Driveway Entrance Planters: A Welcoming Touch

Your driveway is the first thing your guests see when coming to your house, so it’s only natural that you want it to be as welcoming as possible - and planters are a great way to ensure that.

Whether you want to add more fun to your front yard, and create an illusion as if you were stepping into the colorful world of Alice in Wonderland with colorful planters or prefer to keep things nice and simple using neutral colors everyone knows and loves, one thing’s for sure - planters give you the opportunity to do all that and more.

But how do you choose the right planters for your driveway? And how do you ensure that the planters you choose don’t overpower your driveway, making it seem crowded instead of nice and inviting? That’s what we’ll be talking about in this article.

Driveway Planters - How to Pick the Right Ones

If you already know which planters will look best in your driveway entrance, then that’s great. However, many people have issues with choosing the right ones, not only because they can’t decide on the aesthetic choice, but also because they know nothing about planters, including what materials are best for them.

That’s where we come to the rescue, however, providing you with all the necessary information you need to make the right decision for your home. We’ll walk you through all the elements you should consider when making a planter purchase, as well as tell you what the best option would be.

Consider the Material

Of course, the first thing we need to talk about is the material. Since driveway planters are kept outside, you need to opt for a material that withstands exposure to often extreme weather conditions well - and unfortunately, there are some that will act the opposite way.

When it comes to outdoor planters, such as the ones you place at the very beginning of your driveway, the best materials are:

• Fiberglass - Extremely lightweight, but at the same time very durable material, fiberglass planters are an amazing choice for anyone who wants a planter that will last, but that is also easy to move around in case inspiration strikes.
• Fiberstone - Similar to fiberglass, fiberstone planters are more suitable for places that get strong winds, as they’re heavier, making them also more sturdy, but at the same time they are just as weather resistant as fiberglass.
• Concrete - If you’re not planning on moving your driveway planter after installation, then concrete planters might also be a good choice to consider. They’re weather resistant, making them suitable for outdoor use, but they have one disadvantage, which is that there aren’t as many color options available as with other materials.
• Plastic - To be completely honest, this one is not always the right choice, as a lot depends on the quality of the plastic. We would not recommend the cheaper, more fragile one, as that can quickly break, causing you to have to go and buy another one. Not really cost-effective, is it? Now the ones made with thick plastic are a different story - while they won’t last you as long as the fiberglass or fiberstone planters, they can still be a great alternative.

Visual Characteristics

The next, very important thing you should take into consideration when deciding on driveway entrance planters are their visual characteristics, and by that we mean their size, color, shape and more. While the material is important, if you won’t like how a planter looks, it won’t matter what it is made of.

So, how do you decide on what you want, especially if you’re an indecisive person? First of all, consider the overall aesthetic of your home - do you want the driveway entrance planters to match it, or do you want to go the opposite direction, and opt for something that will stand out and truly catch your guests attention?

The same goes for the size. When it comes to size, the best choice will be determined by the size of your driveway. if you have quite a large one, then small planters would not be a good idea as they could get lost in it, and it would simply not look good. With smaller driveways the matter is significantly easier, as both small and large planters could work well visually.

Finally, you have to decide on a shape. There are so many different shapes that you can decide which one will be the most suitable. For example, round shapes tend to appear more delicate and welcoming due to the lack of edges. Square or rectangular planters, on the other hand, are a better choice for those who are looking for a cleaner and more modern look.

What to Plant in Driveway Entrance Planters

There are plenty of possibilities when it comes to what to plant in driveway entrance planters - from flowers to decorative grass, it's completely up to you. However, what we would recommend is that you try to adjust the future size of your plant to the size of the planter. So, for example, if you're going for larger planters, then using succulent plants or those no higher than one or two inch tall might not be the best idea. Why? Because they'll get lost within the planter.

If you're wondering whether driveway entrance plants need to meet specific requirements in terms of soil or watering, the answer is not really. As long as they're good for outdoor use and are suitable for the light conditions your driveway experiences, they should be more than fine over there.

Here are some of our favorite ideas for what to plant in driveway entrance planters:

• Hydrangea - This shrub can be a perfect addition to any driveway that needs a touch of color while also not overpowering the general aesthetic of the space. Blooming in a variety of colors, including white, green, red and pink, they certainly create a welcoming atmosphere for your entrance.
• Ornamental grasses - When looking for a plant that is low maintenance but at the same time just adds something unique to your driveway entrance, ornamental grasses make the perfect candidate.
• Boxwoods - Boxwood is a type of plant good for container growth in a number of environments, as they’re suitable for both indoors and outdoors. Available in both regular and dwarf varieties, boxwood shrubs will make a great addition to your driveway planters.

Creating a Balanced Driveway Entrance Design

So, how do you create a balanced driveway entrance design using planters? It’s actually really simple, and the main thing you need to remember about is symmetry - keeping things symmetric on both sides already creates balance and makes your driveway entrance feel more welcoming. It also adds a sense of luxury to it.

Next, think about how many driveway entrance planters you want to place along your driveway. Do you want to go for a more minimalistic look with only two planters at each side of your gate? Or maybe you want to have planters along the sides of your driveway, from the driveway entrance all the way to your home? The choice is up to you.

Finally, you have to consider something we already talked about in this article - and that is the visual side of your driveway entrance planters. Things like color, size, and shape can significantly impact whether your driveway entrance will look nice and polished or messy and unorganized.

Examples of Front Yard Landscaping with Driveway Entrance Planters

In this design, two planters in the same shape were chosen, with two different plants being planted in one planter. The classic design of the planters adds an elegant touch to the driveway entrance, while the choice of adding two different plants creates an interesting and fun contrast to the classic planters.

This time using round-shaped planters, this design is a perfect example of how this particular shape adds delicateness to an otherwise modern-looking driveway. The kept symmetry, with both sides mirroring each other, ensures balance.

Once again, a very classic shape choice. However, this time the fun part is about planting one plant of a different color - while the idea might sound like it would create imbalance, in this case it actually works really well.

Here, instead of just one planter on each side of the driveway, we have two - the planters on each side have the same plants and same shape, making the whole design look cohesive and balanced.

This time using square planters, this arrangement is a perfect example that you can create a timeless design while using more modern-looking planters.

The Bottom Line

Driveway planters are a great addition to any home that is looking for a way to make their entrance appear more welcoming without making significant changes to it, such as replacing the gate or the driveway itself. Plus, with the amount of plants you have available at your disposal, many of which are annual or even seasonal, you can switch things up every once in a while until you find your perfect plants.

As mentioned, there are several things you need to take into consideration when choosing your driveway entrance planters, including their color, shape and size, however, there’s one thing that goes above anything else - and that is the quality.

At Pots, Planters and More, we understand that quality is crucial and can make a world of difference between your planter only lasting you a season, or a good few years. That’s why our planters are made with the best materials, with attention to detail, and using craftsmanship we perfected over the years.

Take a look at our selection of planters and find your perfect driveway planters today.