What Looks Good in a Planter Box?

Planter boxes are perfect for vibrant flowers like petunias, marigolds, and geraniums or foliage plants like ferns and coleus for texture.

Edibles like basil, tomatoes, and strawberries add functionality. Use layered planting with tall thrillers, medium fillers, and trailing spillers for dynamic arrangements.

Choose materials like wood for rustic charm or terracotta for classic aesthetics.

Position them along walkways or balconies and maintain them with nutrient-rich soil and proper watering.

1. Best Plants for Planter Boxes

a. Flowers for Colorful Displays

• Petunias: These vibrant flowers thrive in sunny locations and bloom continuously.
• Marigolds: Known for their striking orange and yellow tones, marigolds are low-maintenance and pest-repellent.
• Geraniums: Perfect for sunny spots, these flowers add splashes of colour and are drought-tolerant.
• Pansies and Violas: Ideal for cooler climates, these flowers bring bright and cheerful hues.

b. Foliage Plants for Texture

• Ferns: Excellent for shaded areas, ferns add a lush, tropical feel.
• Hostas: Their wide, textured leaves are perfect for adding depth to your planter box.
• Coleus: Available in various vibrant shades, coleus provides visual contrast and works well in partial shade.

c. Edible Plants for Functionality

• Herbs: Basil, rosemary, thyme, and mint are great choices for a fragrant and practical planter box.
• Vegetables: Lettuce, spinach, and cherry tomatoes grow well in confined spaces.
• Strawberries: Compact and fruitful, strawberries are an excellent edible addition.

2. Choosing the Right Planter Box

Material Matters

• Wooden planter boxes: Provide a rustic aesthetic and excellent insulation for roots.
• Metal Planter Boxes: Durable and modern, though they may heat up in direct sunlight.
• Ceramic and Terracotta Planters: Perfect for decorative indoor use, they add a classic touch.
• Plastic or Resin Planters: Lightweight, cost-effective, and weather-resistant, making them ideal for outdoor use.

b. Size and Shape

• Long, rectangular boxes are perfect for creating continuous garden lines.
• Small, square planters work well for compact spaces or standalone features.

• Deep planter boxes are necessary for root-intensive plants like carrots or shrubs.

3. Design Ideas for Planter Boxes

a. Layered Planting

Combine plants of varying heights to create a dynamic arrangement. For example:

• Thrillers: Tall, eye-catching plants like ornamental grasses or dracaenas.
• Fillers: Medium-height plants like geraniums or coleus to fill the middle section.
• Spillers: Trailing plants like ivy or creeping Jenny cascading over the edges.

b. Seasonal Themes

• Spring: Fill your planter box with tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths for a fresh and lively display.
• Summer: Use heat-tolerant plants like zinnias, lavender, and succulents.
• Autumn: Chrysanthemums, ornamental cabbages, and asters work beautifully for fall.
• Winter: Include evergreens, holly, and winter pansies for year-round appeal.

c. Color Coordination

• Monochromatic schemes use varying shades of one color for a sophisticated look.
• Complementary color schemes, like purple and yellow or blue and orange, create bold contrasts.
• Pastel combinations bring a soft, romantic charm.

4. Enhancing Aesthetics

a. Decorative Elements

• Add pebbles, stones, or bark mulch to cover the soil surface and enhance visual appeal.
• Use fairy lights for nighttime ambiance.
• Incorporate miniature figurines for a whimsical touch.

b. Placement Tips

• Position planter boxes along walkways, balconies, or window sills for maximum impact.
• Group multiple planter boxes of varying heights for a cohesive, layered garden.

5. Maintenance Tips for Healthy Plants

a. Watering Practices

• Use planters with drainage holes to prevent waterlogging.
• Water early in the morning or late in the evening to reduce evaporation.

b. Soil and Fertilizer

• Use high-quality potting soil with organic matter for optimal plant health.
• Apply slow-release fertilizers to ensure steady nutrient supply.

c. Pruning and Deadheading

• Regularly prune dead leaves and branches to promote new growth.
• Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming.

6. Innovative Ideas for Unique Planter Boxes

a. Upcycled Planters

• Repurpose old crates, barrels, or even tires into creative planter boxes.
• Paint or decorate them to match your style.

b. Vertical Gardens

• Install wall-mounted planter boxes for a stunning vertical garden.
• Ideal for small spaces, these can house herbs, succulents, or cascading plants.

c. Themed Planter Boxes

• Create herb gardens with labels for each plant.
• Design a pollinator-friendly box with bee-attracting flowers like lavender and sunflowers.

