Use these examples to create the best-designed planter for your patio, window box, or other container planting.

(You might consider plant caddies to help you move containers.)

Access to your containers is important since you will have to keep themwell-watered,deadheaded, andfertilizedthroughout the season.

trailing plants and pink and purple flowers in planter

Fertilizer and compost, along with some bulbs and plants, can be harmful to pets.

Cottage-Style Container Garden

This perfect cottage container garden idea is ideal for a window box.

It incorporates soft shades of pink and purple and plants that have loose, open shapes.

cottage-style window planter with petunia verbena salvia

Here, petunias, licorice plant, and verbena do the job perfectly.

This planting grows best in full sun.

Here, colorful petunias in attractive galvanized pots have just as much impact as a many-hued combination.

window with sap-bucket containers of petunias

This planting grows best in a spot that gets full sun.

Here, shades of purple mix well togetherand make a stunning contrast for a salmon geranium.

This planting grows best in full sun.

pink and purple flowers in fence hanging planter

Here, apotted tree-form hibiscusadds even more appeal.

This planting grows best in full sun.

Here, golden sunflowers make an impact with their big,bold blooms.

tall container garden with hibiscus and salvia

This cheery container grows best in full sun.

Here, a hybrid rose and thymeoffer scents as good as their looks.

This planting grows best in full sun.

pot with dwarf sunflowers snapdragons marigolds

A.Miniature rose(Rosaspp.)

1

B.Creeping thyme(Thymusspp.)

This planting grows best in full sun or partial shade.

container garden with miniature roses and ivy

Here, purple fountaingrass adds extra color, too.

This planting grows best inpartial shade.

Succulents are the perfectlow-maintenancecontainer garden idea.

monochromatic terra cotta planter with canna plant

Learn the secrets to a successful succulent container.

Look for plants that have colorful foliage, such as the coleus used here.

This planting grows best in partial shade.

large terra cotta pot with ornamental grass

A purple phormium contrasts delightfully with a golden-variegated plectranthus.

This planting grows best in partial shade.

Here, an old rusty wheelbarrow makes a charming container garden.

shallow traditional planter with coleus varieties

This planting grows best in full sun.

It applies to containers for gardening, too.

This planting grows best inpartial sun.

partial-shade container garden with interest

Monochromatic Container Garden

You don’t need lots of color for a gorgeous container garden.

Here, different shades of green and various textures combine delightfully.

This planting grows best in full shade.

wheelbarrow planter with cardoon perilla diascia

As the season progresses, the sweet potato vine and licorice plant will trail down and cover the pot.

This planting grows in sun or shade.

This container for gardening grows best in shade.

fiber optic grass coralbells flax geramium and calamondin

Learn how tochoose the right potfor your next container garden.

Dynamic Planter

Swap plants out through the season to create different looks.

Here, for example, thisbleeding heartlooks beautiful in spring.

ostrich fern and canary island ivy in patina planter

Once it fades, plant it in the garden and grow fragrant purpleheliotropein the container instead.

This planting grows best in shade.

A.Northern sea oats(Chasmanthium latifolium)

B.

outdoor lush monochromatic hanging planter

A 1-inch-deep layer of pea gravel in the bottom of the containerfacilitates drainage.

Pollinator-Friendly Container Garden

Careful plant selection turns up the volume in this potted scheme.

A.Miniature roseRosa

B.Dill(Anethum graveolens)

C. Grapetomato

D.Mint(Menthaspp.)

pale colored blooms in wicker basket container garden

E.Zinnia

F.Parsley(Petroselinum crispum)

G.Dianthus

H.Nasturtium(Tropaeolum)

I.

This planting thrives in sun or shade.

A. Coleus (Solenostemon’Kiwi Fern')2

B.

begonia persian shield and wishbone flower in container

Learn how to create a container garden that will withstand your summer vacation.

Here,purple summer snapdragon and golden coleuswill look great all summer.

This planting grows best in sun or part shade.

bleeding heart and english ivy in metal planter

Here, a simple coleus does the trick and is enhanced by the dark purple potato vine.

This planting grows best in partial shade.

A. ColeusSolenostemon’Green Earrings'3

B.

container basket with herbs and scented geraniums

Here, the tall lion’s ear adds to an already beautiful combination.

This planting grows best in full sun.

Here, thesilvery cardoon’ssize, color, and texture make an impact.

blue planter on steps chenille plant grass

It grows best in full sun.

Here, purple fountaingrass rises up like fireworks out of a collection of bold, beautiful plants.

This planting grows best in full sun.

elevated white planter with salvia zinnia alyssum lobelia

Here, shades of silver mix and look particularly wonderful under the moonlight.

This planting grows best in full sun.

Silver sage (Salvia argentea)1

B. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

corrugated planter on table with flowers and plants

wooden box planter on brick steps with edibles

lobelia basketgrass elephant plant in terra cotta pot

purple trailing lantana thyme coleus cat’s whiskers

million bells coleus and snapdragon container garden

container with coleus bacopa and sweet potato vine

sweet potato vine lions ear container garden

dramatic container with cardoon diascia and coleus

ornamental grasses and plants for texture in pot

dusty miller silver sage and ivy in pot