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    Home » Gardening

    28 Unique Planter Ideas

    March 19, 2023 by Patti Estep 2 Comments

    A collage of planter made with recycle vintage and inexpensive containers.
    Collage of unusual garden planters like a grill and a book.

    Be inspired by this fun list of unique container garden ideas. Unusual planters can add whimsy and fun to your indoor and outdoor decor.

    Collage of six out of 28 unusual container gardens.

    I've rounded up several unique planter ideas to inspire you this season. Perfect for the patio or for providing visual interest anywhere in your landscaping, there are so many, from fun and whimsical, to fancy and practical.

    If it holds soil, and you can put a hole in it, then you can plant in it.

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    These out-of-the-norm planters, add tons of texture, character, and whimsy to your garden, and most are very affordable, if not free. Many are repurposed items, that you probably have in your basement, shed, or garage.

    More ideas that you can put on your list, for the next time you are out antiquing or checking out the flea market and local garage sales.

    Fill them with your favorite ferns and foliage plants for areas with shade or bright color annuals such as lantana, petunias, and geraniums for sunny spots. Some of them would even work well with vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, and other small plants.

    28 Unique Container Gardening Ideas

    Let this fun list of unique planter ideas, many complete with drainage holes, inspire you to create a beautiful flower planter with something other than your standard terra-cotta pots.

    1

    Hanging Teacup Planter Upcycle

    Learn how to create a beautiful hanging teacup planter by upcycling an antique teacup and planting it with a string of pearls plant.

    2

    DIY ~ Easy Greenroof Birdhouses

    Photo Credit: ourfairfieldhomeandgarden.com

    Create a beautiful green roof birdhouse succulent garden with this easy tutorial.

    3

    HGTV Gardens {Sifter Planter Photo Excitement}

    Photo Credit: www.oursouthernhomesc.com

    This vintage Bromwell's flour sifter was found in an antique store in Southport, NC for $6 and turned into a pretty container garden.

    4

    Farmhouse Garden Planter Ideas

    Photo Credit: www.houseofhawthornes.com

    A chicken waterer from an estate sale finds a new home for succulents in this planter upcycle.

    5

    Troll Doll Succulent Planters

    Photo Credit: https://gardenchick.com/

    Only a gardener would see this as a planter! How cute these would be with succulent “hair”. 

    6

    Flowering Living Wreath Tutorial

    You can use an old wreath that is laying around the house and pick up some sheet moss and a pack of container plants at your local nursery. 

    7

    DIY Rain Boot Planter

    Photo Credit: chickenscratchny.com

    Upcycle old rainboots into pretty planters with this easy tutorial.

    8

    DIY Scalloped Pallet Wood Planter

    Photo Credit: www.charlestoncrafted.com

    Here's a great wood crafting idea made entirely out of a pallet that was leftover from a shipment of concrete.

    9

    Rope Planters with Paint DIY

    Photo Credit: www.makingjoyandprettythings.com

    Rope, paint, and clay pots are turned into stunning flower pots for a Mother's Day gift in this easy DIY.

    10

    Faux Concrete Planters for Your Indoor Garden

    See how easily and inexpensively you can create a pretty aged looking faux concrete planter. Perfect for showing off your pretty indoor plants.

    11

    How to Make a Dresser Planter

    Photo Credit: www.kellyelko.com

    See how to repurpose a dresser into a planter that will be the talk of your garden. Half herb garden with lots of peachy orange geranium blooms for a sunny spot on your deck.

    12

    How To Make Unique Shibori Indigo Planters

    Photo Credit: www.pillarboxblue.com

    Learn how to use Shibori dying to create beautiful fabric sleeves. They are a great way to cover tin cans or plastic pots.

    13

    Unique DIY Window Planter Box

    Photo Credit: www.chatfieldcourt.com

    See how you can make a unique DIY window planter box with a little bit of rust and a whole lot of vintage charm.

    14

    How to Use a Bowl as a Planter

    Photo Credit: www.creeklinehouse.com

    Coleus and sweet potato vines look great in a simple bowl planter that works well for small garden spaces.

    15

    Repurposed Vintage (gas/watering) cans

    Photo Credit: www.myrepurposedlife.com

    How fun are these vintage gas cans repurposed as planters for hens and chicks? Set them somewhere in your backyard for a focal point to walk by every day.

    16

    DIY Lantern Planter in Just Minutes

    Photo Credit: www.thecountrychiccottage.net

    You can use any lanterns that you love for this project to create a gorgeous lantern planter on your front porch and around your home this summer.

    17

    How to Make a Freeform Hypertufa Planter

    These rustic looking containers are perfect for succulents and shallow rooted plants.

    18

    Wire Fruit Basket Planter - a run of the mill basket made fabulous

    Photo Credit: www.drought-smart-plants.com

    Take an old rusty fruit basket and turn it into a lovely container garden.

    19

    Repurposed Grill

    Photo Credit: cottageatthecrossroads.com

    Repurposing an old grill. Why not? It's better than a large flower pot and a great idea to recycle a large container that would otherwise end up in the dump.

    20

    How to Make a Book Planter

    Photo Credit: town-n-country-living.com

    Yes you can! Turn an old textbook into a great container for plants. See how this creative blogger did just that.

    21

    Enamel Colander as a Hanging Porch Planter

    Photo Credit: www.sadieseasongoods.com

    Butterflies and bees will love this enamel colander into a planter with bright colorful annuals.

    22

    DIY Cheap Flower Pots

    Here's a simple technique for creating cheap flower pots, by dressing up basic black plastic nursery containers. No need to re-pot. 

    23

    How to Make a Better Strawberry Pallet Planter

    Photo Credit: lovelygreens.com

    Use a wooden pallet to grow strawberries. The perfect vessel to grow a huge crop of delicious fruit.

    24

    French Country Chair Planter - A Repurposing Story

    Photo Credit: hymnsandverses.com

    You may have seen this one but it deserves a spot on this list. An old French country chair is turned into a beautiful container garden full of pink and white petunias.

    25

    DIY Pallet Garden - Easy Vertical Gardening

    Grow herbs and lettuces in a wooden pallet for a fun and practical vertical garden.

    26

    Vintage Container Plantings

    Photo Credit: theoldbluebucket.blogspot.com

    This last one shares a host of vintage planter ideas showing lots of creative ways to use unusual containers for a dramatic effect.

    Next time you clean out your basement, garage, or Aunt Sophie's house, consider re-purposing an item or two to plant some pretty flowers in.

    Patti signature
    Collage of seven different unique planters.
    « Lebanese Stuffed Zucchini AKA Kousa
    DIY Mason Jar Chandelier from Thrift Store Finds »

    About Patti Estep

    Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Judy Walters Weiss

      May 23, 2016 at 11:34 am

      Patti - A nice selection of unique planter ideas...I need to get busy & come up with a couple new planter ideas for this summer. Thanks for including my hanging scale & washtub planters!

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        May 24, 2016 at 6:28 am

        Hi Judy,
        So many fun and interesting ideas, with several from you. I'm curious to see what you come up with next.
        Have a great week,
        Patti

        Reply

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