Container Garden Ideas: 8 Patio, Porch and Balcony Setups, Before and After

Good container garden ideas start with the spot: a bare patio corner, a balcony rail, the front steps, a shady porch or a sunny strip by the garage. Then come three choices: what the pots are made of, how big they are, and what grows in them.

Try pots and planters on my photo See the 8 container garden ideas ↓

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Below are 8 container garden ideas shown as before and after pictures, each labelled with its place and pot type. After them: the thriller, filler and spiller rule for mixed pots, a pot size table for vegetables and herbs, plants for sun and for shade, a pot materials table, soil, drainage, watering and feeding, and what to do with pots in winter. The exact instructions we used are further down, so you can try any of them on a photo of your own porch or patio.

8 container garden ideas, before and after

In each pair, the left image was generated by AI as a stand-in for an ordinary yard, and the right image is that same picture edited by AI from a written instruction. These are not photos of real customer homes. We made them with our own AI model, which is not one of the models you can pick in the landscape tool, so a render in the tool may look different. We made each pair once and kept it; each caption says what the edit did not follow. The exact instructions are further down the page.

AI-generated example: a bare grey concrete patio outside the back door of a beige vinyl-sided house, with two steps up to a white door, a wooden fence and lawn — Back patio, terracotta trio. Already in the before: the patio, the house, the door, the steps, the fence and the lawn. What followed the instruction: three terracotta pots of different sizes grouped by the steps, the tallest with purple fountain grass as the thriller and pink petunias as the filler, the two smaller ones with red geraniums and a trailing white plant. What it did not follow: we asked for lime green sweet potato vine spilling over the tall pot, and there is none. Grouping pots in threes and in different sizes is one of the design rules Home for the Harvest gives.

AI-edited version of the same image: three terracotta pots by the back door steps, the tallest with purple fountain grass and pink petunias, the two smaller ones with red geraniums and a trailing white plant — Back patio, terracotta trio. Already in the before: the patio, the house, the door, the steps, the fence and the lawn. What followed the instruction: three terracotta pots of different sizes grouped by the steps, the tallest with purple fountain grass as the thriller and pink petunias as the filler, the two smaller ones with red geraniums and a trailing white plant. What it did not follow: we asked for lime green sweet potato vine spilling over the tall pot, and there is none. Grouping pots in threes and in different sizes is one of the design rules Home for the Harvest gives.

AI-generated example: an empty apartment balcony with a grey tiled floor, black metal railings, a sliding glass door and other apartment buildings beyond — Apartment balcony. Already in the before: the tiled floor, the railings, the sliding door and the view. What followed the instruction: long rail planters on the railing with red geraniums and white alyssum spilling over, a small olive tree in a big grey pot in the corner, and terracotta floor pots with basil and cherry tomatoes. What it did not follow: we asked for three floor pots including rosemary, and it drew two. On a balcony, weight matters: UMD gives about 75 pounds per cubic foot for garden soil against about 10 for a soilless potting mix.

AI-edited version of the same image: terracotta rail planters with red geraniums and white alyssum on the balcony railing, a grey pot with a small olive tree, and two terracotta pots with basil and cherry tomatoes — Apartment balcony. Already in the before: the tiled floor, the railings, the sliding door and the view. What followed the instruction: long rail planters on the railing with red geraniums and white alyssum spilling over, a small olive tree in a big grey pot in the corner, and terracotta floor pots with basil and cherry tomatoes. What it did not follow: we asked for three floor pots including rosemary, and it drew two. On a balcony, weight matters: UMD gives about 75 pounds per cubic foot for garden soil against about 10 for a soilless potting mix.

AI-generated example: the front of a red brick house with a navy blue door, four wide concrete steps with a black handrail on each side and bare soil beside them — Front steps. Already in the before: the brick house, the door, the steps, the handrails and the bare soil. What followed the instruction: a pair of large grey pots by the door with narrow green evergreens, and grey pots of orange marigolds and purple petunias lower down. What it did not follow: the evergreens look more like small conifers than the boxwood we asked for, the ivy climbs the wall and the right handrail instead of trailing from the pots, and the step pots sit only on the bottom step instead of one on each step. Pots on steps must leave the tread clear enough to walk on.

