Hanging planter ideas to help small spaces bloom

Want to add some colour and greenery to your small outdoor space? Hanging planters are the perfect pick for petite gardens, balconies, courtyards and verandas.

We’ve got heaps of options for creating a hanging oasis here at Jack – from rail planters to baskets and vertical Mix ‘n’ Match pots of all shapes and sizes that turn balustrades and bare walls into beautiful growing spaces. You can even use them to grow your own herbs, vegies and other edibles!

If it’s inspiration you’re after, we’ve got it in (garden) spades! Are you ready to dig in?

Explore categories: Pots & Planters, Garden Up®

Need a little nudge to convince you hanging planters – like those in our Garden Up range – belong in your small space? Here are a few good reasons why:

• Add life and look gorgeous – No one wants to stare at bare walls when they’re sitting outside. Hanging planters add colour, texture and depth to hard surfaces, making your space look stunning and inviting.
• Don’t take up floor space – Because they’re off the ground, hanging planters let you fit more herbs, plants and blooms into your outdoor space without feeling squished – while leaving room for a chair setting or whatever else you have planned.
• More privacy and less noise – Living walls and hanging greenery create natural screening from nosey neighbours, nearby buildings and busy streets, helping your outdoor space feel more secluded. Dense foliage can also help soften any noise.
• Cooler, healthier air – Hanging planters keep your small space more comfortable during our hot Aussie summers by shading walls, paving and surfaces where you sit. They can also filter out dust and pollutants.
• Better for your body – Hanging planters mean less bending, kneeling and back strain when you water, prune or harvest. When gardening feels easier, you’re more likely to keep at it.
• Renter-friendly flexibility – If you’re renting your home, hanging planters are perfect as they don’t damage or permanently change your outdoor space. Plus, you can take them with you if you move!

You have to admit, hanging planters make a lot of sense!

Now let’s look at the bit you really came here for – ideas on how to use them!

Whether you’ve got a tiny balcony, a sunny courtyard or just a bare wall that’s crying out for some greenery, there are heaps of clever ways to hang your plants and make the most of the space you have.

Balcony garden ideas

• Pop Garden Up Herb Rail Planters straight onto the balustrade. Just make sure you use safety clips to keep pots secure – you don’t want them falling off!
• Hang colourful potted blooms in Jack Valencia Hanging Baskets. Space them evenly apart and vary the chain length so they sit at different heights.
• Create a gorgeous mini vertical garden with Garden Up Mix’n’Match planters and hooks on a Wire Mesh Grid.

Dig deeper: Create a beautiful, space-saving balcony garden

Courtyard garden ideas

• Arrange Garden Up Mix ‘n’ Match planters on a brick wall in a zig-zag, circle or staggered pattern to create your own creative living wall.
• Add Raised Planters along the edges of your courtyard to frame the space without eating up floor space. Then pop in some plants or vegies.
• Hang planters on Garden Screens and fill them with climbers or trailing greenery.

Patios and deck ideas

• Suspend Garden Up hanging baskets from pergolas and eaves and fill them with trailing plants that spill softly over the edge.
• Install Classic Rail Planters along a deck railing, mixing colourful flowers up with fragrant herbs and edibles.
• Hang Garden Up Mix ‘n’ Match planters on a couple of walls to turn them into living backdrops. Stick to one type of pot to create a cohesive look and feel.

Be inspired: Style stunning skyline gardens with hanging baskets

Veranda ideas

• Add Jack hanging baskets along the veranda line for that traditional street-facing look with trailing greenery in shaded spots under the roofline.
• Place a Garden Up Freestanding Kit either side of the front door or along the house walls to add a focal point or frame that space.
• Green up those brick or weatherboard walls with Garden Up 3 Pot Wall Stackers spaced a metre apart, creating a simple, evenly spaced display that wraps your facade.

Small garden ideas

• Free up garden bed space by growing edibles or trailing plants in Garden Up® Mix’n’Match planters on a fence or wall instead of ground level.
• Use standalone displays such as our Raised Planters to soften hard landscaping like paving or decks and add greenery and colour without extra digging.
• Fill the slats of freestanding Screen Up Garden Screens with planters and rows of flowers – stick to one colour, like pink or red, for a striking effect.

How to: How to create a Mix ‘n’ Match vertical garden

Hanging planter ideas flowing? Great! Now let’s dig into what to grow for a display that looks good and keeps on giving.

Herbs, fruits and vegies

Hanging planters are perfect for small, shallow-rooted crops and herbs you snip, pick, and eat often.

• Herbs – Basil, parsley, coriander, mint, oregano, thyme, marjoram, as well as trailing varieties, including creeping thyme, prostrate rosemary, which look gorgeous spilling over the edge.
• Salad leaves – Lettuce, rocket, spinach, baby Asian greens – lifting them up keeps them away from snails and slugs.
• Fruiting edibles – Strawberries, cherry tomatoes (especially trailing ones like Tumbler), chillies and small peppers, trailing cucumbers, dwarf beans and peas.

