Space Saving Tips for Patio and Balcony...Living in an apartment or condominium in the city doesn't mean you can't enjoy the pleasures of gardening. As long as you have a small balcony or patio and access to an adequate amount of light, you can easily create a modest-sized garden.
Old Chair for Container GardeningMany household objects can be used as containers in the garden. I love to use old chairs in the garden to add height and interest to an area that might be otherwise plain without it.
Using Found Items For Garden DecorI used an old wheelbarrow by drilling holes in the bottom for drainage, throw in some gravel then top w/soil and plants. Plants that hang off the sides look great and something big and flashy in the middle.
Unusual Ideas for PlantersHere are ideas for reusing items as planters or pots from the ThriftyFun community. Post your own unusual planter ideas below.
Strawberry Pot Side TableUse a strawberry pot as an inexpensive side table on your deck! First plant small vines or other trailing plants in the holes of the pot.
Creative Planter Ideas?Here's a picture of a flowers planted in an old truck. Do you have any creative planter ideas to share?
How To Make Tire PlantersInformation on making recycled tire planters. Post your own ideas here.
Flower "Bed" That's DifferentWant something different for your front lawn or garden? Use an iron chair or glider and fill it with ivy and flowers. My husband put some wooden sides on it and I lined the bottom with coconut liners.
Flower Bed GliderWant something different for your flower garden or front yard? Use an old iron chair or glider, as I have used, to create a flower bed. I lined the bottom with coconut shell liners, filled with potting soil and planted away!
Giving Clay Pots an Aged LookHow do you "age" clay pots with the crusty white and green patina? Tips from the ThriftyFun community. Post your own ideas here.
Green Roof BasicsOne of the fastest growing green building trends in the U.S. and Canada is the installation of green roofs. That is, systems that use living plant materials as roofing. The idea of green roofs isn't new. The earliest green roofs are thought to date back as far as 500 B.C.
Creating Beautiful Hanging BasketsHanging baskets are a great way to dress up your yard and garden. Not only do they add color and interest, but because ornamentals, herbs, and vegetables can all be successfully grown in them, hanging baskets are also an excellent way increase your available planting space.
Patio Tomato BenchI used an old bench that no one could sit on and sat my potted tomato plants on and around the bench. As they grow, I can tie them to the bench for support. I have red, yellow and black cherry plants, so I am hoping for a little color also.
Container Ideas From Every RoomPlants will grow in just about anything given the proper soil, water, and light conditions. If you're looking for some inexpensive container ideas, grab a pencil and some paper and take a walk around the house for a few inspirational ideas.
Make a Garden "Bed" Out of an Old Bed...This is an old metal bed frame of my sister-in-law's that she was selling at our 3 family garage sale for $3.00. I had always wanted a "flower bed" but decided to make a "salad bed instead".
Saving Space Growing Strawberries in a...I put together some hanging strawberry planters for the greenhouse recycled out of empty milk cartons and then hung up in the greenhouse roof using cropped bolts, recycled wire, bamboo cane and some curtain poles.
Tipsy Flower PotsCreate interesting vertical planting space by making your own tipsy flower pots. This is a page about tipsy flower pots.
Making Hypertufa PlantersThese easy to make, naturally porous hypertufa concrete pots are a great addition to any garden. We used recycled containers for our molds but you can use almost anything to create unusual planters or yard art.
Pumpkin Planter IdeasCreate a unique seasonal planter using a fresh pumpkin. This page features pumpkin planter ideas.
Sub-irrigated Planter From Recycled MaterialsThis is my original concept. It is perfect for growing smaller garden plants like lettuce, etc. I hope you like it.
Pallet GardenI used a pallet and painted and dry painted attached planters with hose clamps and screws to pallet. This a easy project.
Planting Succulents in a Cinderblock WallI have a short wall between my garden and the neighbor's driveway. It is a pretty old cinderblock construction with some of the cement patches over the holes gone. I had some leftover succulent starts and decided to plant them in the wall.
