A beautiful planter can elevate even the simplest plant, and the wrong planter can make even the most beautiful plant look out of place. I've tried just about every type of outdoor planter over the years, and I've developed strong opinions about what works and what doesn't.

Galvanized Metal

Galvanized metal is my absolute favorite planter material for a farmhouse aesthetic. It's durable, it's beautiful, and it gets better with age as it develops a natural patina. I use galvanized buckets, tubs, troughs, and watering cans as planters all over the property. Drill drainage holes in the bottom before planting.

Terracotta

Classic terracotta pots are timeless and beautiful. They're porous, which means they breathe well and are forgiving of overwatering. I love the look of a cluster of terracotta pots in different sizes on the porch steps or along a garden path. Note that terracotta dries out quickly in summer heat — water more frequently than you would with plastic or glazed ceramic.

Wooden Planters and Window Boxes

A wooden window box overflowing with flowers is one of the most charming things you can add to a farmhouse. Cedar and redwood are naturally rot-resistant and hold up well outdoors. Paint or stain them to match your house trim for a polished look. Line wooden planters with landscape fabric to extend their life.

Stock Tanks

A galvanized stock tank is one of the most versatile and beautiful large planters you can use. They're inexpensive, enormous, and look absolutely wonderful filled with a mix of tall grasses, trailing plants, and colorful annuals. I have two large stock tanks on our back patio that I replant every spring — they're always a focal point.

The Thriller-Filler-Spiller Formula

For any container planting, this formula never fails: a Thriller (tall, dramatic focal point — ornamental grass, canna, dahlia), a Filler (medium plants that fill in — petunias, zinnias, impatiens), and a Spiller (trailing plants that cascade over the edge — sweet potato vine, bacopa, trailing verbena). The right planter in the right spot with the right plants — that's the formula for a porch and garden that looks beautiful all season long.