Twigs from your yard can add an
earthy feel to any container-
pots, boxes or baskets.

Boxes

Nature yields a splendid selection of materials for constructing inventive containers. This flower box is crafted with layers of twigs. Planted with a lively mix of lobelia and petunias, it's sure to spruce up any area of the garden. Create a charming vignette simply by adding a few old toolshed finds, such as an antique seeder sprouting trailing sedum, and oil cans filled with sprigs of lavender and lemon thyme.

The picture of serenity, this
concrete flower box provides a
dignified home for a bounty of
multiflora hybrid petunias.

Concrete pots like this charming planter make excellent containers for creating extravagant displays of flowers because they hold lots of soil. They're also highly durable; their thick walls protect the container from exposure to the elements, although it can still be damaged by the expansion of soil as it freezes. Just like any planter, concrete containers need drainage holes to avoid saturated soil. If your container does not have them, you can make holes yourself with an electric drill and a 1/2-inch masonry bit. Drill holes throughout the length of the planter.