This container garden was
fashioned from an antique wooden
toolbox.

Toolboxes and Troughs

While searching for unusual containers, don't overlook the toolshed. It can be a virtual treasure trove. In the top row, a selection of sedum mingles with Sempevivum, while an assortment of flavorful herbs in 4-inch pots brightens the bottom row. When planting your toolbox, line the inside with landscape fabric and sphagnum moss before setting the pots inside. If using a wooden container, opt for one made of redwood or cedar, which resists rotting. If you must use a container made of softwood, protect it by treating it with a preservative.

Nothing adds character to
outdoor spaces quite like a
miniature garden planted in a
stone trough.

Gardeners have long been enamored by the practice of growing plants in troughs. Today, troughs modeled after those of yesteryear continue to be used as planters, particularly for growing alpine and other compact, slow-growing plants. When planting a trough, consider a few important details. Make sure it has a drainage hole at its lowest point. Cover the hole with bits of pot shards or pieces of screening. For potting soil, use an equal mixture of medium-rich potting mix and fine-grain gravel. Fill the trough with compact, low-growing, and dwarf plants. Good options include varieties of Alyssum, Armeria, Campanula, dianthus, Gentiana, moss, Primula, phlox, Saxifraga, sedum, Silene, thyme, and viola. When the plants are in place, cover the soil with 1/4 inch of pea gravel to help retain moisture and give your stone garden a finished look. Set the trough where it receives plenty of sun.