23 Patio Garden Ideas That Will Inspire You (2024)

Gardening

Gardening Basics

Peg Aloi

Peg Aloi is a gardening expert and former garden designer with 13 years experience working as a professional gardener in the Boston and upstate New York areas. She received her certificate in horticulture from the Berkshire Botanical Garden in 2018.

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Updated on 04/24/23

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23 Patio Garden Ideas That Will Inspire You (2)

Even if your yard is entirely a patio, there's still room for a garden. Whether you only have a small sliver of available soil next to the pavement, or there's no open ground but plenty of open patio to use, you can add plants to make the space more beautiful and inviting. Here are our favorite ideas for patio gardens that'll have you gardening on your outdoor lounge space ASAP.

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Plant Spillers Along a Retaining Wall

This small seating area is abundant with blooms thanks to the colorful perennial plantings spilling over the retaining wall and onto the edge of this compact patio space. Tall Siberian iris add vivid purple tones that enhance the cobalt blue table.
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Add Palms to Mirror a Fountain

Tall, sculptural potted plants mimic this courtyard water feature. The sprawling palm fronds and scratchy trunks add texture and color to the tile and stucco space.
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Define Space With a Canopy

This charming patio retreat has a dramatic open-air canopy draped with flowering white wisteria. When this perennial vine isn't flowering, there are plenty more blooms happening in this well-planned garden design. Learning about bloom times helps you plan a garden that displays flowers all season long.
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Create a Vista

This patio overlooks a gorgeous tree line, and the colorful planters add to the lush natural vista, while small potted plants continue the green theme.
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Surround Yourself With Plants

Even when your patio is tiny, smack-dab in the middle of an urban jungle, it can still play host to a variety of plants. Add them in pots, a sliver of dirt by the fence, or on a trellis up the wall. The assortment of container plantings is varied and eclectic, perfectly accenting the whimsical design of this garden space.
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See Also
50 Deck Ideas That Will Inspire You To Go Outside 21 Outdoor Patio Ideas for a Place You’ll Never Want to Leave 51 Small Patio Ideas to Make Your Yard Feel Bigger Transform Your Backyard into an Idyllic Oasis with These 25 Enchanting Pergola Ideas
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Install Large Container Plants

The potted Quickfire hydrangeas in this lush patio design offer a long season of bloom with very low maintenance, while the fern stays lush and green from spring through autumn.
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Rely on Potted Plants

Even with a small space that serves multiple purposes, you can create a set-up that allows for a garden as well as functional areas. This little patio nook has seating areas, a grill for cooking, and a rustic stone water feature. Plants in small containers can be moved around to change the look and feel of the space.
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Simplify With Raised Beds

Even if you feel you have virtually no garden space, a raised bed planter on a gravel walkway makes a wonderful small patio garden. Add some additional clay pots to expand your growing area.
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Plant Lavender for a French Country Look

This rural property in France has rustic stone-edged flower beds and a narrow stone patio. Planting some colorful flowers and plenty of hearty lavender creates a French country aesthetic, and an unexpected plus: lavender lends a fresh, relaxing herby scent that helps repel insects.
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Soften Straight Lines With Green Textures

This Florida home has a clean white patio with plenty of room to plant small shrubs near the seating area, plus one in the very middle of the patio, where a shrub breaks through in a bed of red. The organic textures and shapes balance the angular lines and add a needed burst of color to this appealing space.
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Choose Colorful Foliage Plants

This Swedish gardener creates a simple yet stunning patio arrangement with potted grasses and shrubs. The focal point is a potted Japanese maple, whose vivid deep burgundy leaves steal the show.
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Try Subtle Background Plantings

This sophisticated patio has stark black and cream furnishings, but if you look closer there are delicate, finely textured green plants in containers set throughout the patio area and planted along the fence. The tasteful array of plants gives a much-needed softness to this sleek design.
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Choose One Statement Plant

This southern California home has a nice big patio area. Rather than fill it with plants, furniture, or decorative pieces, a simple seating area with a fire dish is accented primarily by a glorious flowering vine.
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See Also
25 Enclosed Patio Ideas to Make Your Outdoor Space Cozy
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Plant Tulips in Pots