AI-edited version of the same image: a pair of grey pots with narrow evergreens beside the navy door, small pots of flowers on the top step, and grey pots of orange marigolds and purple petunias at the foot of the steps — Front steps. Already in the before: the brick house, the door, the steps, the handrails and the bare soil. What followed the instruction: a pair of large grey pots by the door with narrow green evergreens, and grey pots of orange marigolds and purple petunias lower down. What it did not follow: the evergreens look more like small conifers than the boxwood we asked for, the ivy climbs the wall and the right handrail instead of trailing from the pots, and the step pots sit only on the bottom step instead of one on each step. Pots on steps must leave the tread clear enough to walk on.

AI-generated example: a strip of bare concrete beside a white vinyl garage wall, with a wooden fence and a bare dirt yard beyond, in bright sun — Vegetables in grow bags. Already in the before: the concrete strip, the garage wall, the fence and the dirt yard. What followed the instruction: black fabric grow bags with staked tomato plants and ripening fruit, a long low planter of mixed lettuces, and a pot of green peppers. What it did not follow: we asked for two big pepper pots with green and red peppers, and it drew one small blue pot with green peppers only. A wall that gets sun most of the day suits these: UMD gives tomatoes and peppers 6 to 8 hours of direct sun, and a 5 gallon pot at least.

AI-edited version of the same image: black fabric grow bags with staked tomato plants full of red and green tomatoes, a small blue pot of green peppers and a long planter of mixed lettuces on the concrete — Vegetables in grow bags. Already in the before: the concrete strip, the garage wall, the fence and the dirt yard. What followed the instruction: black fabric grow bags with staked tomato plants and ripening fruit, a long low planter of mixed lettuces, and a pot of green peppers. What it did not follow: we asked for two big pepper pots with green and red peppers, and it drew one small blue pot with green peppers only. A wall that gets sun most of the day suits these: UMD gives tomatoes and peppers 6 to 8 hours of direct sun, and a 5 gallon pot at least.

AI-generated example: a covered front porch of a white farmhouse with a grey painted floor, two white rocking chairs and a large shade tree — Shady porch. Already in the before: the porch, the grey floor, the rocking chairs and the tree. What followed the instruction: a glazed cobalt blue pot with a big green and white hosta, a wide pot of red and lime coleus with pink impatiens, and a Boston fern basket hanging from the ceiling. What it did not follow: we asked for two blue pots with hostas and ferns, and it drew one blue pot with a hosta only. Leaves do the work in shade: coleus, begonias and impatiens are among the shade picks from Savvy Gardening and Mississippi State Extension.

AI-edited version of the same image: a cobalt blue glazed pot with a green and white hosta, a grey-blue pot with red and lime coleus and pink impatiens, and a hanging fern basket on the porch — Shady porch. Already in the before: the porch, the grey floor, the rocking chairs and the tree. What followed the instruction: a glazed cobalt blue pot with a big green and white hosta, a wide pot of red and lime coleus with pink impatiens, and a Boston fern basket hanging from the ceiling. What it did not follow: we asked for two blue pots with hostas and ferns, and it drew one blue pot with a hosta only. Leaves do the work in shade: coleus, begonias and impatiens are among the shade picks from Savvy Gardening and Mississippi State Extension.

AI-generated example: the front of a pale yellow two-storey colonial house with black shutters, three ground-floor windows, a mulch strip and a lawn — Window boxes. Already in the before: the house, the windows, the shutters, the mulch strip and the lawn. What followed the instruction: a white window box under each ground-floor window, planted with red geraniums, purple petunias, white flowers and green ivy trailing down the front. What it did not follow: the boxes sit a little low, nearly on the mulch, rather than fixed just under the sills. Window boxes hold little potting mix, so check them often: UMD says to check all containers daily in summer.

AI-edited version of the same image: a white window box under each of the three ground-floor windows, filled with red geraniums, purple petunias, white flowers and trailing ivy — Window boxes. Already in the before: the house, the windows, the shutters, the mulch strip and the lawn. What followed the instruction: a white window box under each ground-floor window, planted with red geraniums, purple petunias, white flowers and green ivy trailing down the front. What it did not follow: the boxes sit a little low, nearly on the mulch, rather than fixed just under the sills. Window boxes hold little potting mix, so check them often: UMD says to check all containers daily in summer.

