10 Fence Planters to Maximize Your Growing Space

Used up all your available growing space? These fence planters will maximize your planting area while improving the look of your backyard. Gardening expert Madison Moulton shares 10 of her favorite fence planter ideas.

Fence Planters to Maximize Your Growing Space

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If you’ve used up all the available planting space in your backyard and still want to grow more, look no further than your fence line. Fence planters are the ideal solution for gardeners in small spaces, turning an unused (and often unsightly) fence into a thriving vertical garden.

Space-saving isn’t the only benefit. Installing fence planters also improves the look of your garden, surrounding the space with greenery.

Whether you use pots or raised beds, these 10 fence planter ideas will maximize your growing space and garden design at the same time.

Pallet Planter

Wood pallet fixed to a wood fence that's been repurposed as a wall garden.
Using old pallets is a great way to get some vertical planters up on a blank wall.

There are so many ways to recycle pallets in the garden to increase your growing space. This DIY fence planter is one of them. Turn your unused fence space into a productive herb garden, or plant a few pollinator-friendly flowers for the bugs in your area.

Start by mounting your pallet to your fence vertically, or simply resting the pallet against the side of the fence. Fill the pockets with permeable fabric and staple to the sides, ready to hold soil. Plant seedlings or sow your seeds directly in the pockets.

Don’t forget to label your plants after sowing for easy identification. This pallet has been painted with chalkboard paint, allowing you to change the labels easily as you swap out your plants.

Window Box

Close up of a brown, rectangle, basket, planter that is fixed to a metal rail, filled with lots of colorful flowers.
These are a great way to save on space or add a splash of color to the exterior of your home.

Window boxes aren’t exclusively for window use only. You can also secure them to your fence, where you can enjoy them from all angles in the garden. There are many window box styles and shapes available, allowing you to tailor the look to your garden style.

If you’re window box doesn’t quite fit on your fence, drill holes in the sides to attach using ties, or secure in place in the case of a wooden fence. Keep the box close to eye level or slightly below for easy access – important for both maintenance and visual enjoyment.

For those who have a particular shape and structure in mind, making your own window box is often a better solution. This way, you can craft exactly what you want out of the materials you prefer.

Box Rows

Wood, panel, outdoor wall with rows of wood planter boxes filled with colorful flowers.
Add some planter boxes to a blank fence to save on space.

Having one fence planter is great for increasing your growing space, but it won’t make a massive visual impact on a large fence. Instead, go all out and place rows of boxes to create an entire vertical garden.

These planters blend in well with the wooden fence behind, allowing the different colors of the flowers to take center stage. Filled with annuals, the boxes can be adjusted throughout the seasons to continuously upgrade your backyard space.

If you’re making your planters (which is often cheaper when installing this many), ensure they are strong enough to hold the weight of the soil and mature plants when filled. Don’t forget to drill drainage holes in the bottom to allow excess moisture to escape.

Recycled Bottles

Row of recycled, painted, water bottles filled with small plants, fixed to a wood picket fence.
Turn some of your recyclable water bottles into the perfect little herb garden.

For crafty gardeners, these upcycled fence planters are the perfect weekend project. With few tools required and the opportunity to flex your creative muscles, it’s also a great garden DIY for kids, involving the whole family.

Start by cleaning your collected bottles thoroughly, including the cap. Cut a hole in the side, with the size based on what you plan to plant. Larger plants with deeper root systems prefer a deeper container. Make a few holes in the cap and two on the sides near the cut for hanging around fence posts.

Before you fill your planter with soil, paint the exterior in your favorite colors and patterns. Paint similar colors for a harmonious look, or contrasting colors to ensure the planters stand out. Fill with an airy potting mix amended with perlite to improve drainage and get planting.

Boot Planters

Colorful rain boots attached to a wood, outdoor wall, filled with different herbs and plants.
Old rain boots are a fun, unique way to add some color and plants to your fence or blank wall.

I’m not sure how many of us have a cupboard full of old Wellington boots lying around. But if you’re one of the lucky few, or have thrifted a pair of boots you’re not planning on using, turn them into planters.

There is a wonderful whimsy to these fence planters, perfect for colorful and quirky gardens. Using brightly colored boots makes a big impact, but you can also use standard colors to make the herbs or flowers the stars.