If you long for large beds of spring-flowering tulips but just don't have enough room to plant them, try them in containers on your patio. As long as they have plenty of drainage in the cold season, they will do fine in large planters.
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Install Easy-Care Window Boxes

Gardening can be a bit messy. Window boxes are a good way to have plenty of flowers without the upkeep of container gardening or flower beds. These tasteful plantings look great with this classic slate patio, and they're easy to care for during the growing season.
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Create a Tropical Paradise

This Florida patio features compact plantings of large tropical trees and shrubs for a dose of drama. The large lush green leaves offer a cool oasis for the seating area, while the crape myrtle tree provides a burst of bright seasonal color.
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Spice Up Your Patio With Culinary Herb Plants

This small brick patio in Sweden is a nice way station from garden to table. With a round table to hold the day's vegetable harvest, and potted culinary herbs on the work table, this pleasant, functional space is perfect for enjoying a beverage and conversation as a simple meal is prepared.
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Make the Most of a Small Space

This slender stone patio is a perfect spot for a bench and table, creating a space to rest, read a book, eat lunch, or just enjoy the day. Plants give this secluded oasis a rustic look.
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Fill Your Dining Area With Greenery

Surround your dining area with large and small potted plants. The plants give this rustic patio area a vibrant and inviting look and feel.
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Keep It Simple

This charming little corner patio area is an eclectic assortment of furnishings and small-space solutions. Simple potted plants lend texture and define levels, while a sisal rug and midcentury style chairs add geometric whimsy.
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Create Vertical Green Walls

The clipped hedges, climbing vines, and free-form grasses give definition, height, and privacy to this patio area, creating the illusion of a living green room with lush vegetation walls.
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Use Narrow Potted Plants

A narrow balcony space doesn't offer room for much of anything besides a few bistro chairs and a side table. But tall, narrow potted plants can find their place too. A geranium, African milk tree, cacti, and small citrus tree all contribute to the natural style.
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Add Cottagecore Style

Potted hydrangea and herbs and sweet flower boxes bring garden style to this space that otherwise could've been located anywhere in or out of doors. The plants create a whimsical cottage look, and the herbs add some pleasing fragrance for a dreamy atmosphere.

FAQ

How do you start a garden patio?

To start patio garden, add container plants, window boxes, or hanging plants. If you have a sliver of open ground, you can use that too to plant a few more things. Just keep in mind how you want to use the space other than for gardening to make sure you can still use it for that purpose.
How can I make my patio look nice?

To make a patio look nice, choose furnishings, colors, plants, or objects you like to look at. Your patio should be a place where you enjoy spending time. Planting some annuals in containers is a simple way to start adding some seasonal color to your patio area.
What grows well on a patio?

If your patio gets a decent amount of sun, you can grow annual flowers or small flowering shrubs in containers. Pots of culinary herbs look and smell great, are easy to grow, and provide fresh ingredients for cooking.

68 Patio Ideas That Will Make You Want to Live Outside

Gardening Basics: Expert Insights and Concepts

As an expert in gardening, I have a deep understanding of various concepts and techniques related to this topic. With my extensive experience as a professional gardener and my horticulture certification from the Berkshire Botanical Garden, I have gained first-hand expertise in creating beautiful and inviting garden spaces.

In the article "68 Patio Ideas That Will Make You Want to Live Outside" by Peg Aloi, several concepts related to gardening are discussed. Let's explore these concepts in more detail:

Plant Spillers Along a Retaining Wall

This concept involves using perennial plants that spill over a retaining wall, adding a burst of color and vibrancy to a compact patio space. By choosing tall Siberian iris with vivid purple tones, you can enhance the overall aesthetic of the patio.

Add Palms to Mirror a Fountain

In this concept, tall and sculptural potted plants, such as palms, are used to mimic a courtyard water feature. The palm fronds and scratchy trunks add texture and color to the patio space, complementing the tile and stucco surroundings.

Define Space With a Canopy

Creating a dramatic open-air canopy draped with flowering white wisteria can add charm to a patio retreat. By learning about bloom times, you can plan a garden that displays flowers throughout the entire season.

Create a Vista

If your patio overlooks a beautiful tree line, you can enhance the natural vista by incorporating colorful planters. Additionally, small potted plants can continue the green theme and provide a harmonious transition from the patio to the surrounding landscape.

