10 Ways to Plant Outside the Box
Get creative with your garden scape and let your imagination journey beyond the good ole terracotta pot
One of the great things about planting is how inventive it can be. Be it in the ground, in a pot or up the wall – the right container paired with the right plant can become an easy and very effective garden feature. Planting is a way to express your personality through your outdoor surrounds and flex that green thumb. Here is a little inspiration to get you started.
2. Create a living work of art with a vertical garden
This framed piece looks stunning against the red background. Vertical gardens are also a fantastic way to save space and work extremely well in smaller areas such as inner-city balconies and courtyards.
This framed piece looks stunning against the red background. Vertical gardens are also a fantastic way to save space and work extremely well in smaller areas such as inner-city balconies and courtyards.
3. Fill in the gaps
Create textural interest by breaking up paving with a burst of green groundcover. Be sure to choose a resilient plant variety, such as mondo grass, which can stand for a bit of wear and tear.
Create textural interest by breaking up paving with a burst of green groundcover. Be sure to choose a resilient plant variety, such as mondo grass, which can stand for a bit of wear and tear.
4. Define areas with a living wall
Construct a dividing wall in the garden with some creative planting. This open feature wall is made from repurposed copper half tubs.
Construct a dividing wall in the garden with some creative planting. This open feature wall is made from repurposed copper half tubs.
5. Upcycle kitchen items
Who hasn’t burnt the base of a pot or two in their time? The good news is that old stainless-steel pots can be reinvented as quirky garden planters.
Who hasn’t burnt the base of a pot or two in their time? The good news is that old stainless-steel pots can be reinvented as quirky garden planters.
Cubotti Planters Illuminated by Serralunga
6. Combine two features
Modern outdoor planters that double as a lighting source allow for two striking features in one. These LED planters have interesting foliage that trails over the edge, creating an ambient nighttime effect when the pot is lit up.
Modern outdoor planters that double as a lighting source allow for two striking features in one. These LED planters have interesting foliage that trails over the edge, creating an ambient nighttime effect when the pot is lit up.
7. Reuse cans
All those ancient utilitarian cans that have been gathering dust in the garage make for great industrial-style indoor planters. Just clean out any remaining residue, file any sharp edges and plant away.
All those ancient utilitarian cans that have been gathering dust in the garage make for great industrial-style indoor planters. Just clean out any remaining residue, file any sharp edges and plant away.
8. Mix and match
Not sure what to do with a bare outside wall? Get your plant on and experiment with a wall planter filled with coloured foliage and assorted leaf shapes. You don’t need to cover the whole wall – start small, and if your new addition gets the green thumbs up, you can build on it as you go.
Not sure what to do with a bare outside wall? Get your plant on and experiment with a wall planter filled with coloured foliage and assorted leaf shapes. You don’t need to cover the whole wall – start small, and if your new addition gets the green thumbs up, you can build on it as you go.
9. Waste not want not
This outdoor planter is made from an old fuel drum that was cut in half. The drum is large enough to plant a tree inside and the weathered exterior gives it an industrial edge.
This outdoor planter is made from an old fuel drum that was cut in half. The drum is large enough to plant a tree inside and the weathered exterior gives it an industrial edge.
10. Quick fix
Turn an annoying part of your driveway into a little slice of green heaven by filling in potholes with assorted plantings. In fact, anywhere you have a surface that could use a little TLC – have a little fun by covering up the ugly with some pretty soft plantings that will make you smile.
Turn an annoying part of your driveway into a little slice of green heaven by filling in potholes with assorted plantings. In fact, anywhere you have a surface that could use a little TLC – have a little fun by covering up the ugly with some pretty soft plantings that will make you smile.
An well-used wheelbarrow can be transformed into an attractive and portable planter. Create a colourful and textured look by mixing different plants, such as a variety of succulents, together. Just make sure they are compatible companions, though, as some creepers have quite a dominating nature.