Chives were one of the first herbs I ever planted, and I massively underestimated how enthusiastic they’d be. They grow back like nothing else, which is great in the kitchen but a bit much in the garden. Keeping them in containers gives me all the flavor without the takeover.
This is one of the easiest, just snip them down to about 1-2 inches. The moment spring warms up, they shoot back up like they own the place.
Quick tip: Both common chives (Allium schoenoprasum) and garlic chives (Allium tuberosum) thrive in pots, but garlic chives get wider and heavier. If you’re growing both, give the garlic chives the slightly bigger container, they’ll fill it faster than you expect.
7: Thyme (Zones 5-9)
Thyme is one of those woody herbs that slowly stretches out and gets a bit scruffy in pots. A light trim, no more than one-third, helps keep it compact and improves airflow around the plant.
I only tidy up the soft, leggy growth in winter and leave the serious shaping for spring.
8: Salvia (Hardy Varieties Only) (Zones 4-8)
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At the first frost, hardy salvias in pots usually flop over and look a little defeated. I just snip off the spent flower stalks and tidy the tops. It keeps moisture from settling in and helps the plant ride out winter without issues.Just make sure you’re working with a hardy type, because the tender salvias rely on their old growth for protection.
9: Hostas (Zones 3-9)
Hostas are easily one of my favorite perennials for pots, they’re shade-tolerant, low-maintenance, and come in more colors and patterns than seems fair. They even pull in pollinators when they flower, which is always a win in my garden.
After the first hard frost, though, the leaves turn into a slimy mess almost overnight. That’s my cue to snip the whole plant back to about 2-3 inches. It keeps the pot clean and helps the plant settle in for winter without rotting.
Quick tip: I used to leave the collapsed hosta leaves in the pot, thinking they were adding insulation. All they really did was turn slimy and invite every slug in the neighborhood.
