Budget resin planters have revolutionized patio style, bringing good looks for a lot less bucks. I’m old enough to remember the days when gardeners faced a stark choice between handsome but heavy and expensive ceramic and terracotta pots, or cheap, flimsy and pretty ugly plastic containers. Happily, resin combines the best of both, giving us containers that are light yet durable, stylish yet affordable. As patio ideas go, resin planters are a must.

So what is resin? Resin used for budget planters is typically made from synthetic polymers so it's easily molded, allowing decorative accents to be added. But the real game-changer of resin is that all sorts of mineral powders and pigments can be mixed with the polymers during manufacture. This means it's possible to mimic the look and texture of stone, terracotta and many other natural materials at a fraction of the price of the real thing. Strong colors and glossy or ultra-matt finishes are all economical to achieve, too.

The Belavi Large Resin Planters that just dropped in ALDI today are a great example of the cost difference, which can quickly add up if you're container gardening on any scale. Large planters like these would be prohibitively expensive if they were made from a traditional material. In resin, however, they're a snip at $9.99. In sleek black, elegant off-white and a rich burgundy with attractive molding, these middle aisle finds are just the excuse I've been looking for to give my patio a freshen-up and plant some more fall bloomers.

Creative August Ideas for Your New Planter

Adding a few new cheap planters to your patio or deck now will give your garden a boost – and if your yard is anything like mine, it’s starting to look a little tired in this heatwave summer. Planting some late-season heroes that’ll flower enthusiastically all the way into fall will quickly solve that issue and keep your garden packed with petals for months to come. Plenty of fall-flowering clematis are compact enough to grow in a large planter, too. For enduring color that you’ll enjoy for months to come, another smart move in August would be to take advantage of many staple perennials being discounted as we head towards the end of summer, and pick up some of the best perennial plants for patio pots at bargain prices.

Order striking new spring- and summer-flowering bulbs before they sell out, and use your new planter to create a bulb lasagna. Starting a patio veg patch is another of our quick and clever container gardening ideas you can achieve on a budget.

Fancy something a little different? Because they’re not porous, large resin planters can be used to make a stylish garden micropond by sealing the drainage hole with a marine silicone sealant like this from Amazon. Or how about pairing your plugged planter with a cheap solar-powered floating fountain to DIY a striking water feature? Because these Aldi planters are such a great price, you can afford a few and get creative.

More Great-Value Big Resin Planters

Resin containers are getting so popular, there are plenty of budget dupes of big-brand planters. So don't worry if you don’t make it to the middle aisle in time, you don’t have to miss out on great value large planters.