Design advice, please.

I was sorely tempted but held back - my wallet has taken a beating today.

 

Planted up ,left in corner loads of surplus

 

Nice one, pam!

 

My neighbour wanted some of the planters, so she reserved 2 at Bridgend, I queried this as I supposedly had the last 4, several phone calls later got an answer ,"Oh we have 7" I reserved 5.
Down to Bridgend ,gave my name she said 2 dented, my neighbour chipped in I have 2 reserved,swop my 2 for those as we want 5 altogether, then she said 1 of those 5 have slight damage,
So okay 4 good ones a fiver each how much for the damaged ones got them for 3 pounds each, sure I can tidy them up with the rubber mallet.
Result 7 for 29 pounds, then spotted whilst wandering a little azalea drowning in a fancy little jug,marked down to 3 pounds, collared garden assistant,if you reduce that to 99p i`ll have it ,,,Reduced.,worth it for the jug.

 

Bravo, Pam!!

I went back to mine because they had "34" in stock; well they did and they didn't, one with the cutouts the rest were plain. So, instead, I spent money on the plants to go "into" them (based losely on Madahhlia's advice); I already had one purple cordyline (1st pic) and Homebase had theirs on offer @ 2 for £12. There were only two, slightly smaller, green ones and I also needed 2 purple ones so I thought I could alternate the 3 purple and 2 green. At the checkout, the two green one's were sold for ..... 10p each!!!

Also bought two (reduced) date palms:

£17.99 ----> £3.25
£14.99 ----> £2

These will be potted up for outside, but, having researched them on here, the older threads suggest they should be in a frost free place when they are young; currently one either side of my (not in use) fireplace

Final bargain were a pair of mini Christmas trees in the houseplant section
£16.99 ---> £8.49 ---> £3 each
My thinking being, maybe they could be planted outside?
I asked the young assistant; she read the label and told me they couldn't.
I agreed that the "houseplant" label does state that, but that is just a generic label for all plants potted for indoor. These are "trees" and could she please tell me what variety they were? She buzzed a colleague, repeated my original question; yes, they can be planted outside but after any danger of frost because they are only little I'm happy to get two trees for the garden for £6 the pair! Plus, next Christmas, I shall bring them back in and use them once again for table decorations (they even came with a little string of felt ornaments and a felt pot cover which can be used again).

Still think I should go back and get another couple of planters though .... for a fiver!? ... very good value