How to: Rocking Chair Planter

Recycle a beloved rocking chair into a decorative planter.

Just because your beloved old rocking chair is no longer sturdy enough to act as a seat doesn't mean you have to part with it. Converting that old chair into a planter not only allows you to keep it, it adds a touch of whimsy to your porch or garden. You can even leave the chair in a sunny area indoors for an original way to present houseplants.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Chicken wire
• Wire nips
• Staple gun
• Newspaper
• Burlap sacking
• Soil
• Seedlings

Instructions

1. Flip your rocking chair over and unscrew the seat. If the seat was woven, simply cut away the rest of the weaving and discard it.

2. Cut a piece of chicken wire about 4 inches larger than your seat. Staple the edges of the chicken wire to the underside of your seat. If the frame is shallow, push the chicken wire down a little to form a bowl-shape.

3. Line the chicken wire with a ¼ inch thick layer of newspaper. Layer ¼ inch of burlap on top of that. Fill the rest of the planter with soil.

4. Plant your seedlings in the planter, spacing them about 4 inches apart. Place taller plants near the back of the chair and shorter plants near the front of the seat. If you have any vining plants, use the back of the chair as a trellis.

5. Water the planter with about 1 qt. water. Place the chair in a warm, sunny space.

Tips & Warnings

• Try placing two rocker planters next to each other on your porch. Place a planted side table between them.

• Other planter options include porch swings, regular chairs, tin pails or even old boots. Arrange these things so they look like they've been scattered naturally.

References

• The T-Cozy: A Chair of Flowers
• Exploring Womanhood: Make a Pretty Chair Planter