Containers come in all shapes and sizes. You can stick to “Plain Jane” round or square containers, or look for tall cylinders, flat planters, or pots adorned with decorative edges or raised designs. You can also find specialized pots, such as strawberry pots, which can accommodate plant collections as well as strawberries.

Containers also come in a range of sizes, from tiny pots that barely hold a mini-rose to larger-than-life behemoths that can easily hold a tree. When choosing, look for a container that will accommodate the final size of your plantings, or be prepared to transplant as the plants grow. Be sure to have plenty of room for roots, and be mindful if they grow down or out.

If you’re in love with a large planter, but don’t necessarily want to plant an equally large plant, you can use peanuts or small plastic pots to fill in the bottom of the container and then add planting mix on top of it. This will also make the container much lighter.