7. Benefits of Planter Boxes

• Space Optimization: Ideal for urban gardening and small spaces.
• Mobility: Easy to move and rearrange as needed.
• Versatility: Suitable for growing flowers, edibles, or ornamental plants.
• Eco-Friendly Options: Many planter boxes can be made from sustainable materials.

Top 20 Planter Box Plant Ideas for Backyard Gardening

Planter boxes are the perfect way to bring greenery and blooms into your backyard while maximizing your gardening space.

From delicious fruits and veggies to colourful, butterfly-friendly flowers, there’s a plant for every garden lover. 

To simplify it, we’ve broken our top picks into two categories: edibles and flowers. 

Let’s dive into the top 10 for each and inspire your next gardening project!

Top 10 Fruits & Veggies for Planter Boxes

These fruits and vegetables are ideal for planter boxes, thriving in compact spaces and various climates. Fresh, homegrown produce is just a few steps away when you grow these backyard favourites!

Basil

• • A fragrant herb that’s a kitchen staple for everything from pesto to pasta. Basil thrives in sunny planter boxes, adding a fresh touch to any meal.

Blueberries

• • With the right acidic soil mix, blueberries can flourish in planter boxes. They’re perfect for adding sweetness to your garden and your breakfast table.

Green Beans

• • It is a fast-growing vegetable that can be trained to climb a trellis in a planter box, making it space-efficient and productive.

Parsley

• • Easy to grow and versatile in the kitchen, parsley is a low-maintenance herb that adds a lush green touch to your planter box.

Peas

• • Peas grow well in compact spaces and can climb trellises, perfect for cooler seasons. They can also create a lush vertical garden effect.

Peppers

• • From bell peppers to spicy varieties, thesecolourfull plants thrive in sunny planter boxes and add a splash of vibrancy to your backyard.

Potatoes

• • Grow your potatoes in deep planter boxes filled with loose soil. Harvesting them is as fun as watching them grow!

Radishes

• • A fast-growing veggie that’s perfect for beginners. Radishes can be harvested in a few weeks, adding a fresh crunch to salads.

Strawberries

• • Sweet and juicy, strawberries are favouritete for planter boxes. They grow well in sunny spots and are perfect for small spaces.

Tomatoes

• • A staple for any edible garden, tomatoes thrive in planter boxes with proper support and plenty of sunlight. Their juicy fruits reward your efforts.

Top 10 Flowers for Planter Boxes

These flowering plants brighten your backyard and attract butterflies and pollinators, adding life and vibrancy to your garden. Most are annuals that bloom beautifully throughout the growing season.

Begonia

• • With their vibrant colours and ability to thrive in sun and shade, begonias are versatile and stunning additions to any planter box.

Celosia

• • Known for its flame-like blooms, celosia adds a bold, unique texture to your backyard garden.

Coleus

• • A foliage plant with strikingly colourful leaves, coleus thrives in partial shade and adds depth to your planter box.

Creeping Phlox

• • This low-growing plant produces a carpet of flowers, perfect for softening the edges of planter boxes and adding a cascading effect.

Geraniums

A classic choice, geraniums are easy to care for and bloom profusely in bright colours, making them a timeless favourite.

6. Impatiens

• Ideal for shady areas, impatiens bring a soft splash of colour to planter boxes while thriving in less sunny spots.

Marigolds

• These cheerful, pest-resistant flowers are perfect for adding warm tones and protecting your garden from unwanted bugs.

Petunias

• Petunias add a graceful,colourfull element to any planter box with their cascading blooms.

Salvia

• Loved by pollinators, salvia brings vertical interest and vibrant spikes of colour to your garden.

Zinnias

• These low-maintenance, butterfly-friendly flowers bloom in various bright hues, perfect for adding a playful touch to your backyard.

Tips for Planter Box Success

• Choose the Right Soil: Ensure your planter boxes are filled with nutrient-rich, well-draining soil to support healthy plant growth.
• Sunlight Matters: Match your plant selection to the sunlight in your backyard. Some thrive in full sun, while others prefer shade.
• Water Wisely: Keep the soil evenly moist, but avoid overwatering. Planter boxes can dry out faster, so check regularly.
• Experiment with Arrangements: Combine flowers and edibles for a visually striking and functional garden. For example, marigolds can be paired with vegetables to deter pests naturally.