Secure the boots to the wall from the inside before planting to hide the mechanism, or install brackets to rest the boots on. They will be heavy once filled, so ensure they are well-supported. Don’t forget to create your drainage holes at the bottom.

Trellis Display

Row of metal trellis with small, orange, square planters and plants attached to it.
Attach a metal trellis to an outdoor wall to create a usable space for your vertical garden.

If your fence doesn’t have any gaps for easy attaching, you can create your own by mounting a trellis. Whether made from wood or metal, mounting a trellis can turn a simple fence into a vast vertical garden filled with masses of small fence planters.

Once installed, attach hooks for planters with a lip or create holes in the rim to tie the pot to the trellis. Leave a little space between each container to improve airflow and give the plants room to fill out, creating a living fence.

For fences that don’t face the sun during the day, fill the containers with shade plants. This selection contains a few leafy favorites that are also popular indoors, like pothos, bird’s nest ferns, and syngoniums.

Raised Beds

Raised, wood, garden bed with small plants and some outdoor lights in it.
Line your fence with some small raised garden beds to save on space while also creating a beautiful, cozy outdoor space.

The best way to beautify the bottom of your fence is by installing a raised bed. If you have limited backyard room, this is one way to maximize your growing area without taking up too much recreational space for an outdoor living area or patch of lawn.

You can match the materials of your raised bed to your fence to blend in or choose standard raised beds from sturdier materials. Metal raised beds like Birdie’s will last much longer than wooden beds and can be moved along your fence line if you want to change their position over time.

Choose a few shorter trees or taller shrubs to create height, covering your fence line. You can also pop in a few solar lights to enjoy your hard work after the sun goes down.

Hanging Buckets

Three, white, metal buckets filled with herbs, hanging from a wood fence.
Old metal buckets can be a quick and easy way to get some plants off the ground to free up space.

These hanging buckets are a quick vertical gardening solution, the ideal fence planter for something portable and low-maintenance. The buckets have long hooks attached that allow you to hang the planter from the top of your fence, a cross-beam, or even on the railing of a patio or balcony.

These buckets are great for fences close to your kitchen, ready to fill with herbs. If you don’t have a sunny windowsill to grow indoors, take advantage of the sun along your fence. By keeping them close by, the herbs are still quick to harvest and easy to move as the sun changes throughout the seasons.

Before purchasing this fence planter, ensure your chosen product has drainage holes at the bottom. If not, make your own holes or treat them as pot covers, taking the interior container out before watering.

Metal Pot Hangars

Four colorful planters fixed to a metal fence outside of a window.
Use some metal pot hangers to hold your heavier, ceramic, planters.

Heavier containers made from dense materials can be tougher to attach to your fence. It’s not easy to drill holes in the side of your terra cotta or ceramic pot without cracking it, and then there is the worry about weight hanging from one point after it’s filled.

Instead, attach circular metal pot hangers to your fence to keep whatever container you choose as a fence planter. As long as the base of the pot can rest inside the ring comfortably, you can turn any of your current pots into a vertical garden container.

These pots aren’t attached to a perimeter fence, but the same principle applies. As long as you have a sturdy way to secure the hangar to your fence – whether wood or metal – you can give these fence planters a try.

Fence Baskets

Close up of two hanging baskets with dry, moss and metal chains holding them up. Each basket is filled with small colorful flowers.
Hanging baskets are perfect for your trailing flowers, plants or vegetables.

Hanging baskets don’t have to be reserved for hanging overhead on a patio or balcony. Just as you can attach your hanging baskets to your wall, you can use them as fence planters too. Simply install metal hanging brackets to your fence to hang the baskets vertically, keeping them out of the way.

This is an ideal solution for taller fences that need some visual appeal where tall plants are missing. They won’t work as well for shorter fences, as the baskets should preferably sit around eye level or slightly lower.

Choose plants to fill your basket based on the available sunlight throughout the day. Pick full sun plants for south-facing fences and shade-loving plants for baskets shaded by the fence throughout the day.  

Final Thoughts

These fence planters are perfect space-saving solutions for small gardens. They also improve the look of your fence line, creating an oasis of greenery in your backyard.

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