AI-generated example: an empty brown wooden deck with a wooden railing at the back of a grey house with a sliding glass door, and a lawn and trees beyond — Back deck. Already in the before: the deck, the railing, the house, the sliding door, the lawn and the trees. What followed the instruction: tall cobalt blue glazed pots with ornamental grasses, and a small lemon tree with yellow fruit in a big terracotta pot. What it did not follow: we asked for two low square pots of lavender, and it drew a fourth blue pot (one square) with grass instead. If you grow a lemon tree or another tender plant in a pot, the winter section below covers what to do when it gets cold.

AI-edited version of the same image: tall cobalt blue glazed pots with ornamental grasses along the house wall and railing, and a terracotta pot with a small lemon tree — Back deck. Already in the before: the deck, the railing, the house, the sliding door, the lawn and the trees. What followed the instruction: tall cobalt blue glazed pots with ornamental grasses, and a small lemon tree with yellow fruit in a big terracotta pot. What it did not follow: we asked for two low square pots of lavender, and it drew a fourth blue pot (one square) with grass instead. If you grow a lemon tree or another tender plant in a pot, the winter section below covers what to do when it gets cold.

AI-generated example: a white stucco house with a wide black front door, a flat concrete landing and a wall light — Modern entry pair. Already in the before: the house, the door, the landing, the wall light and the garbled house number (the AI drew that too). What followed the instruction: a matching pair of tall square black planters, one each side of the door, with white trailing flowers around the base. What it did not follow: we asked for spiral-clipped boxwood, and it drew stacked ball topiaries. A matched pair is the simplest container idea for a front door: same pot, same plant, same height on both sides.

AI-edited version of the same image: a tall square black planter on each side of the door, each with a ball-shaped clipped topiary and white trailing flowers — Modern entry pair. Already in the before: the house, the door, the landing, the wall light and the garbled house number (the AI drew that too). What followed the instruction: a matching pair of tall square black planters, one each side of the door, with white trailing flowers around the base. What it did not follow: we asked for spiral-clipped boxwood, and it drew stacked ball topiaries. A matched pair is the simplest container idea for a front door: same pot, same plant, same height on both sides.

Thriller, filler, spiller: how to plant a mixed pot

Most mixed container ideas follow one rule, which Mississippi State Extension puts this way: a thriller brings height, fillers make up the body of the pot, and spillers sprawl and tumble over the edge. Example 1 above uses it: fountain grass as the thriller, petunias as the filler.

Where the thriller goes depends on how the pot is seen. Proven Winners puts it in the center of a pot you walk around, and at the back of a pot that sits against a wall and is seen from the front.

Full sun: Zonal geranium, calibrachoa and sweet potato vine (Mississippi State Extension).
Full shade: Dianella, impatiens and asparagus fern (Mississippi State Extension).
Herbs: 'Crimson King' basil, 'Huntington Carpet' rosemary and parsley in one pot (Mississippi State Extension).
Groups of pots: Group pots in threes, in different sizes and at different levels, and keep the materials or colors related (Home for the Harvest).

Container sizes for vegetables and herbs

Pot size is the fact the idea galleries skip. Oregon State Extension says most vegetables grow in 2 to 5 gallon containers at least 12 inches deep; Garden Design suggests pots at least 12 inches wide for mixed plantings.

Minimum container size by crop (UMD Extension) and the range the Old Farmer's Almanac gives
Crop	UMD minimum	Almanac range
Tomato	5 gallons (cherry types 2 gallons)	Determinate 5–10 gal; indeterminate 15–25 gal
Pepper	5 gallons	3–5 gal
Leaf lettuce	½ gallon	1–2 gal
Cucumber	5 gallons	Not listed
Eggplant	5 gallons	Not listed
Summer squash	10 gallons	Not listed
Large herbs (rosemary, sage, parsley, lavender, dill)	5 gallons or larger	Not listed

The two sources differ for tomatoes: UMD gives a 5 gallon minimum, while the Almanac says a tall indeterminate tomato wants 15 to 25 gallons. If you are unsure which kind you have, go bigger.