Flowers, trailing plants and greenery

Flowers and trailing plants add colour, texture, cascading growth, and layering, on their own or potted in with your edibles.

• Full sun-loving annuals – Bright petunias (try purple blooms), sweet alyssum, edible nasturtiums and lobelia, bacopa, verbena, calibrachoa (million bells) – all classic spillers.
• Cool-season colour – Cineraria, primula, polyanthus, pansies, and violas.
• Trailing greenage and foliage – Devil’s ivy, heartleaf philodendron, Syngonium, Tradescantia (wandering jew), sweet potato vine, string of pearls, Rhipsalis, parrot’s beak and other trailing vines. For something a little different, try a staghorn fern.

Handy Jack tip!
Mix different plant heights and habits; for example, pot upright bushy plants with softer trailers around the edge. And layer textures for interest. Fine, delicate plants with bolder leaves make the ideal combo.

Hanging plants need much the same care as those in the ground. But being up in the air means there are a few extra things to keep in mind.

• Water without the mess – Hanging planters can dry out quickly, especially in hot or windy weather. Check the soil before watering and use a saucer or drip tray to keep excess water from raining down below. Most of our Garden Up planters have clever inbuilt trays to help catch runoff.
• Check drainage – Make sure the drainage holes in your hanging planters and baskets are clear and unclogged so excess water can escape, and your plants don’t end up sitting in soggy soil.
• Feed your plants – Plants growing in hanging pots and planters have only a limited supply of nutrients, so give them a tasty fertiliser from time to time to keep them happy and healthy.
• Keep them tidy – Remove dead leaves and flowers, snip back overgrown stems and give your plants a little prune when needed to keep them looking their best.
• Watch out for pests – Hanging higher doesn’t make plants pest-proof – though it does help a little. Check leaves and stems often and deal with any unwanted visitors early.
• Check your hanging gear – Every now and then, make sure hooks, brackets, chains and other fittings on your hanging planters are still secure, especially after storms or gusty winds.

Handy Jack tip!
Pair edible plants with flowers such as French marigolds or nasturtiums to add a splash of colour while potentially helping deter some pesky pests.

Dig deeper: 12 perfect companion planting combos for happy herbs

What can I grow in hanging baskets and planters?

Hanging planters are perfect for herbs, salad leaves, strawberries, cherry toms, chillies, blooms and trailing greenery. Pick plants that suit the size of your planter and how much sunlight your space gets – from direct sunlight to part or full shade.

Are hanging planters good for balconies?

Yes! Hanging and rail planters are an easy peasy way to add plants to a balcony without taking up floor space. Clip on some rail planters, like our Garden Up Herb Rail Planter, or make use of the walls with planters from our Garden Up Mix ‘n’ Match range.

How do I water hanging planters without making a mess?

The trick is to check the soil first and water slowly. Still wet? Hold off. Our Garden Up planters have built-in trays that help keep plants hydrated while stopping you from oversoaking. FYI: Hanging planters get thirsty quickly, especially when it’s hot or windy.

Can I use hanging planters if I’m renting?

Yes! Hanging planters, rail planters and our Garden Up Freestanding Kits let you add greenery without making permanent changes – and you can take them with you when you move. If you’re fixing anything to a wall or fence, check with your landlord first. You don’t want to lose that deposit!

What herbs grow well in hanging planters?

Basil, parsley, coriander, oregano, thyme, marjoram and mint are all perfect picks for hanging planters. Trailing herbs such as creeping thyme and prostrate rosemary are particularly good for creating pretty displays that spill over the edge and bring any small space to life!

How do I make a small courtyard look greener?

Make use of that vertical space. Hang planters from bare or ugly walls or fences, use wall-mounted pots (Garden Up) or rail planters, and add freestanding Garden & Privacy screens with climbing or trailing plants. You’ll add plenty of greenery without taking up valuable floor space.

How do I create a vertical garden in a small space?

Start with a wall, fence, balcony rail or other sturdy structure, then choose a mix of hanging baskets, rail planters, wall-mounted pots and Garden Screens. Arrange plants at different heights and mix upright and trailing varieties to create depth without eating into floor space.

How do I keep hanging planters secure?

Make sure you pick the right hooks, brackets, rail planters and other fittings for your hanging planters and fix them properly to the supporting structure. Check often, especially after gusty winds or storms. And if you’re using rail planters, safety clips are a must. You don’t want to take anyone out down below!

Now you know everything you can do with hanging planters; that small outdoor space doesn’t have to limit your keen green thumb after all.

Ready to get hanging? Explore our Pots & Planters and head to your local Jack supplier to pick all the products you need.

Turned your hanging planter ideas into reality? Why not share some snaps on socials, tagging @meetdiyjack? You might just get a shout-out!

After more small space inspiration?
Check out these other helpful resources:

• How to design a small garden, Jack style!
• Go potty! A simple guide to container gardening