Whether you want to plant a few potted plants around your deck or undertake a more expansive garden overhaul, consider repurposing unwanted items into useful garden planters.

We all know that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure and that is certainly true for the creative gardener. Instead of investing money in fancy store-bought planters, reuse items that would normally end up in the landfill in your garden to make a green (and inexpensive) statement.

13 Ideas for Repurposed Garden Planters

1. Tire Hanging Garden – Have a tire swing in your yard that is no longer getting any attention? Repurpose it into a hanging annual planter for a quick way to add some color to your backyard.

2. Library Card Catalog Drawers – If you are lucky enough to come across old library card catalog drawers, turn them into retro chic tabletop garden planters.

3. Wheelbarrow – If your wheelbarrow develops holes or begins to rust, you can turn it into a planter. Simply lay down some landscaping fabric to plug up any holes and fill with soil, compost, and plants.

4. Vintage Cooler – Oftentimes it’s possible to come across retro drink coolers at flea markets. They work pretty well as garden planters for larger plants.

5. Old Rain Gutters – Instead of tossing old rain gutters, repurpose them into functional garden planters. Not only will it keep something with some practical use left in it out of the landfill, but it’s certainly a creative planter idea.

6. Teacups – Delicate teacups are the perfect garden planter for small plants like succulents or pretty annuals. Decorate your deck with pretty vintage teacup planters to make a wonderfully green statement sure to make even the Queen proud.

7. Toolbox – Whether the old wooden style or a newer metal box, a toolbox is a great planter size for planting an herb garden or some pretty perennials.

8. Kitchen Sink – Yes, everything, including the kitchen sink, can be repurposed into a functional garden planter. The only thing holding you back is your imagination.

9. Mason Jar Planters – Mason jars are pretty easily found at thrift shops and can be used as planters for a small herb garden. You can even use them to create a hanging herb garden as well.

10. Washtubs and Buckets – If you come across old galvanized washtubs or buckets, snap them up. They make for great garden planters.

11. Birdbath – While you you don’t want to steal the birdbath from the birds, you can certainly turn an extra one into a decorative succulent garden planter.

12. Baskets – Baskets of all kinds and shapes can work as repurposed garden planters. They are also ubiquitous at flea markets, yard sales, and thrift shops.

13. Filing Cabinet Drawers – Making the switch from paper to digital records? Don’t trash that old filing cabinet, but repurpose it into a clever garden planter instead.

Related on EcoSalon

6 Planter Ideas Using Funky and Unusual Items
DIY on the Fly: Mason Jar Herb Garden Planters in 6 Steps
17 Clever Repurposed Garden Planters to Add More Plants to Your Space

Tire as Planter, Wheelbarrow Decorative Planter, Herbs in Mason Jar, Wicker Basket Planter, and Red Mum in a Teacup via Shutterstock

The post 13 Creative DIY Garden Planters to Make Your Garden Green(er) appeared first on EcoSalon.

Spring is the time of year when our minds turn towards planting. Springtime bulbs, summertime vegetable gardens and autumn pumpkin patches–all have their origins in the early springtime with the bevvy of seed catalogs that come in the mail. While you are coming up with your plans, don’t forget to think about garden planters.

Garden planters can be easy and clever ways to incorporate plants both inside and outside your home. Whether nasturtiums on your deck or an herb garden on your kitchen windowsill, planters can be a great alternative.

Not only can containers be easier to manage and add visual interest to your home, they are also great ways to repurpose items that might end up in the trash or the recycling bin. In addition, using planters offers versatility, because planters can be moved around–that is unless you are using huge planters.

Image: karenblakeman

Here are some great ideas for repurposing goods as planters both inside and outside your home.

1. Use an old colander as a clever succulent planter.
2. Turn wooden wine boxes into a patio salad garden with this project idea.
3. How pretty is this vintage bread box planter?
4. Got an unused tackle box? Make it into a smart planter.
5. Don’t trash that old bureau, turn into a succulent planter instead.
6. Use leftover galvanized steel heating and air repair materials as pretty planters.
7. Old paint cans can make great small planters.
8. Reuse coffee cans as fun and colorful cactus planters.
9. Turn an old chandelier into a hanging planter.
10. Repurpose an unwanted suitcase for new meaning to the phrase container garden.
11. Even turn old soup ladles into succulent planters.
12. Cinder block bricks get a redo as useful planters.
13. Turn a teapot into a pretty planter for your favorite posies.
14. Use an empty wine bottle as a clever planter.
15. Drawers from an unwanted piece of furniture can be turned into stylish planters.
16. Repurpose pallets as vertical planters.
17. Give boring planters the boot, use old boots as planters!

Finally, container gardening does have it’s challenges., so once you’ve settled on your containers, read up about the process using these resources.

• Organic Gardening’s Guide to Container Gardening
• University of Illinois Extension Successful Container Gardens
• Colorado State Extension Container Gardening

Related on EcoSalon

Plant Tulips, Hyacinths and Daffodils Now to See Them in Spring

5 Fresh Ways to Bring Spring Indoors

OMG, Really? Luxury Blinged Out Garden Tools for the Organic Gardener

Top Image: rustiqueart

The post 17 Clever Repurposed Garden Planters to Add More Plants to Your Space appeared first on EcoSalon.