How To Start Your Own Container Garden (Indoors Or Out) & Help It Thrive

Start the container garden of your dreams with this beginner's guide filled with tips, tricks, and expert advice.

A container garden is simply a garden that is grown in—of course!—containers. It can be customized to any space, large or small, and Ashley Christian of Homestead Sweet Home says, "It can be as simple as a little pot of herbs growing at your kitchen window, a lemon tree on your porch, or a big 4-by-12-foot raised cedar bed full of fresh veggies in your backyard."

"Container gardening is a great way to bring earthly delights indoors all year long," adds Rebecca Sears, gardening expert for Ferry-Morse.

Beyond the obvious advantages of growing plants in containers where there may not be garden space, there are other pros, from keeping pests away to carefully controlling growing conditions:

While weeds are a reality for any gardener, planting in a container does reduce a weed's ability to spread. You can better control the soil and ensure there aren't weeds waiting to pop up.

For those wary of deer, rabbits, and other curious critters, Wiggins says, "Being near my containers also helps with patrolling wildlife sneaking off with some of the fresh produce." Proximity to a busy window or door will help deter animals seeking a snack.

If you have poor-quality soil or are concerned about changing weather conditions, container gardening gives you complete control. "Containers make it easier to maintain finicky plants or ones that require a specific type of soil, pH, or nutrients," says Amy Andrychowicz, gardening expert and founder of Get Busy Gardening.

If a certain spot gets varied sunlight depending on the season, you have the ability to easily move it. "If a plant isn't happy in a particular location, you have the flexibility to play around with your arrangement and find where it will thrive," says Sears. 

"Many people with large yards also enjoy container gardening simply for aesthetic purposes. They're great for adding color and life to a front stoop or empty corner of a deck or patio," adds Andrychowicz.

"Container gardening is a wonderful way to bring plants into almost any space, anywhere, and in any season!" says Angie Daugirda of Organic Plant Magic. Veggies, flowers, herbs, and fruits can thrive outdoors during warmer months and indoors when the weather outside is less than ideal.

Despite all the benefits of growing herbs, vegetables, and flowers in containers, there are a few downsides to be aware of as you start your own container garden:

Wiggins says, "Plants with large and extensive roots will eventually require larger vessels to provide them with the soil and nutrients they need." Repotting is a pain, but it's doable. This guide will walk you through it.

Joanna VonBergen of Gingham Gardens notes that because container gardens are watered more frequently, they also need to be fertilized more often than in-ground plants.

Wiggins adds that pets can also be a challenge, particularly as dogs and cats like to dig in soil or even use the soil as a restroom—both inside and outside. She says, "Adding large rocks so the soil can be evenly watered can discourage those practices."

Vegetables are a delicious option for container gardens, herbs make a fragrant addition to an indoor garden, and flowers are often easy-to-grow and vibrant. One of the keys to a successful container garden is choosing plants with shorter root systems that won't get squished. Here are a few container-loving favorites.

For a sustainable twist, Sears adds that gardeners can also repurpose existing materials such as a wagon or an old barrel into an innovative upcycled container.

"I also recommend adding small dry tree sticks to the bottom quarter of a pot before adding soil," Wiggins adds. "The dry sticks will absorb and retain water, keeping the soil, and plant roots, hydrated."

And Christian has one extra tip, specifically for apartment dwellers looking to garden: "To avoid leaving any holes, use damage-free Command hooks for your hanging baskets, and free-standing living walls or planting towers."

The most important factors in caring for your container garden are soil, light, and water—all of which are pretty easy to adjust in a carefully controlled container garden. Here's what you're aiming for.

Depending on your plants, the exact soil needs could vary, but Christian suggests two common recipes: 60/30/10, which is 60% topsoil, 30% compost, and 10% potting soil, or 50/50, a 50% topsoil and 50% compost mix, and amending with fertilizer every few weeks in the growing season.

Andrychowicz adds, "The beauty of container gardening is that if you discover your plants are getting too much or not enough sun, then you can simply move them to the perfect spot."

If your garden is outdoors, Christian has an expert tip. She says, "Your established plants need 1 inch of rain or water each week. Check your rainfall, and only supplement what is needed to equal 1 total inch of water each week."

"Plants are amazingly intelligent, but once you plant them in pots and in aboveground gardens, they fully rely on you to provide almost everything they need," explains Daugirda. These expert tips will help you give them exactly what they need:

Daugirda advises making sure you have a water source close to your garden since "It is no fun lugging watering cans too far, and thus you may be more prone to skip a day of watering." Make it easy for yourself to care for your plants!

Your plants can work for you if you let them. Here's one smart way to let nature do its thing: "If you use hanging baskets, you can place them directly above raised planter beds to recycle water and keep your plants from raining on your downstairs neighbor," says Christian. 

Normandeau encourages container gardeners to think outside the box (or the container). She says, "Don't be afraid to use vertical elements in your balcony or patio garden! Add a trellis or other support to your containers to grow vegetables such as peas and pole beans, or ornamental plants such as morning glories, black-eyed Susan vine, and sweet peas."

Container arrangements allow many new gardeners to discover their green thumb. Tending to them is a wonderful way to connect with nature, grow your own food, and get some exercise in to boot.