One of the best things about gardening is watching your plants grow from bud to bloom—but when the container involved is a product of your creativity, the process becomes even more magical!
There are numerous cheap planter ideas that can add a unique vibe and presence to your home. From upcycling household essentials and unused décor pieces to using vintage finds from salvage yards, you can create a statement piece that adds new life to your home!
We’ve compiled several budget-friendly planter ideas, most of which are DIY projects, to add a touch of personality to your outdoors.
Take a look!
1. Upcycle Tires
Put on your creative hat and recycle tires into colorful and functional outdoor planters. Paint them with your favorite colors to bring personality and vibrancy to your garden.
You can use them individually or stack them for a more dramatic look. Here, carefully selected colors and a pair of goodly eyes were used for a minion-inspired tire planter.
2. Create a Herb Garden
An old wine barrel serves as an excellent base for a magical herb garden.
Simply look for cheap wine or whiskey barrels, add your favorite kitchen herbs (or even vegetables), and finish up with some decorative touches for a whimsical focal point in your outdoors.
3. Turn a Birdbath into a Planter
I’ve indulged in this cheap planter idea so many times, and one thing I can tell you for sure is that it’s one of the best ways to give your plants style and stability.
Birdbaths are heavy and durable, not to mention weather-resistant, so they’ll endure the elements for a long time.
4. Recycle Pallets
Old, unused pallets provide endless opportunities for outdoor gardening DIY projects. Dedicate only one hour of your weekend to this cheap planter idea to add functional and attractive pieces to your outdoor space.
For a chic vertical herb garden, hang small terracotta pots on your wooden pallet using metal rings. To add depth and height, hang your vertical garden on a wall.
5. Teapot Planter
Upcycling old teapots into playful planters is a fun and rewarding project for beginner gardeners.
Whether you go for old pots for a rustic look or more elegant ones for a contemporary feel, you’re sure to have unique, eye-catching planters that’ll add a personal touch to your outdoors.
6. Take Out the Bottles
Now this is a fun activity I can get behind! Cut your water bottles into half, add peat moss and potting soil as planting medium, and grow your herbs or succulents. Create a chic base for added charm.
7. Utilize a Sink
Old household items make perfect cheap planter ideas. Consider taking a trip to the salvage yard and looking for a vintage farmhouse sink for your next garden addition.
A farmhouse sink planter provides a remarkable way to display and maintain your plants, adding character to your outdoors with its charming rustic appeal.
8. Take it to the Deck
Bring color and life to your deck with this cheap planter idea. These easy-to-make wooden planter boxes require a few hours of work and a small number of materials.
Place them on your deck railing to create a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere.
9. Upcycle Light Bulbs
Create stylish, unique planters by repurposing defunct light bulbs into beautiful DIY garden additions.
This project doesn’t require spending a lot of money, and you can even use the planters to add a touch of elegance to your indoor space.
10. Convert Shoes into Planters
I used to throw away worn-out shoes and donate the old ones that I didn’t wear anymore, but ever since I learned about this cheap planter idea, everything has changed!
You’d be surprised by the number of shoe planters I’ve placed in my yard. The best thing about this idea is that you can adorn small niches where large planters won’t work. Also, it’s an eco-friendly way to reduce waste while adding a unique touch to your outdoors.
11. Use a Tree Stump
Those ugly tree stumps in your yard also have the potential to be rustic outdoor planters.
Use a sharp mattock to create a hole in the middle. Add potting soil, gravel, and compost, then drill drainage holes into the side of the stump. Finish the project by planting your favorite perennials or annuals.
12. Repurpose Old Bicycles
With their front and back baskets, vintage bicycles can make unique garden planters.
Line the basket with moss, fill it with potting soil, and ensure proper drainage. Plant your favorite hydrangeas, allowing some creeping plants to fall on the side for a fanciful look.
13. Give Broken Pots New Life
Don’t throw away your planter pots simply because they’ve been broken.
In fact, repurposing broken pots into enchanting DIY fairy gardens is one of the most creative cheap planter ideas I usually recommend to my clients!
14. Add Rustic Charm with a Wheelbarrow Planter
Get creative with your upcycling projects with a wheelbarrow planter filled with lush and overflowing blooms. Paint your wheelbarrow to add even more flair, contrasting its color against the blooms while complementing the surrounding decor.
One thing I love about this cheap planter idea is how practical it is—you can easily move your wheelbarrow planter to a new spot whenever you feel like it!
15. Turn Logs into Flower Containers
Nature always seems to provide solutions to most of our predicaments. Take for example this cheap planter idea: A firewood log and potting soil create a rustic DIY container garden.
Place your log planter on rocks or wood supports to stabilize it and display it outdoors for a unique, rustic touch.
16. Transform a Birdcage into a Succulent Planter
Here’s another unique, cheap planter idea that utilizes outdoor elements for your feathery friends.
A birdcage by itself is a stunning outdoor addition, but adding plants—be it herbs, succulents, or flowers—will create an artistic and beautiful display.
17. Repurpose Old Chairs
I’ve seen this cheap planter idea in a couple of my clients’ homes during my design projects, and it never ceases to blow my mind. A chair planter will add tons of character to your outdoor space!
You only need to remove the chair’s seat, place a garden container that fits well in the chair, and plant your favorite herbs or flowers. If your chair has broken legs, don’t worry! Simply suspend it on a wall for a one-of-a-kind vertical planter.
18. Showcase Creativity with Cork Planters
When upcycling your wine bottles into planters, don’t forget the corks as well!
You can suspend the wine cork planters with jute or use a hot glue gun and magnets to create DIY planter fridge magnets. This cheap planter idea is an excellent way to reduce waste and repurpose materials.
19. Utilize a Rustic Tub
Find a new purpose for your old, weathered galvanized tub as an outdoor planter. This sturdy planter adds an industrial-chic vibe to your outdoors, drawing the eye with the vibrant array of plants and flowers.
20. Hang Baskets
Add depth and interest to your outdoor space with hanging basket planters. Simply find some old, small woven baskets, line them with moss, add potting soil, and plant some flowers.
Suspend your basket planters from a roof, pole, mailbox, or whichever place feels best to add a touch of whimsy.