Container garden ideas for sun and for shade

Count the hours of direct sun the spot gets before you buy plants. A balcony that faces north or a porch under a big tree needs different plants from a south-facing patio.

Fruiting vegetables: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and squash need 6 to 8 hours of direct sun (UMD).
Leafy greens: Lettuce, spinach and Asian greens manage with 3 to 5 hours (UMD), so they suit a part-shade balcony.
Herbs: Six or more hours of direct sun (University of New Hampshire Extension).
Shade pots: Begonias, coleus, oxalis and fuchsia (Savvy Gardening); dianella, impatiens and asparagus fern (Mississippi State Extension). Example 5 uses hostas, coleus, impatiens and a fern.

Pot materials compared

The pot material changes how often you water. A porous pot breathes and dries out fast; a sealed one holds water longer.

Container materials: what UMD Extension and garden writers say
Material	What the sources say	Watch for
Unglazed terracotta (clay)	Wicks moisture out of the soil (UMD, Home for the Harvest).	Dries fast; Gardening Channel says clay pots may need watering every day. Can crack in freezes (Penn State).
Plastic	Holds moisture longer (UMD).	Home for the Harvest says it loses its appeal after a few years.
Metal	Holds moisture longer (UMD).	Check that it has drainage holes (UMD: all containers need them).
Glazed ceramic	Dries out more quickly than plastic (UMD lists ceramic with clay, concrete and wood).	Heavy; can crack if left out in winter (Penn State).
Concrete	Dries out more quickly (UMD).	Heavy, and a filled pot is heavier still; on a balcony, use a light potting mix (UMD weights below).
Wood	Dries out more quickly (UMD). Often used for long planters and window boxes.	Untreated wood rots over time.
Fabric grow bags	Inexpensive, reusable, lightweight, portable (UMD).	Check daily in summer, like every container (UMD).
Self-watering pots	Reduce maintenance by conserving water and nutrients; they use an overflow hole instead of bottom holes (UMD).	Cost more than a plain pot.

Soil, drainage and watering for containers

Drainage holes: All containers need holes or slits (UMD). Savvy Gardening: drainage holes are always a must.
No gravel layer: Gravel or broken pot pieces in the bottom will not improve drainage (UMD).
Potting mix, not garden soil: Use a commercial potting soil rather than soil dug from the ground (Oregon State, Bob Vila). It is also far lighter: about 10 pounds per cubic foot against about 75 for garden soil (UMD).
Fill line: Leave about 1 inch below the rim (Garden Design).
How to water: Water until it runs out of the drain holes (Oregon State). Check containers daily, especially in summer (UMD). Push a finger about 2 inches into the mix: if it is dry there, water (Bob Vila).
Fresh mix: Replace the potting mix every one to two seasons (Garden Design).

Feeding container plants

Container plants depend on you for food. UMD Extension suggests a fertilizer with roughly a 3-1-2 ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Slow-release fertilizer mixed into the potting mix can feed for 2 to 3 months; liquid feeds need to be given more often. For long-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers, UMD says to fertilize lightly every two weeks.

Container gardens in winter

Roots get colder in pots: Penn State Extension says to go two zones colder when choosing plants that stay in containers over winter.
Bring in clay and ceramic: Clay, ceramic and glazed pots left outside may crack (Penn State). Empty most containers and store them upside down (Illinois Extension).
Shelter what stays: Bury the pot in the ground or move it into an unheated garage (Penn State).
Keep watering evergreens: Evergreens in pots still need water in winter (Illinois Extension).

How to try container plants on a photo of your porch or patio

Take a photo of the spot from where you would normally stand, in daylight, with the whole area in frame.
Open the landscape tool, choose Custom, and paste one of the instructions below into the Custom Design Requirements box.
Change the pots, the plants, how many and what must stay, then generate.
If it misses something, as every one of our examples did in some detail, reword that part and run it again.

The picture shows the look and the arrangement. It does not measure your space, so check pot sizes against the table above before you buy.

Container garden instructions to paste into Custom mode

These are the exact instructions we used for the 8 examples above, in the same order. In the landscape tool, choose Custom, paste one into the Custom Design Requirements box, then upload a photo of your patio, porch or balcony. Swap in your own pots, plants, how many and what must stay.

