container garden illustration

How to create a container garden for wildlife

Pots and containers are a great way of introducing wildlife features onto patios, or outside the front door. They are also perfect for small gardens or spaces like window ledges or roofs. Herbs, in particular, make good container plants and attract lots of wildlife.

Sow your own mini wildflower meadow in a windowbox, line a pot with plastic to make a potted pond or use walls to create vertical herb displays.
Runner beans growing in a old tyre ©Eden Jackson

Runner beans growing in a old tyre. Eden Jackson

Upcycle something into a plant pot

You can use anything you like for planting! How about... Watering cans, chimney pots, old kettles, holey boots, metal pails and buckets, paint tins, pans and colanders, old sinks - or even bathtubs!

Make a hanging basket

  1. Line the container or basket with an old woolly jumper cut to size, or choose a solid basket.
  2. Fill with peat-free compost.
  3. Start planting! Put in a tall, central plant followed by smaller plants around it, and trailing plants through the sides. Here are some ideas:
    Cool blues: aubrieta, lobelia, wild pansy, nepeta
    Hot reds: marigolds, fuchsia
    Neutral whites: sweet alyssum, erigeron, ox-eye daisy
    Tall central plant: knapweed, scabious, lavender, snapdragon, pot marigold
    Herb smellies/eatables: verbena, tomatoes, chives, thyme, rosemary, parsley, sage, strawberry, dwarf lavender
    Trailers: ivy, nasturtium, honeysuckle, sweet Pea, lobelia ’pendula’ 
  4. Continue building up plants and compost until about 5 cm from the top.
  5. Feed once a week and water frequently in summer.

 

Make a meadow pot

  1. If needed, make drainage holes in your container, drill 0.5-1cm diameter holes into the bottom of the pot about 15cm apart.
  2. Cover with rocks.
  3. Half fill with peat-free compost.
  4. Start planting! How about:
    Cool blues: cornflower, wild pansy
    Hot reds: poppy, corncockle, pheasant’s eye
    Soft yellows: corn marigold, corn buttercup 
  5. Continue building up plants and compost until about 5cm from the top.
  6. Feed once a week and water frequently in summer.
  7. Sow each year.

Make a container pond

How to create a mini pond

As a charity we rely on you

We look after over 90 nature reserves across the county.

More ways you can help pollinators

A wildflower meadow

Wild your garden

Information page

In this action resource page, find out how to 'wild' your garden, from creating a dead hedge to managing invasive plants.

microbeads illustration

Watch what you wash away

Information page

Some cosmetics, soaps, washing-up liquids and cleaning products can be harmful to wildlife with long-lasting effects.

A person with a megaphone and symbols for signing petition and sending email

Take environmental action

Information page

On this page you'll find useful information on how to take environmental action from home and in your community

two people giving a gift next to a recycling bin

Sustainable living at home

Information page

In this action resource page, learn easy ways to live more sustainably and support wildlife from home.