{"id":130371,"date":"2021-10-04T19:40:35","date_gmt":"2021-10-04T23:40:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bhgre.com\/bhgrelife\/?p=130371"},"modified":"2022-10-04T09:51:06","modified_gmt":"2022-10-04T13:51:06","slug":"the-best-patio-container-gardens-ideas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bhgre.com\/bhgrelife\/the-best-patio-container-gardens-ideas\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Patio Container Gardens Ideas"},"content":{"rendered":"

The best patio <\/span>container gardens <\/span>serve as eye-catching and vital additions to your outdoor space, no matter its size. They can revitalize shaded apartment patios or bring lush privacy to sunny backyards. The key to success is knowing what plants grow best in your region and which <\/span>containers <\/span>will not only be visually pleasing but supportive of your chosen plants. If you are ready to get started, read on as we reveal our favorite patio <\/span>container garden ideas<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Choosing the Best <\/span><\/b>Containers<\/span><\/b><\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

While you might assume that the first step is to shop for the plants you want to feature on your patio, experts argue that your first purchase should be your <\/span>containers<\/span>. Flora Grubb, owner of Flora Grubb <\/span>Gardens<\/span> in San Francisco, believes that because the pots, trays, wine barrels, and raised <\/span>gardens<\/span> are an investment, it\u2019s best to start there and then build your patio <\/span>container garden <\/span>around them. She confessed to <\/span>Martha Stewart Living<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/span> that she leans toward big pots; \u201cLarge pots make a statement, and most plants are happier in them in the long run.\u201d Starting big means that it is unlikely that you will have to transplant your choices into bigger <\/span>containers <\/span>as they thrive, and plants typically need less watering when they are housed in larger pots.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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However, Grubb does have one important warning before taking those large <\/span>containers <\/span>home. She recommended to the <\/span>Magazine<\/span><\/a><\/span> that people \u201c[take] a photo of where [they] want to set <\/span>containers <\/span>and [bring] it to the nursery.\u201d You\u2019ll want a sense of scale so that you don\u2019t completely overwhelm your patio space. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Next, get an <\/span>idea <\/span>of what your climate zone is before you take out your credit card. While you might love that gorgeous indigo ceramic planter or classic terracotta <\/span>container <\/span>to be an anchor for your patio <\/span>garden<\/span>, they may not last long in regions that experience long winters. Ceramic, clay, and terracotta can crack because the water inside the pots can freeze and expand. If you want to take the chance, be sure that the pot has ample drainage holes and is kept off the ground in winter. Of course, if you have the space, simply bringing them inside and keeping your plants thriving under grow lights is also an option until spring rolls around again.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Succulent <\/span><\/b>Container Garden Ideas<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Unless your patio is enclosed and climate-controlled, you will have to make some decisions about which plants to include in your <\/span>container garden <\/span>based on your region\u2019s weather. For example, areas in the southwest can experience scorching summers and drought conditions. Succulents do exceedingly well, and the pros at <\/span>Southern Living<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/span> have their favorites. The <\/span>Magazine<\/span><\/a><\/span> is a fan of designing patio <\/span>container gardens <\/span>with at least one long-leaved blue agave standing on its own. As they explain, a \u201csucculent <\/span>garden<\/span> is a perfect example of having individual plantings in single <\/span>containers<\/span>, allowing each to reflect its unique leaf shape and form complemented by the architecture of the <\/span>container<\/span>.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Bring on the Herbs<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Is your goal to create a <\/span>container garden <\/span>that is a match for your culinary skills? You can opt for single <\/span>containers <\/span>of various depths to grow the perfect herb <\/span>container garden <\/span>or choose a large planter and fill it with complementary plantings. While individual planters will allow you to grow herbs with significantly different water and sunlight needs, a single planter can be both dramatic and perfectly pragmatic. The trick to single planters is to choose herbs that don\u2019t steal soil minerals from each other but rather work in harmony. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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The editors at <\/span>Southern Living<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/span> applaud planting \u201cfragrant rosemary, basil, and lemon grass, [which] accent soft blue plumbago in [a] tabletop setup.\u201d\u00a0The lemon grass takes center stage in this arrangement as it grows the tallest, with flowering plumbago added around it. Rosemary and basil take the outermost position, \u201calternating the two if you wish or placing them on opposite sides of the <\/span>container<\/span>.\u201d This addition to your patio is ideal when placed on an outdoor dining table. Not only can you clip herbs for cooking, but your guests will get to enjoy a unique and fragrant centerpiece.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Real Simple<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/span> also favors the <\/span>idea <\/span>of incorporating herbs into the best <\/span>container gardens<\/span>; \u201cwater-loving basil and curly parsley make good partners, whereas rosemary, sage, and oregano all prefer a slightly drier environment.\u201d Just be sure that their <\/span>containers <\/span>have excellent drainage, and if they are exposed to intense sun and heat, as they would be in certain Southwestern or Southern states, be sure that they don\u2019t dry out in their <\/span>containers<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Grow Thriving Vegetable <\/span><\/b>Gardens<\/span><\/b><\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Vegetables are also a terrific option for <\/span>container gardens <\/span>\u2013 you just have to adjust your planting schedule to a time that is best for your climate zone. For example, if you live in Southern California, and you want to grow vegetables from seeds in your <\/span>container garden<\/span>, vegetables like cauliflower, carrots, and sugar snap peas can be planted in September, but orange and red sweet peppers are best planted from December through March because the intense sun and heat in SoCal will burn the pepper plants before they have a chance to flower when grown on an outdoor patio. <\/span>Martha Stewart Living<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/span> recommends choosing vegetables that not only don\u2019t sap each other\u2019s nutrients but fit well in the same pots. As the <\/span>Magazine<\/span><\/a><\/span> explains: \u201cPlants that hang over the side will leave room for plants that require more pot area, like leafy greens.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


