What Is a Garden in a Box? | Waterwise Kit, Not a Planter

A Garden in a Box is a ready-to-plant, professionally designed low-water perennial garden kit sold in Colorado for replacing unused lawn with drought-tolerant plants — it doesn’t come with a physical planter box.

If you’ve seen “Garden in a Box” pop up in Colorado landscaping conversations and pictured a cedar planter filled with soil, you’re not alone. The name suggests container gardening, but the reality is smarter: it’s a DIY waterwise landscaping kit designed to transform sections of thirsty lawn into a low-water perennial bed. The kit includes starter plants arranged in 4-inch pots, a numbered planting map that tells you exactly where to set each one, and care instructions for the whole season. You pick up the trays in May, follow the map, water accordingly, and knock roughly 7,300 gallons off your outdoor water use over the garden’s lifetime compared to traditional grass. For Colorado yards where every drop counts, that’s the whole reason it exists.

If you’re ready to shop, our lineup of the best Garden in a Box options breaks down each design and size available this season.

What Comes in the Kit

The kit is sold as a single package, but it’s not a “kit” in the seed-starter sense. You get three components, all designed to take the guesswork out of low-water landscaping:

• Starter plants. Perennials in 4-inch pots, organized into 2 ft. x 1 ft. trays. Kits range from 6 to 51 plants depending on the garden design — common sizes land around 14 to 29 plants per kit.
• Plant by Number map. A printed layout that shows exactly where each plant goes. This is the tool that saves beginners from the “I just planted everything in a row” mistake. You measure your space, note where the sun hits, and place the numbered pots on the map’s corresponding spots.
• Care guide. Covers watering schedule, seasonal maintenance (cut-back timing, mulch refresh), and what to expect in year two when the perennials return larger.

The kits are designed and sold by local water conservation programs across Colorado — check Grand Junction’s program, Colorado River Conservation, or Loveland Water and Power for current offerings. They are not available through national garden retailers.

Can You Put a Garden in a Box Kit in a Raised Bed?

Yes, but the kit is designed for in-ground planting. The plants are low-water perennials meant to spread into the surrounding soil and establish deep root systems. Placing them in a raised bed or a physical garden box works fine as long as the bed is deep enough (at least 8–10 inches of soil) and you adjust the watering schedule slightly because raised beds dry out faster than ground soil. The kit does not include an actual planter box, so if you want that look, you supply the box separately.

How to Set Up Your Garden in a Box

Setup follows four steps, and the whole job usually takes an afternoon once the kit is home. The Plant by Number map does most of the layout work for you.

1. Measure and mark the space. Clear the area of existing grass or weeds. The kit’s map dimensions assume a specific footprint (roughly 6 ft. x 8 ft. for a standard design), so measure before you dig.
2. Assess sun exposure. Most low-water perennials need at least six hours of direct sun. Note which parts of your yard get morning versus afternoon light — the map accounts for sun exposure when it tells you where each plant type goes.
3. Plant by the map. Lay out the pots on the ground according to the numbered positions before you dig any holes. This is where beginners get their first visual of the finished bed. Once the layout looks right, dig, plant, and backfill.
4. Water and mulch. Give the new plants a deep soak right after planting, then follow the watering schedule in the care guide (typically every few days for the first two weeks, then tapering). Mulch the whole bed with 2–3 inches of wood chips or rock to keep moisture in and weeds out.

After the first growing season, the perennials go dormant in winter and return larger the following spring. The watering needs drop significantly after year one — that’s where the 7,300-gallon savings over a grass lawn really adds up.

Is This Only for Colorado Yards?

Yes. The plant selection, watering guidance, and timing are tailored to Colorado’s semi-arid climate and elevation. If you live outside Colorado, the same concept — a pre-planned low-water perennial kit — exists through local water conservation districts or native-plant nurseries in other western states. But a Garden in a Box kit purchased through a Colorado program may include plants that struggle or fail in high-humidity or mild-winter regions.