13 Summer Container Gardens From Houzz Readers
Houzz users share photos of their planters and advice for container gardening success
Houzz gardeners love their summer container gardens, as seen by the nearly 100 Comments on a recent Houzz ideabook. But more than the plants, it’s the experience everyone loves so much. “The act of gardening is a peaceful and gratifying experience,” says Zara Bogaski, who shared photos of her porch for this story. “It’s much easier and less time-consuming than larger scale gardening,” she says of container gardens. Let’s take a look at 13 of our favorite reader gardens from this summer.
2. Shade-loving blues. These two containers get only two to four hours of sun in the morning and are filled primarily with part-shade- to shade-loving annuals of silver, purple, blue and white. “When doing a limited color palette, I will really put the focus on texture,” says designer Kim Gamel.
The front container features more purple and blue plants, including lobelia, verbena, petunia, euphorbia and alyssum. Gamel used more white plants in the back, including tuberous begonia, calibrachoa, gaura, euphorbia, helichrysum and a variegated fern.
The front container features more purple and blue plants, including lobelia, verbena, petunia, euphorbia and alyssum. Gamel used more white plants in the back, including tuberous begonia, calibrachoa, gaura, euphorbia, helichrysum and a variegated fern.
3. Barnyard salvage. Succulents make wonderful year-round container plants, and they especially showcase their heat-loving qualities in summer. In this photo uploaded by Houzz user ginarogers, sprawling succulents grow in and through an old chicken feeder. The feeder rests nicely on the brick ledge, and the drought-tolerant plants can easily grow in the container’s limited soil space.
Plant These 12 Succulents for Instant Impact in Containers
Plant These 12 Succulents for Instant Impact in Containers
4. Star of the show with supporting cast. In this container in Ladue, Missouri, also by Kim Gamel, the majority of the plants highlight the tall, central Canna ‘Pink Sunburst’. “I love this plant because of the striped color of its leaves, ranging from green to yellow to orange,” Gamel says.
In addition to the canna, redvein dock (Rumex sanguineus), Little Ruby alternanthera (Alternanthera dentata ‘LRU30’), helichrysum, tuberous begonia and coleus round out this rich, layered container that sits outside the back door of Gamel’s home.
In addition to the canna, redvein dock (Rumex sanguineus), Little Ruby alternanthera (Alternanthera dentata ‘LRU30’), helichrysum, tuberous begonia and coleus round out this rich, layered container that sits outside the back door of Gamel’s home.
5. Taste of the desert. Containers allow you to grow plants that might not often thrive where you live, as shown in this photo uploaded by Joe Ambrosino. The plant combination is straight out of the arid Southwest or California, but it actually grows in Ambrosino’s garden in Wilmington, Delaware.
This pairing of prickly pear (Opuntia sp.) and hens-and-chicks (Sempervivum tectorum, zones 4 to 9) grows in a cactus soil mix. The container can be moved when the plants need more sun or shade, or can be moved inside as the seasons shift.
This pairing of prickly pear (Opuntia sp.) and hens-and-chicks (Sempervivum tectorum, zones 4 to 9) grows in a cactus soil mix. The container can be moved when the plants need more sun or shade, or can be moved inside as the seasons shift.
6. Wall-mounted mini landscape. If you find yourself staring at a bare wall outside, you can mount a container on the wall. Better yet, hang a mini landscape, like the one shown here by Houzz user Joy Haff. Succulents surround a garden gnome, birdhouse and owl, while a ceramic bird is suspended below.
7. One-of-a-kind sculpture. Houzz user webuser_796676 also shared a photo where the container itself is a showstopper. This Houzzer bought an old pot at a garage sale and molded a face out of Sakrete Shapecrete, a concrete product, to attach to the front of the container. Aloe vera (Aloe vera, zone 9) and dusty miller (Senecio cineraria. zones 7 to 10) grow inside it.
Gardener’s tip: While this Houzzer enjoys growing plants from unusual pots and containers, the key to container garden success is good drainage.
Gardener’s tip: While this Houzzer enjoys growing plants from unusual pots and containers, the key to container garden success is good drainage.
8. Succulent tray. Heather Burkhardt designed this succulent tray filled mainly with echeveria, senecio and stonecrop. The balance of soft mauves, greens and blues creates a cooling vignette to contrast the heat of the season.
When designing containers like this one, Burkhardt likes to follow standard design principles. “I really like symmetry and creating a focal point. I love repeating colors and using plants with similar textures, but perhaps different shapes. Playing warm and cool colors off of each other also creates interest for me,” she says.
