Upcycling Old Household Items Into Planters

This vintage stock pot has a rustic feel that takes you back to your grandmother’s kitchen. However, instead of homemade chicken noodle soup or savory beef stew, it’s filled with rocks, potting soil and vibrant pink, sunflower yellow, majestic purple or any other flower of your choosing.

If you’re not sure what kind of planter you want to use in your garden, turn to your kitchen for inspiration. A well-worn kettle and teapot make fine vessels for small plants. Color coordinate them in clusters or stagger their placement on cement pieces for visual interest.

Unused tires have a renewed sense of purpose as garden planters. Giving them a fresh coat or two of paint can add a bright burst of color to your garden.

The kids are all grown now but you just can’t bear to part with the old stroller that’s collecting dust in the attic. Put that stroller to good use by upcycling it and using it as a planter.

Toys aren’t just for kids anymore. This plastic tyrannosaurus rex has lost his scariness and gained a few points for cuteness as a succulent plant straddles his back. Create your own backyard Jurassic-period planters and delight both kids and adults who are really kids at heart.

Exposed pipes can be obtrusive and unattractive. Luckily, sometimes you can do something about it. Whether they’re functional or not, turn those unsightly pipes into planters. Take advantage of and get creative with any vertical space. Try planting small, easy-to-grow plants like the ‘tweety’ coneflower, DeZire impatiens or pansies. 

Bring a bit of playfulness to your back yard. Upcycle old planter pots into colorful characters that will be the hit of the garden. Planters of various sizes make great arms, legs, feet, bodies and heads. Get even more creative with the hair. Honey cluster pink penta, fairy foxglove or other plants with tiny flowers will look great sprouting from the top of your whimsical characters.

Whether you’re growing fresh herbs like thyme and oregano, experimenting with low-maintenance succulents or planting different annuals each growing season, you’ll love the quirkiness of upcycling old footwear into useable planters. Your well-worn shoes or boots might have seen better days but the fun thing about this upcycle is that almost any style of footwear will do — boots, stilettos, sneakers, loafers and more. So, think twice before you toss out those old shoes. Your next planter may be just a pair away.

Orange and yellow marigolds are a welcome addition to an old bucket turned planter. And who doesn’t have an old bucket tucked away under a sink or in the laundry room? Buckets work great because they have handles for portability.

It doesn’t get any more upcycled than this. There are many ways you can repurpose an old bathtub. Turn it into outdoor seating, a garden pond, a chaise lounge, a beverage cooler and more. One other thing you can add to the upcycle list: turn it into a garden planter.