What to put in these planters?

[TeamOfRotatingVicars]

DH has accidentally bought and assembled these planters with 9 squares instead on the long trough planters we meant to get. Too late to return them as they are fully assembled.

I'm a bit stuck about what to plant in them now! I had planned to go with some low maintenance shrubs but I'm not sure that will work with these planters as they won't have much room.

They are to go in the front garden directly under the living room window. It's a really shady spot so will need to be something that doesn't need loads of sun. Ideally something that's not going to be taller than the window ledge or will tolerate regular haircuts.

Any ideas would be welcomed as I am a complete beginner to gardening.

Oh tricky, I agree shrubs may not be happy in those small spaces. Can you remove the inner dividers at all or are they needed?

Look at ferns, hellebores, tiarella, liriope. Sarcococca is a shrub that’s ok with shade and smells lovely so good for a front garden, also evergreen, but I don’t know how it would cope with a small root space.

Heucheras too

Could you use them for something else? Eg tip them on their side and use for shelves in the shed or something?
Or read the reviews of the product and see what others have planted in them.

Lavender, one in each? It soon fills out, will last several years, and is great for bees. You can get white as well as blue if you wanted to make a pattern. Maybe alternate with some big daisies or other big flowering perennials- standard roses maybe?

Or go totally practical and start growing carrots and spuds…

I've got no sense of scale from that photo - how big are the sections?

Thanks for the suggestions so far, I was completely stumped!

I could repurpose them into shelves but then would have to buy new planters. If they really don't work out I will though.

I would say about 30cm square for each one.

Herbs?

I can't quite imagine them in a front garden under a window.

I can't really see them working except for herbs somewhere sunny.

I can't see anything but annual bedding plants going in there. Lobelia Crystal Palace and a Lobelia white cascade.

That wood doesn't look like the sort for outdoors. Does it have a solid base or are there drainage holes?

It specifically says raised bed herb garden -

amzn.eu/d/i1WueWe

Thanks all, I'm going to rethink my plan. The planters can go in the back for herbs. I've got a few herbs in pots that can be moved fairly easily.

(I will buy planters myself next time!)

Perhaps it does say that, but not on the photo OP shared, which just shows up as a picture of the planter on my screen with no description.

You could always sell them on Facebook and buy what you want. I was going to suggest sedums.

Herbs