\nStage Your Fruiting Plants<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

You might be surprised to hear that there is a wide variety of fruiting plants, shrubs, and dwarf trees that can be grown in large pots on your balcony. These plants can serve as visual anchors when surrounded by smaller plants and often showcase fantastically colorful blooms before fruiting. Remember that half wine barrel planter that caught your eye? While it will require considerable planting mix, the half wine barrel could be an appealing planter for Meyer lemon trees, dwarf avocado trees, or blackberry bushes. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Tomatoes are a delight, but they do require room for their deep roots and additional support (such as a trellis), as well as access to bees to produce the maximum quantities of fruit. If you have your heart set on growing tomatoes, a raised <\/span>garden <\/span>planter is your best bet.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Add Vibrant Annuals<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

The best patio <\/span>container gardens <\/span>can offer you a colorful retreat. It is one of the reasons why Southern Living loves including vibrant annuals in its designs. Does your patio feature a trellis or pergola? <\/span>Southern Living<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/span> suggests dressing the base with <\/span>containers <\/span>of petunias. The <\/span>Magazine<\/span><\/a><\/span>\u2019s advice: \u201cIf you choose white petunia, its fragrance will be intoxicating, while if surfinias<\/i> enhance your <\/span>garden<\/span>, you\u2019ll be amazed when they bloom all along their stems.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Define Your Patio With Ornamental Grasses<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

If your patio isn\u2019t already defined by a pergola or other framing architecture, you may want to consider creating definition with the addition of strategically placed <\/span>containers<\/span>. <\/span>Real Simple<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/span> enjoys the <\/span>idea <\/span>of separating your patio from your yard with a thriving <\/span>container garden<\/span>, whether you opt for rectangular planters or many individual pots. One of their favorite <\/span>container garden<\/span> ideas<\/span> involves the planting of ornamental grass because no matter where it is employed, \u201cmatching pots planted with ornamental grass lend drama.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Hang Baskets With Cascading Plants<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Adding hanging baskets from patio columns or pergola beams can lend a sense of privacy and definition to your outdoor space. Hanging planters are among <\/span>Martha Stewart Living<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/span>\u2019s favorite <\/span>container garden ideas <\/span>because of the variety of growing options they present. The <\/span>Magazine<\/span><\/a><\/span> recommends lining a basket with \u201cwith canna or hosta leaves\u201d and then planting \u201csun-loving Calibrachoa, and [enjoying] the sight of them brimming out of a better-looking basket.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Meanwhile, <\/span>Southern Living<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/span> embraces the <\/span>idea <\/span>that the best patio <\/span>container gardens <\/span>might be going modern with hanging fiberclay planters filled with succulents and purple fan flower. Why the fan flower? The <\/span>Magazine<\/span><\/a><\/span> explains that the \u201cfan flower is unique because all its blossoms have their segments on one side.\u201d The boldly colored flowers thrive in the more tropical climates in the South, where they can flourish throughout the year. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"