Planter Boxes: 5 Tips for Selecting the Best One
Published by EarthBox | Featuring Insights from Mark Bolt, Vice President
First published August 11, 2023 | Updated January 23, 2026
Box gardening is a great way to add color and life to your garden. You can grow beautiful plants and vegetables even if your space is limited. Placing planting boxes on a deck, balcony, or patio is an excellent way to start. You can even consider using one as a window box.
Box gardening also opens the door to the joys of gardening, even in an urban environment.
Apart from adding color to a space, box gardening can be a fun and rewarding way to grow your own food. Growing practically any vegetable, fruit, or herb in a gardening container is straightforward.
Quick Guide: Choosing the Right Gardening Box for Your Space
Before you choose a planting box, it helps to step back and focus on what actually drives success in container gardening.
While materials, size, and style all matter, the most critical factors come down to root health, moisture consistency, and long-term usability. The insights below highlight what experienced gardeners and experts consistently point to as the difference-makers.
If your space is limited
- Choose deeper containers instead of wide, shallow boxes
- Select lightweight materials that are easy to reposition
If watering consistency is a concern
- Look for planters with built-in reservoirs or sub-irrigation
- Avoid highly porous materials unless frequent watering is realistic
If long-term use matters
- Invest in durable materials designed for multi-season use
- Make sure the planting box can be raised off the ground
This approach helps match the planter to your space, schedule, and gardening goals.
Container Gardening Is on the Rise
Container gardening continues to grow as more people look for flexible ways to garden in limited space. Research shows that 55% of U.S. households now garden, representing more than 71 million households nationwide (RubyHome).
In recent years, millions of new gardeners have entered the hobby, many of them gardening on patios, balconies, and small outdoor spaces. While some gardeners focus on creating a beautiful outdoor environment, a significant portion grow food at home.
Tomatoes, for example, remain the most commonly grown vegetable and appear in the vast majority of food gardens.
For renters, urban gardeners, and homeowners with limited yard space, planter boxes make gardening possible without the need for traditional in-ground beds. That growing reliance on containers makes choosing the correct planting box more crucial than ever.
What Matters Most When Choosing a Planter Box
A well-designed planting box supports healthy root development, steadier soil moisture, and better nutrient uptake. For new and experienced gardeners alike, reducing stress on plants leads to more predictable growth and better harvests.
“When people struggle with container gardening, it’s rarely about the plant itself. It’s usually about the environment around the roots. Depth, consistent moisture, and root space determine whether a plant survives or actually thrives. The right planting box removes many of the variables that frustrate new gardeners.” – Mark Bolt, Vice President at EarthBox®.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some tips for selecting the best planter box for your container garden.
Tip #1: Your Planter Box Depth Determines What Plants You Choose
Planting Boxes come in various sizes. So, your first step is to choose one that fits your space. Its size will also determine what types of vegetables you can grow.
Your primary concern is the container’s depth. The larger your planting box, the more plants you can grow. However, the depth of your gardening container determines what you can grow.
A plant’s roots need room. If restricted, it stunts plant growth. Roots need sufficient space for nutrient uptake and photosynthesis. So a deeper planting box provides more real estate for roots to flourish.
Your gardening container’s depth also impacts soil moisture. Deeper planting boxes require less watering due to their added soil volume. There's another advantage to containers with more soil between the sides and the bottom. It helps protect plant roots from temperature extremes.
Planter Box Depth by Plant Type
Depth recommendations vary by plant type, but deeper containers generally support stronger root systems and more consistent moisture.
| Plant Type | Recommended Depth |
| Leafy greens (lettuce, spinach) | 6–8 inches |
| Herbs | 6–8 inches |
| Peppers | 10–12 inches |
| Tomatoes | 10–12 inches |
| Beans | 10–12 inches |
| Root vegetables | 14–16 inches |
Appropriate Gardening Box Depths for Various Plants
A 6- to 8-inch-deep planting box for most plants will do the trick. That depth easily allows you to grow radishes, onions, lettuce, garlic, spinach, chives, and virtually any herb.
For example, EarthBox Junior gardening boxes are 7-1/4” deep, making them perfect for any of the vegetables mentioned.
Step up to a planting box 10 to 12 inches deep to grow deeper-rooting vegetables and herbs. So, now you’re talking about carrots, tomatoes, beans, peppers, beets, parsley, and rosemary.
EarthBox Original gardening boxes are 11 inches deep, which is plenty for deeper-rooting plants. Root vegetables like potatoes, carrots, beets, sweet potatoes, or turnips need even more depth. An EarthBox Root & Veg box for planting vegetables is 15 inches deep. It’s designed explicitly for root vegetables.
Get more information about how deep your planter box should be.
Tip #2: Planter Materials Make an Impact
Planter boxes are made from various materials, including wood, plastic, metal, and fabric. Each material has its pros and cons.
Wood Planter Boxes
Wood is a natural material that looks great but can be susceptible to rot and decay. So you have to be careful selecting the wood type. Cedar and redwood are your best options. Both are durable and rot-resistant.
Pine and fir work equally well but lack the water resistance of cedar and redwood. So you’re planting boxes that won’t hold up nearly as long.
Treated lumber offers longevity. However, there’s an argument about whether the chemicals used to treat the wood hurt your plants.
Metal Planters
Metal is solid and long-lasting, but can be expensive. Galvanized metal, in particular, withstands the elements and can hold the weight of the gardening container’s soil.
