Planters

A plant stand does two things: it gets your plants off the ground (which improves drainage and airflow and keeps them away from pests) and it shows them off instead of leaving them scattered across your patio or windowsill. A good plant stand is basically the difference between a collection of pots and an actual garden display. I tested six plant stands across different styles — tiered stands, wall-mounted shelves, rolling racks, and single-pedestal designs — to find the ones that are stable enough for heavy pots, weather-resistant enough for outdoor use, and easy enough to assemble that you don’t regret the purchase. ...

Fabric grow bags are a better container than plastic pots for most plants. The fabric breathes, which means roots get air circulation and soil does not stay waterlogged. The sides also air-prune roots — when a root tip hits the fabric wall, it dries out and stops circling, which forces the plant to branch out inside the pot instead of becoming root-bound. We tested 7 of the best grow bags and fabric pots over a full growing season. We planted tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and flowers in each and tracked root development, drainage, handle durability after months of moving, and how well the bags held up to sun, rain, and repeated watering. Some held up great. A few fell apart. ...