“This is an excerpt from Small-Space Container Gardens by Fern Richardson (Timber Press, 2012). I love how this book walks you through making a small space—like a balcony, porch, patio, or tiny…”
Fiddle Leaf Fig
Ficus lyrata
This is an excerpt from Small-Space Container Gardens by Fern Richardson (Timber Press, 2012). I love how this book walks you through making a small space—like a balcony, porch, patio, or tiny yard—look absolutely lovely, even when you're on a tight budget.
Let's be honest—sometimes finding money for containers feels like trying to squeeze blood from a rock. But once you let your creative side take over, you'll find all sorts of homes for your plants that won't break the bank. In fact, if you repurpose everyday household items, old kids' toys, or recycling bin treasures, the container might even be free! Just remember to drill drainage holes in the bottom if they aren't there already—trust me, your plants will thank you.
Birdbaths look absolutely stunning planted with succulents or rock garden favorites like California poppies, sweet alyssum, and forget-me-nots. I've spotted used ones in the classifieds for under $20—what a deal! If you're a bird lover, you can also add some personality to your garden with a vintage birdcage: just tuck a potted plant inside instead of a feathered friend.
Colanders and flour sifters are practically begging to become plant containers—they already have built-in drainage, how perfect is that? Hunt for vintage colanders in fun colors, or grab some spray paint and make one match your style. Flour sifters planted with succulents or small herbs like thyme are seriously charming—I've tried it myself!
Large salad bowls from the homewares section of your favorite store are often way cheaper than pots that look nearly identical. Just drill a hole in the bottom and use the money you saved to treat yourself to something special for the garden—maybe a plant you've been eyeing!
Red wagons—like the one your kids outgrew years ago—make such fun, moveable containers, especially for succulents whose shallow roots don't need much depth. Use a hammer and nail or awl to punch drainage holes every six inches and pot it right up. I've also seen a rusty old wheelbarrow planted with edibles and it looked absolutely fantastic—same idea!
Soda cans weren't part of my potting repertoire either until I took a frugal gardening class and the presenter told us about a street vendor in Mexico growing the succulent "string of pearls" in soda and beer cans. Coffee tins give you a bigger pot to work with. The trick to nailing that cool retro vibe is finding interesting cans or painting them a cheerful color.
Trash cans that are about half the size of the curbside kind add such a cool urban or industrial vibe to any space. Browse the aisles of your local hardware store for these galvanized gems and give your dwarf tree the stylish home it deserves.
Wine boxes make the most delightful containers for low-growing flowers or shallow-rooted edibles like lettuces. If you buy wine in bulk or have a friend at a wine shop, you'll have a steady supply of these charming wooden boxes. Save your corks and use them as topdressing—it really pulls the whole wine theme together!
Project: Mini BBQ Herb Garden1 portable barbecue or hibachi1 coffee filter1 small bag high-quality potting mix3 to 5 herb plants, depending on the size of your BBQ
1. Give the BBQ a good cleaning, scrubbing off as much of that blackened grime as you can.2. Place a coffee filter flat over the holes in the bottom of the grill. This lets water drain out while keeping the potting soil from falling through—clever, right?3. Fill the BBQ with enough potting soil so that when your herbs are planted they sit about one inch below the top edge.4. Arrange your plants until you get a combo that makes you happy. Fill in around them with potting soil, gently tamping down as you go to make sure soil gets into all the nooks and crannies. Double-check the middle of the pot—I always miss at least one spot there!5. Set your BBQ garden in full to partial sun, depending on what your herbs need.
____________________________________________________________
Want to know which plants are best suited for container gardening? Check out The Encyclopedia of Container Plants.
You can grow a gorgeous container herb garden in your small space with Easy to Grow Container Herb Garden.
Succulent Container Gardens has advice for everyone from beginners to seasoned gardeners on creating eye-catching, one-of-a-kind container displays.
Subscribe to our free gardening e-newsletters.
