10 Creative Garden Container Ideas

I suppose I’ve never been very creative in the garden; whenever I want to plant something, I always go for a boring old pot! But really, you can make a planter out of just about anything. Why not add a little bit of whimsy and charm to your garden with items you already have around the house? Here are a few of our favorite clever garden container ideas. Get inspired!

1. Shoe Planters

Drill a few holes in the bottom for proper drainage, and you’ve got a charming little container! This works well for plants with small root systems, like succulents or herbs.

1. Black Gold 2. Rosy 3. Gardening Forums

2. Vintage Bicycle Planters

A vintage bike is a whimsical way to show off your potted plants. Leave it as is, or spray paint it to match your garden’s theme.

3. Cork Planters

You can’t get much smaller than this! Succulents are perfect because they’re so hardy and you can just use a small clipping. Attach a magnet and place them on your fridge!

4. Tire Planters

I love the new tire trend; they’re being upcycled in so many unique ways! With a little bit of creativity, you can incorporate them into your yard, too.

1. LB&T 2. Architizer 3. Recaptured Charm

5. Strainer Planters

Because they’ve already got the holes for drainage, they’re perfect for potting plants! I love the idea of using a colorful vintage pasta strainer. Lovely for indoors or out.

6. Natural Rock Planters

Similar to the idea of hollowing out a tree stump, there are also plants that will grow really well in shallow rocks. You might already have a few rocks that are hollow enough to support succulents or dessert plants, but you can also group a few rocks or stones together to create a natural little rock garden.

7. Wheel Barrow Planters

A wheel barrow planter is easy to move, making it convenient for watering, or moving out of bad weather or frigid temperatures.

1. iVillage 2. Bob Vila 3. The Seasonal Home

8. Birdcage Planters

Birdcages come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, and they’re ideal for showcasing your plants, especially plants that tend to hang and droop; spilling out of the cage.

1. Cottage Market 2. Brides of Adelaide 3. Enchanted Cottage

9. Repurposed Shoe Holder

Take advantage of vertical space with an over-the-door shoe holder! Use it to plant herbs for cooking, or just to decorate a wall or fence.

1. instructables 2. Good Housekeeping 3. B&H

10. Boat Planters

Talk about a boatload of flowers! You could plant an entire garden in there.

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