Sometimes, it can be quite a quest to find exactly the right kind of planters that suit both your taste and your budget. If that’s proving too difficult to achieve when scouring your local stores or markets, then why not get creative with one of my ideas below?
Hollow concrete blocks are a cheap and sturdy alternative for plastic or wooden planters, and are widely available, from numerous stores to internet-based classifieds websites. You might need a bit of muscle-power to shift them around, but once they’re in position, you’ll be able to enjoy them for years to come. The handiest ones are the double-cavity type, so you’ll have two ‘planters’ in one. Arrange them by stacking them up to fit your space. It’s just one great big puzzle at first, but if you try mixing them up with some dense concrete blocks inbetween, you can create a really smart effect. They can even be painted with special concrete paint, giving you an endless amount of options to create your own truly unique planter!
Pallets are the new old wood because they are even easier to work with. If you would like to use some to make a planter, then you really don’t need to do very much with them. Make sure that the pallet is sturdy and undamaged, and if necessary, sweep them off to clean them up a bit first. For this planter idea, use the underside of the pallet. Close up one end of each of the supports, the same edge on both, of course, as these will become your planter. If you love colour, then this would be a really good time to grab a paintbrush and get to work.
To prevent the soil from spilling out between the slats, line the inside of the planter with weed barrier fabric. You could use a plastic sheet too, but you’ll need to poke a few holes in the base to allow for drainage. Once you have finished, turn the planter right-side-up, with the open edge facing upwards. Now, lean the pallet against a wall or fence and get filling! You can also use the space inbetween the planters to hang some trendy lanterns or other decorative items.
Now here, I’m talking about real work! Not the reclaimed wood you can buy anywhere, but old, small window frames. This idea is my personal favourite, because it would suit any garden, patio or balcony. Patience is a definite requirement for this planter, but the result is definitely worth the effort. If you can’t find an old frame, them you can also make this planter using a sturdy picture frame.
Lie your frame face down and attach some chickenwire to the inside of the front of the frame using suitable staples and nails. If you’re using a picture frame, then you’ll need to make it deeper by attaching another square or rectangular wooden frame to the back of the original frame with some screws that won’t pierce through to the front.
Line the gauze with a layer of moss, then add the soil to fill the frame. Close up the back of your frame by attaching an equally-sized panel of wood. Now, carefully, turn your new planter over and get ready to start planting! Small succulents, for example, are really suitable. Just poke a few holes in the moss and soil under the gauze with your fingers, and, very carefully, add your plants. Press them in firmly to ensure they won’t fall out when you go to hang up your new planter. Fill as much (or as little) of the planter as you like with different (succulent) plants and mount it on a wall or fence. Then just sit back, relax and enjoy it the whole summer long. Just don’t forget to water it as often as necessary.
Empty plastic soda bottles can be put to much better use than just dropping them in the recycling bin. Wash them out, put the cap back on and drill 4 holes in the neck. Thread some sturdy twine through the holes, turn it on its side and there you have your own new herb garden planters ready to hang. Now make two large holes in the top half of the bottle, being careful not to cut them too low, as the lower half will be filled with soil. Make sure the holes are big enough so your plants will have sufficient space to grow. Of course, you can’t really put very large plants in them, but it’s a perfect solution for growing a small range of fresh herbs to use in your kitchen. If you’re feeling really creative, you can even decorate them first with paint, beads or even a knitted, crocheted or fabric ‘jacket’.
These ideas for making your own planters are not only thrifty, but you also end up creating an original feature for your home or garden. In my blog, ‘7 Steps to happiness on your balcony or small terrace‘, you can find some great ideas, including how to make a ladder planter.
Do you have any other ideas on how to make your own planters? Share them with us on our Facebook page.