Surround Yourself With Plants

Even in a small and urban patio, you can still create a variety of plantings. By using pots, a small strip of soil by the fence, or a trellis up the wall, you can accentuate the whimsical design of your garden space with an assortment of container plants.

Install Large Container Plants

To achieve a lush patio design with minimal maintenance, consider using large container plants like Quickfire hydrangeas. These plants offer a long season of bloom and can be paired with ferns to maintain a lush green look throughout spring and autumn.

Rely on Potted Plants

Even in a small space that serves multiple purposes, you can create a garden-friendly setup. By using small containers, you can easily move plants around to change the look and feel of the space while maintaining functional areas like seating and grilling.

Simplify With Raised Beds

Even if you have limited garden space, using raised bed planters on a gravel walkway can create a beautiful small patio garden. You can also expand your growing area by adding additional clay pots.

Plant Lavender for a French Country Look

To create a French country aesthetic, rustic stone-edged flower beds and hearty lavender can be planted in a narrow stone patio. Lavender not only adds vibrant color but also lends a fresh, relaxing herby scent that helps repel insects.

Soften Straight Lines With Green Textures

In a clean white patio, incorporating small shrubs near the seating area and having a shrub in the middle of the patio can soften the angular lines and add bursts of color. The organic textures and shapes of the plants balance the overall design.

Choose Colorful Foliage Plants

By using potted grasses and shrubs, you can create a simple yet stunning patio arrangement. A focal point, such as a potted Japanese maple with vivid deep burgundy leaves, can steal the show and add visual interest.

Try Subtle Background Plantings

For a sleek patio design, delicate, finely textured green plants can be strategically placed throughout the patio area and along the fence. This tasteful array of plants adds softness and complements the overall design.

Choose One Statement Plant

In a spacious patio area, instead of filling it with various elements, you can focus on creating a simple seating area accented primarily by a glorious flowering vine. This allows the statement plant to take center stage.

Plant Tulips in Pots

If you don't have enough room for large beds of tulips, you can still enjoy their beauty by planting them in containers on your patio. Ensure the containers have proper drainage to support the tulips during the cold season.

Install Easy-Care Window Boxes

Window boxes are a convenient way to enjoy plenty of flowers without the upkeep of container gardening or flower beds. These tasteful plantings can enhance the look of a classic slate patio and are easy to care for during the growing season.

Create a Tropical Paradise

In a Florida patio, compact plantings of large tropical trees and shrubs can create a tropical paradise. The large lush green leaves offer a cool oasis, while a crape myrtle tree provides a burst of bright seasonal color.

Spice Up Your Patio With Culinary Herb Plants

A small brick patio can serve as a pleasant way station from the garden to the table. By having a round table for vegetable harvest and potted culinary herbs on the work table, you can create a functional space with pleasing fragrance and fresh ingredients.

Make the Most of a Small Space

A slender stone patio can be transformed into a rustic oasis by adding a bench, table, and carefully chosen plants. This space provides an ideal spot to rest, read a book, or enjoy a meal while surrounded by plants.

Fill Your Dining Area With Greenery

Surrounding your dining area with large and small potted plants can create a vibrant and inviting atmosphere. The plants add a touch of nature to the rustic patio area.

Keep It Simple

By incorporating simple potted plants, furnishings, and small-space solutions, you can create a charming and eclectic corner patio area. The plants lend texture and define levels, while other elements like rugs and chairs add geometric whimsy.

Create Vertical Green Walls

By using clipped hedges, climbing vines, and free-form grasses, you can give definition, height, and privacy to your patio area. These elements create the illusion of a living green room with lush vegetation walls.

Use Narrow Potted Plants

Even a narrow balcony space can accommodate tall, narrow potted plants such as geraniums, African milk trees, cacti, and small citrus trees. These plants contribute to the natural style and add greenery to the space.

Add Cottagecore Style

To bring a garden style to your patio, consider using potted hydrangeas, herbs, and sweet flower boxes. These elements can create a whimsical cottage look, while the herbs add pleasing fragrance for a dreamy atmosphere.

By understanding and implementing these concepts, you can transform your patio into a beautiful and inviting garden space. Whether you have a small or spacious patio, there are various ideas and techniques you can apply to make it a place where you can enjoy the outdoors and connect with nature.