First, I think its best to start off small and work your way up. I’m not just talking about the plants, I’m talking about the pots. You may want to move your plants around (which is a big advantage of container gardening) and if you have a big pot that is already heavy, add a bunch of soil and water, and you’ll have quite a hard time relocating it anywhere.

Look for pots that have water drainage holes in the bottom. Most have at least one good size hole. Follow the watering requirements that come with the plant. When you are watering, you should stop when you see the water coming out the bottom. Also, keep in mind that clay pots that aren’t coated on the inside will soak up quite a bit of water from the potting soil.

When choosing plants, try not to over stuff the pot with too many plants. Its important, however, to group plants that require the same sun, water and soil conditions or you’ll have many problems trying to keep them all alive.

Don’t be afraid to experiment. If you go through a few plants until you achieve your desired outcome, its well worth it. Not only is container gardening fun, but it also provides a beautiful environment for any drab space.

A carefully placed garden pot can also bring your garden up off the ground and splits it into multiple levels making your garden more interesting to the eye. Even more, some pots can be hung from a patio ceiling or a tree branch to give a greater impression of height. All this adds interest to your garden. And with the many different options of shapes that pots come in, your garden will really come to life visually. Try to pick out plant colors that will complement the colors you chose for your pots. Larger bright colored pots placed farther back can really add a boldness to your garden. And neutral colored pots will accept almost any colored plant.

Large single pots make perfect focal points.

Be careful not to overstuff the pots with too many kinds of plants. Try to limit each to three to five different kinds depending on the size of the pot.

Every garden pot should have a hole in the bottom for drainage. If not, the roots of your plants can become waterlogged. For unglazed clay pots, you should brush the insides of the pot with a waterproofing sealant. This will help to keep the pot from absorbing all the moisture out of the soil and will also protect the pot from too much water.

Another advantage of using garden pots is portability. Pots can be easily rearranged or even brought inside if the pot is small enough. Make sure to bring ceramic pots indoors during the cold of winter as they will crack. So with a few garden pots, you can easily bring a tired garden back to life.

This video shows you what to look for when choosing a clay pot for your own container garden.