Best outdoor planters for all gardens: Self-watering and stylish containers

For a rustic look, it’s hard to beat this circular planter, which has a burnished exterior teamed with a smooth rear to ensure you can hang it against surfaces such as wood without risking damage. The thick (and incredibly tough) cord meant it was easy to suspend the planter from nails and hooks, and although we were initially concerned that the design would make it hard to access, the surprising depth of this planter meant there was more than enough room for small-to-medium plants.

We never thought one of our favourite planters (ever) would be a simple square-shaped one. But then again, there’s much more to this planter than meets the eye, starting with the concealed wheels in the base. These are tucked out of sight, but make it easy to move, whether it was to ensure our gladioli was in the sunniest spot, or simply when we needed to top up the soil. It’s also proof that plastic planters can be classy, too – we loved the textured look which, at first glance, resembled marble. A built-in reservoir made for great drainage, too.

It was love at first sight with this planter. And, although it’s the result of a collaboration between planting pros Lechuza and children’s toy brand Playmobil, it’s a planter which will definitely appeal to adults, as well as children flexing their green fingers for the first time. It’s not just a pretty face, either – there’s a stick irrigation system and the moving eyes double as water level indicators (when the eyes are blue, the planter has sufficient water).

Yes, £75 is a lot to spend on a planter but this isn’t just any planter. It’s a lovingly crafted ceramic pot guaranteed to give your garden an instant upgrade. We also loved the large hole in the bottom – all too often drainage holes in planters can be too small (we’ve lost count of the times we’ve had to drill our own), risking excess moisture build-up which can in turn lead to horticultural headaches such as leaf rot. It ranks highly when it comes to the feel good factor, too – £2.50 from every purchase goes to Woodland Heritage, a charity which supports British woodland.

Our favourite thing about this planter? Despite its jet-black finish, which has a slate-like look, it’s made from recycled rubber, so it scores brilliantly in the sustainability stakes. A fun fact? Rubber is a great insulator, so this planter does a great job of protecting plant roots from temperature fluctuations. The planter is incredibly versatile, too – a self-draining base means it’s incredibly low-maintenance, but we also loved the presence of a removable plug, which allows it to be used inside and out.

What garden is complete without a welly-shaped planter? We love the high-gloss finish on this quirky plant pot, which costs just £10 and consists of a single chamber. Its rugged construction gives it an unexpectedly sturdy feel, and the deep central chamber provides more than enough room for long-rooted plants. We suggest placing it on your patio, ideally using it for plants with trailing foliage which will help turn this planter into a focal point.

We absolutely love this lightweight planter’s retro look, and our initial fears that it would be ridiculously high maintenance proved unfounded – it’s crafted from zinc galvanized iron sheet, which means there’s little this planter can’t cope with, whether it’s inclement weather or accidental knocks. The central bucket can be removed for easy access, and we loved the way you can pair the planter with colour-coordinating items from the same range – we recommend the watering can (£21, Sazy.com).

Full disclosure. We weren’t entirely convinced about these planters at first, but we’re converts. The grey plastic brings to mind Roman urns you’d expect to find in an ancient palazzo’s gardens, and we loved the way multiple planters could be stacked together (courtesy of an interlocking system) to create different looks. We recommend using them for plants with trailing foliage, or mixing things up by potting different plants in each of the sections.

This planter is somehow both hi-tech and low maintenance – a removable inner planter makes repotting a breeze, and it’s easy to fine-tune moisture levels, thanks to the self-watering function, aided by a built-in water reservoir and a drain plug which allows excess rainwater to escape. A supply shaft can be used to top up water or add fertiliser, and a water level indicator took the guesswork out of caring for our plants (which was a godsend, given our ability to kill most types of flora).

This is another planter with a dash of retro style – one which cries out to be displayed front and centre, thanks to its beautiful gold pot and elegant side bars. We love the additional stand at the bottom – this can be used as a base for a second plant pot, although we found it came in rather handy as a makeshift table for glasses and cups when dining al fresco.