Having a patio doesn’t mean you need to forego greenery. It simply means that container gardens and planters are your friend: with a little creativity you can bring in layers and layers of leafy plants and pretty flowers to your hardscape. Whether you’re working in a front yard, a backyard patio, or a formal courtyard, there are a number of ways you can use planters to bring life and energy to the space. Read on to find some of our favorite patio container garden ideas to create a beautiful outdoor retreat.

1. Hanging Garden

If your patio is largely filled up with a table and chairs, make use of vertical space. Attach several semi-circle planters to a wall, or put up hanging planters filled with draping vines and flowers from a pergola.

2. Unique Pots and Planters

Looking for some patio planter ideas that are a bit out of the ordinary? For a whimsical look, try using repurposed watering cans, old tubs and buckets.

3. Built-In Flower Boxes

This one requires a little more work, but the end result will flow seamlessly with the rest of your patio: Build a planter box around your patio border, either made of wooden slats or concrete. Alternatively, build a planter into the center of your patio so the plants are the main focal point.

4. Full Flowers

In need of small patio planter ideas? Opt for a small stone planter that blends in with your hardscape and choose a plant that produces lots of flowers or leaves — you want them to spill out and practically cover the pot for an integrated look.

5. Go Modern

The typical plant pot is round and Mediterranean in style, but if you’ve got a modern or contemporary-style home, you might want to opt for something to match. Think sleek, tall planters made of concrete or copper. Fill them with succulents, aloe or ferns.

6. Flowers for the Table

A vase of flowers on the dining table can do wonders, so why not follow suit outdoors as well? Elegant tin boxes or low, wide-mouthed pots work well for displaying flowers on outdoor tables.

7. Mismatched Planters

One of the easiest patio planter ideas is to simply gather up all of the pots and containers you have and arrange them together. The greenery will pull everything together and your patio or courtyard will have a rich, collected feeling with plenty to look at.

8. Small Trees

Think you can’t have trees in your patio container garden? As long as you choose the right species, keeping a small tree in a planter can work just fine. For example, go for a Mediterranean look with delicate olive trees.

9. Lovely Lattice

To add shade and beauty to your yard, consider this patio planting idea: attach a wooden trellis to some planters and cover it with flowering vines.

10. Bamboo Wall

If you’ve got a bare wall or a fence that backs up right to your neighbor’s yard, add privacy and shade with a wall of potted bamboo trees.

Whether you want inspiration for planning a patio container garden renovation or are building a designer patio container garden from scratch, Houzz has 3,518 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including April Philips Design Works and FormLA Landscaping. Look through patio container garden pictures in different colors and styles and when you find a patio container garden design that inspires you, save it to an Ideabook or contact the Pro who made it happen to see what kind of design ideas they have for your home. Explore the beautiful patio container garden photo gallery and find out exactly why Houzz is the best experience for home renovation and design.