Buyer's Edge: Planters for gardening in small spaces

With simple planning, you can create a vegetable, herb or annual garden in a small space.

Selecting the right container helps. Color and shape are personal choices, but when in doubt about the size of the pot, go bigger.

“A smaller pot limits the type of plant and the number of plants you can use,” said Jessica Grouleau, a senior horticulturalist at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

Grouleau’s advice: Select the plant or plants first. Then shop for the container.

A variety of gardening containers can be found at local nursery and home centers. If you are looking for a ceramic or oversized pot, Aw Pottery Atlanta in Chamblee is a popular stop. But don’t overlook indoor and outdoor containers in modern colors and shapes or those made of “green” materials.

Bright pods

Get creative with these colorful, aluminum planters. Set the lightweight planters, with protective rubber pads, on the floor or atop a 15-inch or 22-inch stand. Made by Pad Outdoor, the planters come in six colors, including red, orange, and sea foam blue, and two styles: half and full skirt. The pots do not have drainage holes, but holes can be drilled easily. Or, add a layer of gravel in the bottom and water your plants carefully. The pot measures 16 inches in diameter (the inner diameter is 11 inches) and about 9.5 inches high – unless you add a stand. Available at aplusrstore.com. Pots are $176. Stands in white or black are $48 and $56.

Pocket gardens

Made from recycled plastic bottles, Woolly Pockets are breathable, fabric gardening containers that can be used indoors and out. Choose a freestanding, tabletop arrangement or go vertical with a lush wall garden. When not in use, the lightweight, cloth planters fold flat for easy storage. The popular vertical gardening system is available as a single pocket, called the Wally One ($49, lined; or $39, unlined for outdoor use). Buy one or a make statement on a wall or fence with a row of three or five pockets. For a table, try the popular five-sided “Tina” planter ($29). Colors include chocolate and black. Pockets in camel and peacock blue arrive in May. Available at woollypocket.com.

Berry nice

With its high-gloss green, the classic strawberry pot gets a fresh look. The unique design of the urn-shaped pot with the small side pockets allows you to plant several strawberry plants, herbs or small flowers in one container. Fill with gravel for drainage since there is no drainage hole. Bring indoors during cold weather. It measures 11.5 inches in diameter by 11.5 inches high. Available for $39.95 at Crate & Barrel stores.

Smart box

Loll Designs turns plastic milk jugs into 100 percent recyclable furniture and planter boxes that are weatherproof and smart looking. Just pop your one- or five-gallon buckets of your favorite bloomers into the eco-container and set it on the patio or porch beside one of Loll’s comfy and colorful Adirondack chairs. No-fade planter colors include apple, leaf, brown, sky and black. Single ($82), double ($110) and triple ($142) units are available at lolldesigns.com or contact Kolo Collection, 1189 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta, 404-355-1717.

Play ball

The Avalon planters have traditional shapes, but they are made of a modern material called fiberstone. The durable material allows the planters to retain their color and to stand up to outdoor elements without cracking. One planter measures 26.5 inches high and 30.5 inches in diameter. Holes are not drilled in the bottom, but they can be added. Choose black or gray. Available for $325 at Design Within Reach, 2451 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, 404-841-2471.

Container gardening 101

- For tips, check www.pikenursery.com

- Learn the basics of container gardening at the Atlanta Botanical Garden from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. May 22. $20-$25. Register at atlantabotanicalgarden.org.