
If you like the look of old vintage terra cotta pots, you can easily create these faux-aged clay pots in minutes. Check out Easy DIY To Age New Clay Pots
I recently shared these large planters that we rescued from the roadside trash. In order to make them work with my container garden ideas, I used this faux finish technique to give them an aged concrete appearance.
Insider Tip: How To Fill Up A Large Container
The freebie planters were in perfect condition but extremely large to fill with potting soil. I decided to use what nature provided and add several pinecones to the bottom of the planters before adding soil.
If you are working with used planters, I recommend giving them a good washing to prevent any possible plant disease from being transferred to your new plants. Then, fill them approximately 1/2 full with gathered pinecones. Add potting some potting soil and begin adding your plants.
Where To Display Container Gardens
Container gardens are a versatile way to add beauty and life to any space. Here are some suggestions for where to display them:
Around the entrance: Porch, Patio, or Deck. Place container gardens near your doorway or porch to create a welcoming atmosphere. Line your walkway or steps with containers filled with bright flowers or interesting foliage to make a good first impression. Container gardens can also define spaces on your patio or deck. Create an herb or vegetable garden for easy access.
Surround a seating area: Place potted plants and flowers next to lounge chairs and outdoor seating areas to provide outdoor decorations.
By a window: Place a pot of flowering plants on a windowsill to brighten up your indoor space. Add a window box garden to your kitchen window filled with herbs or flowers.
Hanging baskets: Hanging baskets are a great way to add vertical interest to your porch or patio. They are also ideal for small spaces, as they don’t take up any floor space.
On a balcony: If you have a balcony, container gardens are a perfect way to add a touch of nature to your outdoor space. Choose plants that can tolerate wind and sun exposure.
An unexpected spot: Don’t be afraid to get creative with the placement of your container gardens. Use a ladder to hold several planting containers, and place them on a chair or stool to give them height.
Insider Tip
A clever way to save money when entertaining is to purchase plants and flowers that you plan to add to larger containers or plant in the ground.
Before you plant them, place them in smaller containers to create centerpieces for your tables.
For outdoor tables, I use terracotta pots, baskets, etc., to hold the flowers. Once the party is over, plant your centerpieces as planned.
Related Articles
Here are some related articles that you may enjoy.
- How To Make A Potting Bench More Efficient
- DIY Faux Concrete Planters Tutorial
- How To Build A DIY Greenhouse
- How To Age New Clay Pots Tutorial
Pinterest Challenge
Now it’s time to hop over and see more container garden inspiration. Your next stop is my friend Carol at Bluesky At Home with her tips on Using Green Plants In Your Home.
Pin It To Remember It
Did you find some great ideas you’d like to save for future reference? Hover over the images you’d like to save and pin to your favorite Pinterest Boards when you see the PIN button.
I have a very similar iron window planter and have never thought to decorate it. I just fight the liner and dirt flowing out each year. It’s never looked good. So I will be changing that this week! And I love each of your containers. Especially those green bowls. So pretty! Great tips too. This year for Easter, I’m going to try the live plant centerpiece and then plant them like you said. Or give them away to the guests. We’ll see. Thank you for joining in. I got tons of inspo and can hardly wait to get to the nursery! pinned
Cindy,
I’m so glad you enjoyed todays post. You are so encouraging and I appreciate you.
Oh Rachel, knew you’d have the best vintage planters and repurposed planters. But I did not expect that gorgeous church window!!! Along with the iron planter display, it is perfection!
Diane,
I’m glad you like the Church window. We actually had it’s mate installed in our previous home. This one has a missing pane and it hangs on my shop.
Oh my word, Rachel. These are all amazing! I can’t get over all the pots and planters you’ve saved and created. Your potting shed and bench area are fabulous. Thank you so much for the pinecone tip. I sometimes use pool noodles or leftover peanuts to help with mine but always wonder if it’s the healthiest option for the plants. I’m definitely going to start swapping them out. Hugs, CoCo
CoCo,
I’m glad you found this helpful. Thanks for stopping by.
Your church window is so pretty; I was admiring that pastel pattern in the background. Love your window trough overflowing with clay pots and herbs. Small weathered pots can be such a great filler in so many places. You’ve got a great collection of junky containers!
Lora,
I’ve pulled them out of trash piles and love the crusty patina. Thanks for your sweet comments.
Rachel, you have so many helpful ideas on container gardening! BTW I laughed out loud at your sign, I wet my plants! How cute!!
Michelle,
I’m so glad you liked it. Thanks for stopping by.
This post has so many great container-planting ideas, Rachel. I love the wooden planter boxes you made for the front porch and your great tips for using plants to decorate before planting them.
Wendy,
It’s something I do all the time. Instead of using flowers that die quickly, it’s a economical solution. Thanks for stopping by.
Rachel, I love your idea for adding pinecones to the bottom of large planters! I’ve built my veggie troughs with that method of adding logs, then dry leaves and mulch before adding in soil. Boy! that sure saves on $$ for bags of dirt!! Love love love the windows in your garden potting bench area… sigh!
Great containers, too. I’ll check back to read how you faux cemented that one pot.
Happy Easter and happy gardening,
Barb 🙂
Barbara,
I’m so glad you got something helpful from this post. I appreciate all your sweet compliments.
Great ideas here Rachel!
Cindy,
Thank you.
I love all of your container ideas, so fun and so unique. I can’t wait to try a few new ideas myself. Thanks for the inspiration.
Marty
Thank you and I appreciate you for stopping by.