Win a Lechuza Self-Watering Container:
Enter Our Think Outside the Planter Box Photo Contest!

March 18, 2011 by


Photo: AlwaysInspired via Flickr

(Note: The contest has ended, but please enjoy the load of ideas here!)

Today is the launch of the Urban Gardens Think Outside of the Planter Box Photo Contest! Enter a photo of your favorite weird, unusual, beautiful, or otherwise special container garden for a chance to win a fabulous Lechuza self-watering planter!

The Sub-Irrigation System:

What is a Container Garden Anyway?

Isn’t it basically a garden grown in containers instead of in the ground? I propose that the sky’s the limit (as you can see in the photo below) when choosing your container.

What’s Your Style?
Do you lean toward the contemporary? Or are you perhaps a traditionalist? Maybe you are a little of both. Here’s an opportunity to experiment. Try fashioning your own container out of ordinary salvaged items. Or, if that’s not your thing, purchase a container that you love–maybe a self-irrigating one like the Lechuza planter we are offering to the winning photo in our Think Outside the Planter Box contest.

Gardens never have enough shoes…or is that girls? Whatever.


Oh Imelda, I have a planter fetish …


Email your photo to robin@urbangardensweb.com for chance to win!

Tell us about your container, and don’t forget to include your name!



Sleek sculptural geometry: Chapütschin, from the Pour Les Alpes Crystal Collection.


This new Lechuza Diamante faceted planter can be yours!


The old Dutch shoe concept gets prickly! Photo: Nyanna via Flickr


Grow Bag, pillow shaped pot by Martino d’Esposito.


Red hot heels with succulents. Stephan Morais via Flickr.


Hey man! StauffacherBenz’s “Relax” planter designed by for Eternit.

Be Creative
Visit a flea market or tag sale and see what unusual items you can repurpose into interesting container gardens. Turn your old stuff into new stuff. Hang a dustpan on your fence for an instant vertical garden. What can you think of?


Spotted on Etsy…



When ya gotta plant, ya gotta plant! Via Greenwala.


Literary gardens, literally. via Gartencultur.


All packed and ready to grow: UrbanBuds suitcase planters.


Color burst outside the British Horological Institute. Photo: Rob Wilsdon via Flickr.

Test the Limits of Scale
Think really big or really small. Creative people have planted gardens that will transport you, literally and figuratively–cars, trucks, trains, and busses. Got an old claw-foot bathtub that has outlived its indoor life? Move it to the yard or patio and plant away. A teeny container like a thimble can be planted and worn. Anything goes if you love it and it works.


Tiny Altoid box gardens. Marque Cornblatt on Gomi Style.


Off road garden: old car. Via Austin Apartment Therapy.


Colleen Jordan’s wearable container garden necklace. (I suggest watering when not wearing.)


Antique bathtub leads new life as container garden. Photo: Lee Ekstrom via Flickr.


Thimble container gardens. via resurrectionfern.

Guerilla Container Gardener
Be adventurous and join the ranks of guerilla gardeners across the globe who are planting abandoned dumpsters, sinks, newspaper boxes, mailboxes…whatever they can find that is empty and crying out for some tender loving horticulture.


Guerrilla’s in the midst: Posterchild’s newspaper box turned into planter.


Posterchild hits a wall: planting posters. Who would’a thought of it? What can you think of?

Sorry! This contest has ended, but stay tuned for more contests!

32 Comments »

  1. Self Care Girl said:

    So, Inspiring! I am looking forward to spending this weekend in my garden – my husband is going to be shocked when he finds my bra hanging outside with plants growing out of it. (but I think pleasantly delighted too!)

    Take Good Care!
    Self Care Girl

    — March 18, 2011 @ 12:33

  2. Robin Horton said:

    Self Care Girl: I can’t wait to see your planted lingerie! Hope your hubby likes!

    — March 18, 2011 @ 12:43

  3. “Seedlings” for 3/18/11 (What to do in Chicagoland) | A Wicker Rooftop Pingback said:

    […] Urban Gardens is giving a way a fancy Lechuza self-irrigation planter in their think outside the planter box photo contest. The contest page also has some amazing photos/ideas for unique planters. You’ll be surprised what people come up with! Enter by May 16th. […]

    — March 18, 2011 @ 16:05

  4. Justine said:

    Inspired! I need to come up with some container garden solutions anyway, so I’ll keep your contest in mind as I go 🙂

    — March 18, 2011 @ 19:16

  5. Derek Powazek said:

    I tried submitting an entry but the page just reloads with no indication that it worked or not. Did you get an entry (or three) from me?

    — March 19, 2011 @ 00:45

  6. Garden Furniture said:

    Innovative and Inspiring post.The captures show the creativity.I will look forward about this and think some innovative things for my garden and patio.

    — March 19, 2011 @ 02:24

  7. Container Gardening Benefits | bfree-gardening Pingback said:

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  8. Robin Plaskoff Horton said:

    Derek–Thanks for your submission! I am checking into the upload on the entry form. I will let you know if there was any problem receiving your submission.

    — March 19, 2011 @ 10:08

  9. Roberta P. said:

    wowie!! what clever plant people there are out there! It is very inspiring indeed :0) I will really have to rack my brain to think of something fresh.
    Thanks for sharing, I really enjoyed all your container concepts! 😉

    — March 19, 2011 @ 17:34

  10. Robin Plaskoff Horton said:

    Derek, please try to upload your photos again, the button is now working! Thanks!

    — March 23, 2011 @ 16:01

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    — March 23, 2011 @ 22:03

  12. patrick said:

    Wow, I love the planted car.

    — March 27, 2011 @ 22:40

  13. Tips and Inspirations for Great Container Gardens! | Urban Gardens | Unlimited Thinking For Limited Spaces Pingback said:

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  14. The Enduring Gardener said:

    Looking forward to seeing this years entries and ofcourse winner. The pots and planters in my garden are a little more traditional. You can learn a little more about my gardening endeavours here
    http://blog.theenduringgardener.com/

    — April 13, 2011 @ 09:12

  15. Cheryl said:

    I wish I had just half of the creativity that some of you have!! What great ideas!

    — April 24, 2011 @ 10:31

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  17. cheap christian said:

    I love the planted car.

    — May 31, 2011 @ 03:18

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  20. Vivian said:

    Love your ideas! I have been planting in “out of the box” places for years, boots. shoes, toilets, crates, watering cans, but not a bra, I’ll have to try that! Great peice!

    — June 9, 2011 @ 14:03

  21. Robin Plaskoff Horton said:

    Love to see your “out of the box” designs Vivian! Why don’t you submit some to our photo contest? We have a great prize.

    — June 9, 2011 @ 15:19

  22. Thomas Sabo said:

    They’re so interesting.

    — July 8, 2011 @ 01:20

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    So, Inspiring! I am looking forward to spending this weekend in my garden

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  30. The Urban Gardener | Luvocracy Stories Pingback said:

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