Sure, it’s easy to pick up a pot or two while you’re shopping for plants at the garden center, but those pots come with an environmental impact (not to mention a sometimes crazy price tag!). You don’t have to go that route, though! I bet there are some things around your house right now that would make perfectly functional and even cute DIY planters with just a little crafty love. Here are some upcycled and DIY planter ideas to get you started!
Olive oil planter – Do you buy olive oil in those big, metal tins? Just use a can opener to cut out the top, drill some drainage holes in the bottom, and you’re ready to plant!
Disposable planter to reusable planter – A little bit of burlap ribbon and glue are all you need to turn boring, disposable plastic planters into a DIY planters that are display-worthy!
Wood pallet planter – Life on the Balcony shows you how to turn a salvaged wood pallet into an awesome vertical garden.
Reclaimed whiskey barrels – You can find actual used whiskey barrels at the garden center (woah!), but if you get your hands on a wooden barrel, you can just cut it in half and drill drainage holes on the bottom to instantly create two planters.
Recycled chevron planter – If you have some scrap wood laying around, turn it into an awesome rolling planter! Perfect for plants like Meyer lemons that don’t like extreme temperatures.
Soda or tin can pots – Collect some empties and turn them into planters for small things like herbs.
Use a shoe – Take a page from San Francisco’s Alamo Square Shoe Garden and turn a worn out pair of kicks into cute mini planters.
Recycled tires – Is tire dumping a problem in your area? Gather up a few and turn them into a planter!
Use a wine box – Next time you throw a party and get a case of wine, save that box! You can use it to make a miniature raised bed. I bet that you guys have whipped up some cute DIY planters of your own. I’d love to hear about them! Image Credits: Succulent and Whiskey Barrel photos by Becky Striepe; Creative Commons Shoe Garden photo by torroid