Old Fountain into New PlanterOur old southwest fountain finally "bit the dust" and no longer held water. Try as we would, it could not be saved. So we decided to fill it with dirt and added some plants and a bird nest to add interest to the front yard. We always try not to add to the landfill.
Toy Box PlanterOn a recent drive around town I saw this fun planter in someone's yard. They used a Little Tikes football toy box, which I frequently see at yard sales and thrift stores. Drill some drainage holes in the bottom and you have a durable planter for your flowers.
Toys as Cactus PlantersIn the Dollar Store we found some plastic toy wheel barrows and dump trucks. We set them on a mat that keeps weeds out with pea pebbles, and filled them up (first hubby drilled drainage holes) and set them out front.
Pumpkin PlantersMy mom's neighbor made these awesome pumpkin planters at a special event at a nearby nursery. One is a jack-o-lantern filled with ferns, succulents, and grasses to create the hair and face. I love the warty texture on the pumpkin too!
Making a Cinder Block Step PlanterThis is a page about making a cinder block step planter. Cinder blocks are great containers for alkaline loving plants, and work well to create a layered planter.
Making a Mini Fairy GardenA clay pot, a few plants, a 25 cent fairy from Goodwill, some potting soil, Popsicle sticks for a fence and some fairy garden items from a craft store and the result is a cute little fairy garden which was fun and easy to make! I plan on doing it again this spring. Some people like to make gnome gardens.
Succulent Planter CraftsMake planters for succulent houseplants from recycled items. Popular varieties include jade, aloe vera and hen and chicks. These low moisture plants require very little care so they make a great gift. This is a page about succulent planter crafts.
Planter Ideas From Every Room in Your HouseGo on a treasure hunt in your home with an eye to items that can be converted into unique planters. This is a page about planter ideas from every room in your house.
Recycled Washing Machine Drum PlantersAn old washing machine tub makes a great container to plant in. Making recycled washing machine drum planters is easy.
Reusing Old Tires to Make Individual Garden PlotsA smart way to re-use an old spare tire is to use it in the garden. So, we made individual plots for lemons from a pile of old tires. It was filled with healthy soil and we placed bamboo sticks around it so the free range chickens won't be able to reach the plant and feed on its leaves or fruit.
Using A Coffee Container As An Indoor or Outdoor PlanterBecause we drink a lot of coffee, we often have so many left over containers. I have given these sturdy and decorative containers a new life while helping with the land fill. I use them as planters for myself, friends, and family.
Succulent WreathThis is a beautiful outdoor succulent wreath that can be hung on your front door or in your backyard. Just a few supplies and you can have yourself a lovely succulent wreath!
Recycled Lanterns As PlantersI found 2 lanterns in great shape at a thrift store for pennies! I wanted to transform these beauties into something other than lighting - planters! Although you find a lot of them are in black, I will transform them into a softer look.
Thrifty Vertical Planter WallI was inspired by the beautiful succulent decor walls at my local malls and stores. I wanted my own mini version in my backyard. However, upon research I found that vertical planters are so expensive!
Using Old Sinks As PlantersOne way to recycle old sinks from your bathroom or kitchen is to use them in your garden to plant succulents in. These sinks make a great border around your garden and add to the look of the garden. Succulent plants don't need much water. It is easy to use the sink and they have a drainage system. Just dig a hole in the ground and place the sink and the drainage pipe in the hold.
Spilling Wheelbarrow Garden PlanterHere is a "spilling wheelbarrow" I made, using coleus. It was easy to make and can be used for years.
Recycled Wheelbarrow Herb GardenWe've seen that people are making gardens, especially now. My tip is to recycle an old wheelbarrow into a lovely and useful herb garden. There is no weeding and many herbs are perennials. My husband was about to trash his old wheelbarrow and I turned it into a herb garden. Now I just go out the door and snip whatever I need for cooking or to dry.
