Ideas for Rail Planters

Wooden Sitting Planters

• If you're handy with a hammer, nails and a saw, you can build a fairly simple wooden planter that sits astride your railing. For the planter to work, you'll need to have sufficiently broad railings, ideally made of wooden planks or another sturdy material. A narrow rail made of wrought iron won't suffice for this type of planter. As for any rail planter design, the entire railing, from handrail to bottom supports, will need to be strong and sturdy enough to support a plant, potting soil, and, in this case, a somewhat heavy wooden planter. Design the planter to form a nearly regular rectangular box, with the bottom edge just slightly wider than the handrail. However, to allow the planter to sit securely, make its longer vertical sides extend downward several inches below the top of the railing, which will "anchor" it in position, lowering the center of gravity.

Hanging Planters

• A hanging planter doesn't sit astride the railing but hangs either just inside or outside, supported by a sturdy bracket that hooks over the top of the railing. If you have a railing made of wrought iron or another narrow material, opt for a hanging planter instead of one that sits atop the handrail. As for any type of rail planter, the hanging planter will exert a force on the railing, this time pulling it slightly to one side; ensure that the railing structure can support the load. With a hanging planter, you can use any sturdy planter that fits the bracket hardware you select. Lightweight plastic planters will exert less force on the railing and are more resilient to weathering than untreated wood. If you do opt for a wooden planter, cedar stands up well to outdoor applications, naturally resisting rot.

Decorative Planters

• If you're looking for a planter that provides some decoration itself, whether with flowers or without, there are a number of ways to personalize the basic sitting or hanging planter to match your decor. If you select a wooden rail planter, give it a personalized touch as you protect it against weathering. Instead of using a clear varnish, apply indoor/outdoor paint to match the color palette you're using on your balcony or deck. When selecting colors, choose which flowers or plants you will plant in the planters. When planting a railing herb garden, for example, you can go wild with color as most of the plants will be green. For a classic patio planting, like red begonias, painting the planters white will make the green foliage and red flowers pop.