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Container gardening is a fun and easy way to expand an outdoor garden, start an indoor garden, or simply add color and life to your porch, patio, or yard.

But with all the different containers available, it can be tough to choose the right one for your plants.

This guide will help you pick the perfect containers for your garden, based on the type of plant you’re growing.

Read on below and learn all about choosing the perfect containers for your garden, and with a little bit of planning, you’ll be planting in your new containers in no time.

What to Consider Before Choosing Containers for Your Garden

The first step in choosing the perfect containers for your garden is going over a few considerations and brainstorming a bit.

The primary factors to think about before choosing the right garden containers for you and your specific gardening needs include:

  • Decide what you want to grow in your garden – vegetables, herbs, flowers, or a mix of all three
  • Consider the size of your plants and how much space they will need to grow
  • Choose containers that have drainage holes to prevent waterlogging
  • Select materials that will withstand the elements – plastic, metal, or ceramic are all good options
  • Think about the aesthetic of your garden – choose colors and styles that you like
  • Don’t forget to label your plants so you know what’s growing where!

The Main Types of Gardening Containers

Once you’ve gone over the primary factors to consider before choosing containers for gardening, it’s time to move on to learn more about the main types of gardening containers.

Below, we discuss the most significant gardening container types (and show an example of each one):

1. Large Planters (and Raised Planters)

Planters are usually large rectangular containers made of lightweight but long-lasting materials such as wood, plastic, or metal.

Raised planters, typically made from wood (like the one in the picture above), are ideal for indoor, outdoor, and greenhouse gardening as well as for balconies and porches.

2. Raised Beds

A raised bed is an elevated planter that is perfect for growing vegetables and herbs with good drainage. Many gardeners choose to build DIY raised beds, though pre-made raised beds are a quicker and easier choice.

3. Pots and Tubs

These small pot-type garden containers come in a variety of sizes and shapes and can be used to hold flowers and plants indoors or outdoors.

Tub containers are often used for sorting laundry or carrying garden tools, supplies, and plants around the gardening as they are for planting.

4. Window Boxes

The window box gardening container type is narrow in size and is designed to fit your windowsills, porch, or balcony railing.

Some window boxes have hangers, and others (like the picture above) simply sit on the window sill or whatever surface you prefer.

5. Wine Barrels (or Rain Barrels)

Old wine barrels or rain barrels are ideal for reusing to grow herbs, flowers, and vegetables, as well as ornamentals like azaleas or ferns.

6. Self-Watering Systems

Self-watering systems allow for a steady supply of moisture to the plant’s roots without having to manually water them yourself.

7. Grow Bags

The grow bag has been around since the 1970s, though they have only recently become more popular than ever.

8. Stacking Containers

Containers that stack (as shown above) are most often utilized for growing strawberries, cherry tomatoes, and similar types of crops.

9. Decorative Containers

There are a plethora of different types of gardening containers, though few are as beloved for both indoor and outdoor plants as painted ceramic decorative pots.

10. Nursery Pots (Small Gardening Containers)

Last but not least, nursery pots are typically plastic containers that measure 1.75 inches to 4 inches wide, and 2 inches to 4 or 5 inches tall (though they come in much larger sizes as well).

If you prefer a natural approach to gardening containers, organic starter pots are also widely available in today’s market.

About Choosing Containers for Your Garden

Container gardening has come a long way since the legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the first-ever recorded container garden, thousands of years ago. Today, there are more strategic and aesthetically pleasing container options for your garden than ever before.

Whether you choose an unconventional container, like hanging planters, or opt for something simpler like basic plastic flower pots, each type of container offers its own set of benefits and drawbacks.

Likewise, whether you do outside gardening or indoor gardening has a massive impact on which containers are right for your garden.

That means you must consider your garden’s needs before you pick the right containers, precisely tailoring the choices to your individual space’s requirements.

A Final Word

From lightweight containers to hardy materials, there is no shortage of possibilities. Anything goes as long as it works for you.

That said, if you’re still stuck on figuring out which container is ideal for your garden… why not explore ways of mixing and matching different sizes, colors, and styles of containers for your garden?

With all the great options shared above – choosing the perfect containers for your garden is a breeze!

What type of containers do you currently use in your garden? Let us know in the comments!

Suggested Reading: How to Plan a New Garden

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