Making Your Yard Pop

Low Cost Ideas For DIY Planters

Creating the perfect garden requires not just a variety of plants, but also some architectural elements to help add shape and color to the space. One way to do this is by sprinkling interesting containers, both large and small, throughout the space. The following are a few ideas on how you can do this without spending a fortune.

Option #1: Hypertufa

Hypertufa is a mixture of cement powder, gravel, and peat moss, which is then mixed with water to a thick consistency. You can then spread it into a bowl or box, which is used as a mold to create the shape of your planter. The finished hypertufa resembles stone and has a very rustic and natural appearance. Moss readily grows on it, which can make it quite attractive in the garden. One of the biggest benefits of hypertufa, other than its low cost, is that you can make vessels of any size, so it provides an economical solution if you need large planting troughs.

Option #2: Thrifted Finds

The thrift store, yard sales, or even your cast offs can provide a plethora of interesting planters. The kitchen is an especially good place to look. Old cake pans, bread pans, and fluted bundt pans can be especially attractive. Metal, glass, and plastic bowls are other options. Since these are otherwise unwanted and inexpensive items, they are also well-suited for experimentation. For example, drill holes in the bottoms of the pans or bowls and stack them on a metal stake to create a stack of planters, with plants spilling over the edge. Cake pans also work well for creating bird baths or hanging bird feeders.

Option #3: Recycled Beauties

Your recycling bin can reveal a few nice planters as well. Large cans, such as metal coffee cans or restaurant-size food cans, work especially well, but even smaller cans can be suitable for small flowers or herbs. Simply remove the labels, poke a few holes in the bottom, and then spray paint them with an outdoor enamel. Use masking tape to create stencils on the can before painting, if you want to get even more creative with the final planter. You can nestle the cans among your garden beds, or even hang them from a fence or tree with small twists of wire. Covering an unattractive fence with the cans and plenty of plants can give you a vertical garden and a facelift for the fence.

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