Add ONLY a group of three round terracotta pots of different heights in the corner of the patio by the door: the tallest pot has a tall purple fountain grass in the centre with pink petunias around it and lime green sweet potato vine trailing over the rim; the two smaller pots have red geraniums and trailing white bacopa. Keep the patio, the house, the door, the steps, the fence, the lawn and the camera angle exactly the same.
Add ONLY plants in containers: long rectangular planter boxes hung on the inside of the railing filled with red trailing geraniums and white alyssum spilling over, a large grey pot in the corner with a small olive tree, and three medium pots on the floor with basil, rosemary and cherry tomatoes. Keep the tiled floor, the railings, the door, the view and the camera angle exactly the same.
Add ONLY potted plants on the steps and porch: a pair of large dark grey pots on the porch on each side of the door with tall green boxwood and trailing ivy, and one smaller pot on the side of each step going down, filled with orange and yellow marigolds and purple petunias. Keep the house, the door, the steps, the handrail, the lawn and the camera angle exactly the same.
Add ONLY a row of container vegetables on the concrete: four large black fabric grow bags with tomato plants on tall wooden stakes and red and green tomatoes, two big plastic pots with green and red bell pepper plants, and a long low planter of mixed lettuces. Keep the concrete, the wall, the fence and the camera angle exactly the same.
Add ONLY shade plants in containers on the porch: two large glazed blue pots with big green and white hostas and ferns, a hanging basket of Boston fern from the porch ceiling, and a low wide pot of red and lime coleus with pink impatiens. Keep the house, the porch floor, the rocking chairs, the tree shade and the camera angle exactly the same.
Add ONLY a white window box under each of the three ground-floor windows, each filled with red geraniums, purple petunias, white bacopa and trailing green ivy spilling down the front of the box. Keep the house, the windows, the shutters, the mulch strip, the lawn and the camera angle exactly the same.
Add ONLY large containers on the deck: three tall glazed cobalt blue pots along the railing with tall ornamental grasses, a large terracotta pot with a small lemon tree with yellow lemons, and two low square pots of lavender. Keep the deck boards, the railing, the house, the door, the lawn, the trees and the camera angle exactly the same.
Add ONLY a matching pair of tall square black fibreglass planters, one on each side of the door, each with a spiral-clipped boxwood topiary and white trailing bacopa around the base. Keep the house, the door, the landing, the wall, the house number and the camera angle exactly the same.

Try pots and planters on my photo

Container garden questions

What is the thriller, filler, spiller rule?

A way to plant a mixed pot: one tall thriller for height, fillers around it for the body of the pot, and spillers that tumble over the edge (Mississippi State Extension). Put the thriller in the middle of a pot seen from all sides and at the back of a pot seen from the front (Proven Winners).

How big a pot do I need for tomatoes?

At least 5 gallons, or 2 gallons for cherry tomatoes (UMD Extension). The Old Farmer's Almanac gives 5 to 10 gallons for determinate tomatoes and 15 to 25 gallons for tall indeterminate ones.

Should I put gravel in the bottom of a pot?

No. UMD Extension says gravel or broken pot pieces in the bottom will not improve drainage. Use a pot with drainage holes and fill it with potting mix.

Can I use garden soil in containers?

Use a commercial potting mix instead (Oregon State Extension). Garden soil is also heavy: about 75 pounds per cubic foot, against about 10 for a soilless mix (UMD).

How often should I water container plants?

Check them every day in summer (UMD), and water when the mix is dry about 2 inches down (Bob Vila). Water until it runs out of the drain holes (Oregon State). Small pots, terracotta and grow bags dry out fastest.

What grows in containers in the shade?

Begonias, coleus, oxalis and fuchsia (Savvy Gardening), dianella, impatiens and asparagus fern (Mississippi State Extension), and hostas and ferns for leaves. Leafy greens such as lettuce and spinach manage with 3 to 5 hours of sun (UMD).

Can I see pots and planters on a photo of my own porch?

Yes. Upload a photo to the landscape tool, choose Custom, and describe the pots: where they go, the material, the plants and what must stay. The result is a picture for planning, not a measured plan.

Is the container garden tool free?

You need an account, and it is free: 1 free render with a free account (sign in with Google or an email code). More renders come with a paid plan.

Sources for the container garden facts

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