Traditionally troughs were used to hold water and feed for enclosed livestock. Today though, most troughs are produced to be used as planters. A planter is any container that holds plants. To find out more, read our 'What Are Planters?' guide.

Similar to window boxes, troughs are excellent for displaying different groups of flowering plants with their longest side often placed against a wall. As they can be very large, and often deep, it is possible to create an array of artistic effects. You can plant larger, upright or climbing plants towards the back, providing a great backdrop to the smaller plants in front. Or you can plant two larger plants around another, drawing the eye towards the center. In some situations, you can even plant trees that are perfect for lining paths.

Plant troughs look great together and are often spread apart evenly when lining walls or paths. They can be placed in borders, providing a great visual stimulus in comparison to plain dirt. Sometimes, troughs are placed on stands to add verticality to a garden.

Primrose offer a huge range of troughs in an array of sizes, shapes, materials, colours, finishes and designs. Special plant troughs include those with trellises, tapered and curved edges, versailles-style downpipes, and raised planters.