Container gardening, whether in window boxes, large standing planters, or hanging baskets, can be at least as versatile as planting in the ground, if not more so.  Gardening in containers can meet a remarkable range of needs, from growing vegetables and salad greens on an apartment patio (or building roof, even) to serving as a theme and focal point for an entire landscaping project.  Container gardens can also hide landscaping eyesores, either directly or through distraction.  Trellises with climbing vines can obscure air conditioning units, propane tanks, and hot water heaters, for example.

Part of the versatility offered by these gardens is related to the containers themselves.  Anything that can hold earth and provide drainage can function as a planter.  A patio container garden might consist of an arrangement of small, eclectic containers from hand thrown pottery to vintage ice tea pitchers.   A container garden might provide the structure for a multi-level strawberry planting, creating a large crop in a small space.

For those who need, or want, something unusual for their landscaping, container gardening is an option to consider that is limited only by the imagination of the gardener.