Most decorative containers today get used either outdoors or indoors.
Decorative containers that you place on porches, decks, patios and in gardens are good for herb gardens, vegetable gardens, and flower gardens.
Once you have decided how you are going to use them you will be able to select the right ones for the job.
In order to keep the decorative container garden healthy you need to select the proper size and shape for what you plan to grow.
Some things are an absolute necessity such as drainage holes, but in many cases a few other things need to be thought about.
You need to know how large a mature plant will become.
The decorative garden container needs the depth for the root system during the entire growth of the plant.
Will these decorative garden pots be sitting in the sun all the time or just part of the time? They need to be sturdy enough to withstand heavy winds and strong breezes.
When deciding on container gardening you need to understand that the soil in these containers will dry out faster than ground soil and need to be given water much more often.
If your container garden will be in full sun, non-porous pots are better to use.
Terracotta pots, which are porous, are better to use in shady areas or areas that receive only partial sun because the soil dries out very quickly.
Many synthetic containers start out much cooler and are able to keep moisture for a longer length of time.
For those of you who are gone during the day and are unable to irrigate the containers make sure there is a drip tray or reservoir that you can fill from the bottom before you leave so the plant will be able to soak up water when needed.
If the plant struggles because of not enough water it may not recover and you may need to start over with a new seedling.
When you have a container garden in your entertainment area you want the opportunity to move your decorative containers out of the way if needed.
On occasion you will probably want to move your garden boxes to an area the receives more sun or more shade; this is why it is best to have containers that are not too large or heavy.
The larger and heavier containers, such as concrete urns, should be in an area that gets the proper amount of sunlight for that particular plant.
Some of the wood decorative containers are good for retaining water.
Hard woods will hold up best against rot, but if the wood planters have been treated with a preservative they will also hold up well.
Wood will shrink and expand due to moisture content so be sure all the joints are made well and do not let those containers rest directly on the ground.
Decorative metal containers are generally heavy and help steady the stems of tall plants.
They will also heat up quicker and dry the soil sooner so extra watering is needed to sustain the roots.
Sometimes you will find resin or fiberglass containers give the appearance of being made of natural materials; they are durable, light weight, inexpensive, and resistant to frost.
Decorative plastic containers will save moisture and also are light weight.
Some plastic containers are so flexible so you can use them as liners for other types of containers.
You need to choose the right containers and plants that will grow in your location for the best results.
The materials that are used today for constructing outdoor containers are able to handle extreme weather changes, are light-weight and available in decorative styles, textures and colors.
Also available today are outdoor containers that have new features such as being over-sized, illuminated, and self-watering.
The advantages to container gardening are features such as adding color and style to a deck, balcony, patio, or entry way; they also hide eyesores.
This type of garden can also be moved around when needed.
These container gardens are not bothered by the pests that attack an in-ground garden and when you move away you can take the container garden along with you.
Some plants that have problems with ground soil will do better with organic soil in decorative containers.