Tips for Outdoor Planters: Size, Placement, and More

Planters can dramatically improve your outdoor space and increase the curb appeal of your home. They can make the entrance more inviting, bring the deck area into focus, and so much more.

Outdoor planters are available in a variety of sizes, shapes, and materials ranging from huge Corten steel pots to small, lighter types. In this post, we will provide our top tips for choosing the right outdoor planters to fit your house.

Size Matters

Picking the correct size planter may be an atypical Goldilocks situation. It must be the right size. If the planter is too small, it will clog the roots of the plant, causing the need for oxygen, water, and nutrients that are required for plants to thrive.

However, an oversized planter too big can cause trouble. In this situation, the soil could get too moist and submerge the roots of the plant. The excess water may also result in fungal growth and lead to the roots beginning to begin to decay.

A recommendation is to find a planter at least 2 inches greater than the plant's diameter. The height is important to take into consideration as well. Select a planter sufficient in height to accommodate the roots of the plant and an additional 1 or 2 inches above the planter to allow watering.

In terms of how big the planter's size is relative to the space you have, we always suggest measuring the area first. Width is crucial in all places because you need a comfortable area around the container in order to allow for the flow of pedestrians. Height is also an important consideration for plants that are placed close to doors. Make sure you choose a pot that's high enough to be within the line of sight of your visitors. Remember, the plants selected for your containers will affect the height they appear to be.

Perfect Placement

When it comes to the best location for your outdoor planters, the options are virtually endless. Place planters on your walkway or driveway to draw attention to your home or even surround your front door by placing large outdoor plants on each side. Planters can be placed on a wall of retaining, close to an entrance to your house, or place many of them together on your lawn. Container plants can add tranquility and greenery to outdoor spaces that have a lot of hardscaping, such as stone. They can also be used to conceal objects you do not want to be the focus of attention.

In terms of groupings of plants, three planters with varying sizes work well together. However, we're not too worried about groupings of four or single plants, which are bigger or have a focal plant. You could always begin with a single container plant and add other plants to the mix over time.

Plant Height: Thrillers, Fillers, and Spillers

If you're planning on combining different planters and pots in the same space, using plants of different heights can bring out the visual. Opt to mix plants that are a bit tense (eye-catching plants), fillers (foliage that fills empty spaces), and spillers (something that spills onto the edges or the edge of the container).

If you're mixing several plants in a pot, pick plants with similar requirements for light and water.