10 Ways to Make Magic With Succulent Centerpieces
When designing containers like this one, Burkhardt likes to follow standard design principles. “I really like symmetry and creating a focal point. I love repeating colors and using plants with similar textures, but perhaps different shapes. Playing warm and cool colors off of each other also creates interest for me,” she says.
10 Ways to Make Magic With Succulent Centerpieces
10. Contemporary collection. Debbie Lusk has used the same principles of landscape design to create the balanced and elegant container vignette in her Portland, Oregon, front yard. In the tall beehive container she grows cabbage palm (Cordyline sp., zones 8 to 11), with its long strappy foliage. In the shorter container, fine-textured tickseed (Coreopsis sp., zones 4 to 9) contrasts with the taller plant while accenting the red foliage.
Lusk loves so much about container gardening, including arranging the containers and plants. “The love comes from thoughtful planting, since I will see it every day, and thoughtful collections, rocks and shells that mean a lot to me and remind of places I’ve been,” she says.
Lusk loves so much about container gardening, including arranging the containers and plants. “The love comes from thoughtful planting, since I will see it every day, and thoughtful collections, rocks and shells that mean a lot to me and remind of places I’ve been,” she says.
11. Edible innovation. Diane Hernandez doesn’t even have to stoop or kneel to harvest from her raised bed garden in Placerville, California, which overlooks wineries, Christmas tree ranches and pumpkin farms. Ten galvanized feed tanks sit on PVC stands with soaker hoses going into each tank. She’s growing an abundance of flowers, including zinnias (Zinnia elegans, annual), bells of Ireland (Moluccella laevis, annual), sage (Salvia sp.) and snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus, zones 7 to 10; often grown as an annual). In addition, she has tomatoes, cucumbers, asparagus, strawberries and romaine lettuce.
While she is new to container gardening, Hernandez has learned a lot already. “This is my first attempt at container gardening, but one of the most important things I’ve learned is not to plant close to the container edge, as plants can quickly dry out,” she says. The height of the containers makes it easy for her to garden and harder for pests to get into the containers. Mixing edibles with flowers not only beautifies the garden but also keeps the edible plants healthier. Additionally, Hernandez decorates the tables at the homeless shelter where she volunteers with flowers from her garden. “The diners love the fresh touch,” she says.
While she is new to container gardening, Hernandez has learned a lot already. “This is my first attempt at container gardening, but one of the most important things I’ve learned is not to plant close to the container edge, as plants can quickly dry out,” she says. The height of the containers makes it easy for her to garden and harder for pests to get into the containers. Mixing edibles with flowers not only beautifies the garden but also keeps the edible plants healthier. Additionally, Hernandez decorates the tables at the homeless shelter where she volunteers with flowers from her garden. “The diners love the fresh touch,” she says.
12. Warm welcome. Two glazed ceramic pots frame the entry and welcome visitors to Zara Bogaski’s 1918 bungalow in the greater Columbia, South Carolina, area. As the area receives some shade, she selected the large-leafed leopard plant (Farfugium japonicum, zones 7 to 10) and the trailing ‘Purple Dragon’ spotted hendbit (Lamium maculatum ‘Purple Dragon’, zones 3 to 10).
Gardener’s tip: “Pay attention to proper drainage and proper watering requirements,” Bogaski says. For this container she used low wedges below the containers to aid with drainage. “In this case I didn’t want them to be visible so I used plastic furniture pads. Another inexpensive option is using spent milk carton caps as wedges,” she says.
13. Summer glow. On her front porch in Greenville, South Carolina, Claire Richards grows ‘Fireworks’ fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Fireworks’, zones 9 to 10), white pelargonium, lantana, cholea, periwinkle and a sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas, zones 9 to 11) in the big container. Red gerber daisies match her favorite team (Alabama Crimson Tide) on the right, and more of the plants seen in the larger container grow on the left.
Richards advises gardeners to use good soil and not overwater for container gardening success. “It’s a simple way to liven up your porch and add bright, eye-catching color,” she says.
More
See more ideas for container gardening
Browse outdoor pots and planters
Richards advises gardeners to use good soil and not overwater for container gardening success. “It’s a simple way to liven up your porch and add bright, eye-catching color,” she says.
More
See more ideas for container gardening
Browse outdoor pots and planters
Gardener’s tip: “I find myself growing more perennials in containers, especially ones that appreciate good drainage. The larger the container, the easier it is to keep it going, starting with good soil and adding a top layer of compost each spring,” imho22 says.
Container: Faccia large planter, Campania