How to Make Garden Pots

Plastic, terracotta and synthetic pots line the shelves of garden supply stores and department stores each spring, ranging in size from tiny 2-inch pots to massive 3 to 4 foot high pots designed for decorative plant arrangements. Available in every imaginable color from richly hued earth tones to brightly colored shades of blue, purple, red and green, you can purchase plant at discount stores for a few dollars or you can invest hundreds for that perfectly formed pot you just have to have. However, you can design your own natural pots for mere pennies if you take the time to explore the possibilities right in your own backyard.

Things You'll Need

• All-purpose potting soil
• Recycled containers
• Acrylic paint
• Paint brush
• Coconut fiber
• Moss
• Chisel
• Saw
• Small nails/screws
• Scrap lumber
• Plastic
• Birch log
• Stump

Instructions

1. Select old tree stumps for a natural pot that provides the perfect holding pot for flowers or trailing plants. Use a chisel to chip away the inside of the stump to create a cavity for planting. Fill with all-purpose potting soil and plant flowers in the stump. The natural decomposition of the pot over time adds to the natural beauty and creates the illusion of flowers springing from nature.

2. Build a simple wooden pot with sections of birch trees. Cut four 2-inch slabs from the outside of the birch log to the desired length. Cut a section of scrap lumber to the dimensions of the planter for the base. Attach the slabs to the base with small nails or screws to assemble into a square or rectangular box. Screw or nail the sides to create a tight box. Drill several ¼-inch holes in the bottom of the planter for drainage. Fill the pot with soil and plant flowers or trailing vines.

3. Use recycled containers for plant pots. Coffee cans, empty buckets and small wooden or plastic crates make excellent plant pots. Drill holes in the bottom to allow for drainage. Paint the outside recycled containers prior to adding plants or soil, if preferred. Use a brush that is 4 inches or smaller, depending on the size of the container. Choose acrylic paint designed for outdoor use. Fill with soil and plant the desired plants.

4. Line wooden or wicker baskets with plastic, or insert a recycled container or bowl to hold the soil and plants. These are ideal for covered decks or porches where they will be protected from rain and damaging weather conditions.

5. Line hanging wire baskets with coconut fiber or moss and fill with soil. Add flowers and vines to create a hanging pot. Attach a plant hanger or large hook to the deck railing, garden fence or other garden structures and hang the basket from its hook for a carefree hanging pot.