You might choose a metal planting box if you have a more modern garden. Generally, they’re made from copper, zinc, or steel and add a unique flair to your garden.
Although metal planting boxes reflect the sun, they still get pretty hot. As a result, you risk burning your plants. Plus, the container’s soil can dry out quickly. So you’ll need to pay close attention to watering.
Fabric Planters
Also known as grow bags, fabric planters are porous. That allows for better soil drainage and aeration, promoting healthier roots while preventing root rot. They’re also lightweight and easy to move.
Grow bags are inexpensive if cost is a significant consideration. However, they aren’t durable. You can expect to replace them every 2 or 3 growing seasons.
Owing to their porous nature, fabric planters will dry out quickly. And that translates to watering more often. Additionally, if you’re growing plants that prefer moist soil, you’ll want to consider a different container type. For example, asparagus, celery, watercress, and arugula fall into that category.
Plastic Planting Boxes
Plastic is a popular choice for planting boxes. They’re relatively inexpensive and durable. Like growing bags, they’re lightweight and easy to move. So, getting your plants out of the sweltering sun on an August day is easy.
Plastic gardening boxes retain water better than wood, fabric, or terra cotta planters.
Self-Watering Plastic Planters
Some plastic planting boxes are also self-watering. And that eliminates concerns about over- or underwatering plants.
For example, sub-irrigated planters (SIP) use a fill tube. It lets you add water to a reservoir. As a result, plant roots can access water when needed.
That means less time spent worrying about whether plants need water. And more time spent watching your plants grow. EarthBox planting boxes include sub-irrigation. Read more about why self-watering planters are a gardener’s best friend.
Like metal, plastic can heat, especially black plastic planters. So choose a lighter-colored plastic like terracotta. Plastic also doesn’t offer as much insulation for plants as wood.
Tip #3: Make Sure Your Planter Box Has Good Drainage
One of the caveats to box gardening is drainage. Planting boxes need drainage holes to prevent plant roots from rotting. Ensure the planter box has at least a few drainage holes.
You won’t need a grow bag, as they provide superior drainage. Most plastic gardening containers include drainage holes. They may even come with drainage plugs. So if you want to use the planter indoors, you can without worrying about moisture on a windowsill or table.
You’ll want to pay particular attention to wood and metal containers. In many cases, they lack appropriate drainage. Depending on the wood planting box, slots may open where the wood comes together to support drainage. If not, you’ll need to drill a hole into them to allow water to escape.
Tip #4: How Long Do You Anticipate Using a Garden Container?
Before you buy a planting box, ask yourself how long you plan to use it. Don't go overboard with your container if you’re getting your feet wet with box gardening.
You can limit your investment to grow bags, terra cotta, untreated wood, and low-grade plastic gardening boxes. The downside is that you’ll lose out on durability and longevity. You can expect two or three seasons from each, especially if left outdoors over the winter.
Invest in a more durable, longer-lasting container if you're a more serious gardener. Although generally expensive, metal gardening containers can last decades with proper care. It’s common for them to last up to 40 years.
Cedar or redwood planting boxes last a long time. A redwood gardening box, for instance, can last up to 30 years before rotting.
Although cheap plastic containers might last a few years (1-5), well-constructed plastic planting boxes can last up to 50 years. Moreover, they’re less costly than cedar, redwood, and metal.
Extending the Life of Gardening Boxes
You can extend the life of any gardening box by:
Lining plant pots to prevent pests, moisture, and diseases from reaching them (especially wood)
- Painting the container to prevent rot or rust
- Cleaning the box before each growing season
- Moving your gardening boxes indoors over the winter
- Selecting a thicker material, particularly for wooden planters
- Ensuring they have proper drainage
Although the material significantly affects longevity, these measures can improve the planting box's durability. That's especially the case with outdoor planters.
Tip #5: Choose a Planter Box That’s Raised
When you water your plants, the water that drains remains in contact with the planter's bottom. That’s true whether you use the planter on grass or a patio.
Make sure you’re planting the box effectively to create a raised bed. Look for a wooden gardening box with legs to get it off the ground. At the very least, place the container on bricks or concrete blocks. A couple of inches works fine.
Many plastic planting boxes are available with casters or stands. For instance, EarthBox containers include an optional caster kit that raises the planter while making transport easier.
You can also purchase a garden stand. It keeps the planting box off the ground. It also makes accessing the planting more handy. So you won’t break your back harvesting or caring for your plants.
Learn why elevated garden beds are a must-have for gardeners.
Common Questions About Planting Boxes
Q: Is a deeper planting box always better?
A: Not always. Deeper boxes are essential for vegetables with larger root systems, while shallow-rooted greens and herbs perform well in smaller containers.
Q: Do planting boxes need to be raised off the ground?
A: Yes. Elevation improves drainage, airflow, and longevity, especially for outdoor planters.
Q: Are self-watering planting boxes worth it?
A: For many gardeners, yes. They help maintain consistent moisture and reduce plant stress caused by irregular watering.
EarthBox: Box Gardening Made Easy
EarthBox® designs planting boxes and gardening systems to support the fundamentals that matter most in container gardening, including root space, moisture consistency, and long-term usability. Each system is designed to reduce guesswork and help gardeners grow vegetables, fruits, and herbs more predictably in a wide range of spaces.