Container Gardening Ideas: Creative Pots, Design Tips, and Herb Combinations

Container gardening offers unlimited variety in pots, materials, and designs. Search online, libraries, or bookstores for inspiration. Containers range from small houseplant pots to large boxes and planters, made of wood, glass, clay, aluminum, bamboo, straw, plastic, fiberglass, terra cotta, tin, cast iron, zinc, copper, brass—each with pros and cons.

Thinking Beyond Traditional Pots

• Modern shapes: square, rectangular, triangular, hexagonal, octagonal.
• Repurposed items: old iron pots, kettles, pails, jugs, casks, vases, crocks, jelly tubs, barrels, nail kegs, Japanese fish tubs, sinks, bathtubs, bamboo soy tubs.
• Novelty containers: driftwood, wheelbarrows, donkey carts, spinning wheels, mailbox boxes, bird cages, decorative well heads, animal figures, strawberry jars.
• Woven baskets to hide unattractive pots; tar paper pots (painted/covered).

Finding Containers

Start at home: cellars, attics, garages, sheds. Antique shops, country auctions, old inns yield charming old-fashioned pots and kettles. Cookie jars, pickle crocks, wash tubs, coal pails, jardinières, ceramic bowls work well—add thick drainage layer (pebbles, broken pots) and water carefully. Puncture holes in pails and tubs.

Ideal Container Checklist

• Attractive, strong, durable, weather-resistant.
• Large enough for ample soil.
• Good drainage (holes at bottom/sides) – not absolute but preferred.
• Rust-resistant for at least a season.
• Wide, stable base; heavy enough for average winds (move in severe storms).
• Rot-resistant: treat wood (except redwood, cedar, cypress) with preservative.
• Portable: wheels on large boxes; rollers for moving.

Herb Container Combinations

• Italian: Sweet basil, Italian parsley, oregano, marjoram, thyme.
• Scented: Lavender, rose-scented geranium, lemon balm, lemon thyme, pineapple sage.
• Salad: Garlic chives, rocket, salad burnet, parsley, celery.
• French: Tarragon, chervil, parsley, chives, sage.

Let your creativity shape a container garden that pleases the eye—and the palate.