How To Paint and Plant Baskets for Container Gardens

Minty Fresh Container

A milk-crate-style basket with painted stripes shows off Angelface Pink angelonia and Blutopia Blue bacopa. Vigorous mint rounds out the trio, but needs harvesting so it doesn't overtake the flowers. Full sun or part shade guarantee months of growth—and mint for mojitos.

See our step-by-step instructions to learn how to create painted baskets like this, as well as get inspo for a variety of herb and flower combos.

Step 1: Gather Materials

For this project, you'll need:

A drop cloth
Masking tape
An inexpensive woven basket (look for them in craft stores or the kitchen and bath departments of superstores)
1-inch paint brush
Latex paint
Landscape fabric
Herb plants and flowers

Step 2: Design

Create a design on the basket by masking sections you do not want painted. Press the tape securely onto the uneven surface for sharp lines.

Step 3: Paint

Using the 1-inch brush, apply the latex paint in gentle strokes to prevent paint from seeping into areas you do not want painted.

Step 4: Line Basket

Line the basket with landscape fabric to prevent soil from washing out of the basket. Fold or overlap edges as necessary.

Step 5: Add Plants

Fill the lined basket with quality potting soil and add annuals, perennials or herbs that you enjoy. Select plants with similar water needs and ones that will thrive in the lighting conditions where the planter is placed. Choices for herbs might include thyme, flat-leaf parsley, basil, dill, rosemary or mint.

Easygoing Combo Basket

Orange and pink add pretty spring color to this basket. Burgundy Blush dianthus, bright green parsley and variegated sage thrive in either full sun or part shade.

Full of Flavor Basket

A fresh garnish of parsley, dill and thyme waits just outside the door in this pair of purple planters. Lavender blooms of Serena Mixture angelonia complement the basket color.

Pretty and Tough Basket

Four drought-tolerant plants in a shallow basket make a perfect centerpiece for alfresco meals. Rosemary, lime green stonecrop sedum, gray-green Crassula 'Morgan's Beauty' and Echeveria 'Perle von Nurnberg' need only bright sun and a weekly sprinkle of water to thrive.

Floral Fountain Basket

Angelface Pink angelonia, Fireworks fountaingrass and thyme provide floral flow to this wicker basket. Vertical stripes echo the fountaingrass' natural pattern. To get another round of color out of your angelonia, trim the spikes after blossoms fade.