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Buying an Outdoor Plant Pot

Whether you’re working with a large plot of land or just a few square feet of space on your patio, balcony or rooftop, outdoor plant pots are a way to create a lush, verdant garden you can enjoy all year round.

We asked Blythe Yost, CEO and co-founder of the online landscape design company Tilly, to share her thoughts about what homeowners should consider when choosing outdoor plant pots for their space. Here’s what she recommends:

• Materials: Yost really likes fiberglass for its light weight and durability in most climates. Terra-cotta pots break down if left out in the cold, so if you purchase clay pots, she suggests storing them during cold winters. As for wood planter pots, Yost says they generally need some kind of liner (plastic or metal) to hold up against moisture. Or consider this super-simple window planter idea.
• Size: Think about height as well as width because some plants have longer roots and need depth. Yost says too shallow a pot can make soil dry out fast, while “super deep ones” aren’t great for most annuals and perennials. She adds the closer to a cube shape the pot is, the better it is for soil capacity.
• Drainage: “Planters MUST have holes in order to prevent root rot,” Yost says. “Never rely on a layer of gravel, because root rot is real!” Pro tip: If you live above others, put trays beneath your pots to prevent runoff.
• Self-watering: “Self-watering pots still need to be filled up periodically, but they are hugely helpful for busy plant lovers,” Yost says.
• Plant types: According to Yost, it’s important to consider the shapes of plants and their growing habits when creating a multiple-layer planter pot. Whether you’re planting succulents, short-stemmed annuals, trailing ivy or shrubs/trees (or a combination thereof), the plants you pick will affect your pot choice.

We put together a list of the best outdoor plant pots so you can create your own leaf- or petal-filled oasis.

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Best Self-Watering Outdoor Plant Pot

If you sometimes forget to water your plants, the Tierra Verde self-watering planter can make sure your plants don’t suffer. How? The soil inside hovers just above a water reservoir at the base of the pot where the plant roots can stretch down and find the moisture they need.

Made of recycled rubber, this outdoor plant pot can be used during cold weather because it resists breakage, cracking or crumbling, even in freezing temperatures.

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