The great thing about gardening is that it transforms the look of the outdoor space. And there are so many designs to choose from. If you think you have to spend a small fortune on landscaping to improve the garden's look, there’s no need for that at all. Whether you’re designing a bare spot, a small blank space, or an entire yard, here are creative ideas for a container garden.

How To Make Beautiful Container Garden

Here are five ways to keep your container garden looking great!

Add Water Features

One quick way to transform a traditional garden into a water garden is strategically placing water features in key areas. This is an excellent idea for dressing up a bare patio, balcony, or rooftop with plants. You can invest in a large water feature that will sit front and center in the garden and two small ones as accents. Add several pots of plants with big leaves, then finish with small perennials and herbs, and you have a tropical paradise!

Set Potted Dwarf Shrubs on Bare Spots

One way to make your container garden appear fuller is to add a couple of potted shrubs. Shrubs make a great accent for bare spots because the denseness of the foliage instantly adds to the visual weight of the area. The shrubs could also change the look of the garden, making the space look even more alive. Because shrubs tend to grow too aggressively, we suggest the dwarf variety for a container garden. The size is more manageable, and you won’t spend a considerable chunk of your time pruning the shrubs.

Upcycle Recyclable Items into Pots and Plant Container

Do not limit your plant pots to traditional clay, terracotta, or glazed ceramic. Unusual items like old tin cans, dressers, drawers, old shoes, bathtub, tires, galvanized containers, chairs, even a rickety wheelbarrow could be transformed into plant pots and containers! Just use your imagination, find ways to turn unwanted and unused items into plant pots. You can also do a quick search online for ideas!

Invite Wildlife and Pollinators

What’s a garden without birds, bees, and butterflies? Make your space wildlife and pollinator-friendly by adding several birdbaths, birdhouses, bee houses, feeders, etc. Install these decors, and within a few days, your garden will be bursting with life!

Grow Potted Crops

People tend to grow decorative plants and flowering plants in a container garden. But here’s the thing, some crops can be grown in a pot. Herbs, for example, make terrific additions to a container garden because they do not grow too big and are easy to care for. Plus points if you’re using an herb garden kit, these products make gardening a breeze! Set a couple of potted herbs in a sunny spot, and you’re good to go. Other crops that grow well in containers are:

• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Green onions
• Radishes
• Beans
• squash
• Lettuce

What’s so great about growing crops in a container garden is that you can harvest fresh produce you’ve grown yourself while also saving and optimizing bare spaces in your home.

How can you make your container garden look good?

A little creativity and strategic planning are key to a beautiful garden. This applies to gardens of all kinds. Container gardens are fast becoming popular because people spend more time at home and crave green spaces.

To make the container garden look good, here are some tips:

• Use plants of different heights to make the space look fuller
• Use decorative pots and plant shelves
• Add a small seating area if the space permits
• Add water features, garden gnomes, fairy lights, and other decors to dress up the space
• Use raised or tiered bed planters to free up more space and organize your plants
• Prune, deadhead, and prune every couple of weeks to get rid of diseased leaves, dead or dying branches, wilted flowers, browning leaves, straggly stems, etc.
• Always keep an eye out for pests and diseases. If you see signs of an infestation or contamination, treat the area as soon as possible so it won’t spread all over.

How to arrange a container garden?

Arranging a container garden depends on the theme if there’s any, and your preferences. But here are basic arrangement suggestions to try:

• Arrange plants according to height. The tallest plants should go in the back and short, low-growing plants in the front.
• Set wide, heavy posts directly on the ground and small, colorful pots on the shelves or plant stands for interest.
• Use pedestal pots or pedestal plant stands to break the monotony. This is a great trick to highlight certain plants, like flowering plants or small pots of succulents.
• Don’t let ugly pots and plant stands ruin the look of your container garden; set these in the back. If possible, the foliage should only be visible. This also gives the illusion of a lusher, more dense foliage.
• The best-looking, healthiest plants should always be set at the front to make the garden look healthy and green. We also suggest mixing sculptural plants with plants of different-sized leaves for better visual impact.
• Avoid buying pots of the same size because this will only eat a lot of space.
• Got a large pot or container? Try planting different plants into this pot. This will save you a lot of space and create a nice interest for visitors to appreciate.
• Plant or set your container garden in front of tall plants for hedging, conifers, or grasses. The natural barrier will hide your garden from view. Also, natural barriers like hedges help make the garden appear bigger.
• Just get a trusty hedge pruner to keep these natural barriers neat and beautiful!

What can you put in planters other than plants?

Besides plants, just about anything that fits the size of the planters. Whether tiered or elevated, you can put the following in your planters:

• DIY bird feeder
• Garden tool organizer
• DIY outdoor cooker
• Birdbath
• Garden decor

When it comes to upcycling planters and pots, you’re only limited by your imagination! Creating a beautiful outdoor space is easy when you are willing to try new things. With these tips, we hope that we’ve inspired you to update and transform your garden. Check out our store for more garden tools and supplies!