Things You'll Need:
- A masonry birdbath.
- Potting soil.
- An old ceramic pot
- Some small, pretty plants.
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Step 1
Start with the birdbath. Be sure you pick a place suitable to the plants you want to grow. I suggest a spot that is shaded from the worst heat of the day. As a rule, the birdbaths are shallow and lose moisture quickly. I had an old masonry birdbath that would not hold water and had lost it's center decoration. The fact that it would not hold water made it perfect for use as a planter.
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Step 2
Place the birdbath on a level, firm footing. Home improvement stores have inexpensive pavers or you can use a bit of quick set cement to make a base. If the birdbath is still water tight, consider drilling a few holes for drainage. You must use a masonry bit on your drill. Take it slow here!
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Step 3
If there is no center decoration in the birdbath, put a pot in the middle, proportionate to the size of the birdbath. Put a layer of potting soil in the bottom of the pot and around it in the birdbath. Press this in and start to arrange your plants. Put your most spectacular plant in the middle pot. This is a good place to put the one with the most upright growth habit. Mix in some trailing plants around it in the birdbath. Trailing verbena and petunias are great. Use your imagination. This kind of planter is beautiful in an informal English cottage garden. It can also make a wonderful, colorful surprise element in a large shady lawn.
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Step 4
Finish the project by gently packing potting soil around the plants. This is a great place to showplace special plants without the expense of massive plantings. Be sure to use plants with similar water and light needs. I would love to see comments with photos of your birdbath garden.
Enjoy!
