How to Make a Chicken Wire Basket for a Chair Planter
It seems gardeners can never have enough pots or garden space for all the beautiful flowers and plants available, but fortunately there are a number of interesting things that can be turned into containers to feed your love of growing. If you have an old chair, instead of sending it to the landfill, create a charming floral focal point for your porch or garden, by making this Thrifty Fun inspired chair planter. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Old chair
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Drill and bit
- Jigsaw
- 1-inch chicken wire
- Tin snips or wire cutters
- Staple gun
- ½-inch staples
- Gloves
- Sphagnum moss, coconut fiber or burlap
- Potting soil
Instructions
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1
Determine the size planter you want. Use a ruler and pencil to draw the shape on the seat of the chair you want to turn into a planter.
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2
Drill a starter hole large enough for the saw blade to fit through, then, use a jigsaw to cut out the hole.
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3
Use tin snips or wire cutters to cut a piece of 1-inch mesh chicken wire the width of the opening plus 12 inches in both directions. For example, if the opening in your chair measures 15 inches wide by 12 inches deep, cut a piece of chicken wire 27 inches wide by 24 inches.
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4
Position the wire over the chair seat and firmly press it down through the hole until all but about 2 inches is below the top of the seat.
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5
Bend excess wire over the seat top and trim to make an even rim all around the hole about 2 inches wide and parallel with the edges of the opening all round.
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6
Fold 1 inch of wire back toward the center so that you have a neat 1 inch wide rim with no sharp edges poking out. Press wire down as flat as possible.
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7
Use a staple gun and 1/2 inch staples to fasten wire to the chair all the way around the rim.
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8
Manipulate the wire with gloved hands, folding or pressing together as necessary to model the shape neatly. Line with sphagnum, coconut fiber or burlap to retain soil.
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9
Fill with potting soil and plant.
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Tips & Warnings
For a round planter, use a compass or plate as a template to cut a round hole. Cut a 6 inch strip of chicken wire long enough to go all the way around the inside of the hole with a 1 inch overlap. Twist wire ends to hold. Cut a circle the same size and attach to bottom. Finish by pushing through the hole and fastening as above.
Always wear safety goggles and ear protection when operating power tools.
