10 Benefits of Using Planter Boxes in Your Garden
Discover 10 amazing benefits of using planter boxes to enhance your garden’s beauty, boost plant health, and simplify your gardening routine.
Are you considering adding planter boxes to your garden and aren’t sure if they are the right choice? You aren’t alone! We are frequently asked about planter boxes and their benefits, and are here with the answers you need. Today, we explore the 10 benefits of using planter boxes in your garden to help you determine if it is the right option for you and your garden.
1. They Maximise Limited Space
One of the biggest benefits of planters is how they will maximise your space, making them ideal for anyone with limited space. Planters can be added to patios, balconies, windowsills, or any other small space, allowing you to add your favourite plants even if you don’t have the floor space!
Planters are perfect for those in urban areas who won’t have a traditional garden, but want to grow their own food or enjoy their favourite flowers and plants. You can fit plenty of plants into your space, especially if you stack them!
2. They Can Reduce Grocery Bills
Using planters, especially to grow fruits and vegetables, can help reduce the cost of your groceries. By growing your own, you will need to buy less, reducing the need for imported and transported food. The food you grow will typically be fresher and more nutritious than store-bought food, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of a healthier diet!
3. They Can Help with Pest Control
Planter boxes can also help minimise pest problems! By lifting your plants above the ground, you reduce the appearance of slugs and snails, as well as soil-borne diseases. With your plants higher up, it is also easier to spot pests and manage them, especially if you have limited space. You can also add netting or covers that will provide further protection to your plants.
4. They Can Provide Healthier Plant Growth
Using planter boxes allows you to create a controlled environment for plant growth, with better soil management that ensures your plants remain healthy. Planter boxes allow you to customise the potting mix to suit your plant’s specific needs, providing a more robust growth.
You may want to consider self-watering garden boxes, which can help alleviate concerns about over- or under-watering your plants. These planters feature a reservoir underneath that allows your plants' roots to get the water they need.
When choosing a planter, ensure it has adequate drainage holes to remove excess water from the soil, thereby reducing the risk of root rot.
5. They are Easy to Maintain
Planters are typically easier to maintain than traditional gardening as they are at a more accessible height; weeding, pruning, and harvesting become easier, especially if you struggle with your back or knees. You can even find elevated planter boxes on stands, which make gardening even easier, and there are often options with wheels to move them around your garden.
You will also find it easier to water your plants in planters compared to traditional gardening. You can direct the water more easily to reduce waste and even choose self-watering planters that ensure your plants receive the right amount of water to stay healthy.
6. They Can Enhance Local Ecosystems
In urban gardens, planter boxes can make a positive impact on your local ecosystem. They act asmini-habitatss for birds and insects, helping to improve biodiversity in the city. Your planters can provide these insects and birds with food and shelter, ensuring that more animals are safe and can continue to contribute to the planet.
Your planters can also act as natural air purifiers, as they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, helping to improve air quality. This is ideal if you live in built-up areas with poor air quality, or are in flats with limited outdoor space. Adding greenery to these areas can also help reduce urban heat islands, which in turn cool the environment, making it more comfortable, especially during the warm summer months.
7. They Help You Grow with The Seasons
Adding planter boxes can help you adapt your garden to every season. You can use the planter for warm-season vegetables and fruits in the summer, providing you with tasty treats, before switching to cool-season vegetables in the autumn and winter. Doing so allows you to use your garden year-round and provides you with food or plants to enjoy, regardless of the weather.
8. They Can Improve Sustainable Living
Adding planter boxes to your garden can also help you with sustainable living. In these boxes, you can grow your own food, helping to reduce your carbon footprint and reliance on imported produce. You can make sustainable choices when selecting your planters by opting for those made from recycled materials. Your planters can also become part of the rainwater harvesting system, helping to conserve water and increase sustainability.
9. They Provide Educational Opportunities
Planter boxes are a fantastic educational tool, especially if you have children. You can use the planter box to teach children about agriculture, the environment, and the importance of green spaces. You can also teach your children responsibility by giving them plants in a planter to care for. Doing so can also help improve their independence, as they carry out watering and feeding tasks for the plants. You may need to provide some support when weeding or pruning, depending on the age of the children; however, you can vary the tasks as they grow and their skills improve.
10. They Offer a Positive Impact on the Community
Adding planter boxes to urban gardens and spaces can have a positive impact on your community and the environment. Planter boxes filled with plants will improve air quality, promote biodiversity, and reduce heat.
They can also foster community, with neighbours sharing produce and tips. You might want to consider a community garden, where you can add planters to increase awareness of sustainable practices and inspire others to start their own gardens. Planters can also be therapeutic, offering some respite from the hustle and bustle of busy cities, allowing you to reduce your stress and improve your mental well-being.
Add Planter Boxes to Your Garden Today
The ten benefits detailed above make planters the perfect addition to any garden, especially if you have limited space. You have endless choices when looking for planters, but we recommend a durable steel planter that will last for years to come. Check out Ironbark Metal Design, which has an impressive range of planters and customisation options. Check out Ironbark Metal Design planter boxes to see if they have an option for you!