12 Creative DIY Planters from Recycled Materials

Why buy planters when tires, wine crates, and old boots make stunning, free containers? Upcycling adds character, saves money, and diverts waste.

1. Tire Planters

Car or tractor tires. Paint creatively. Large tires = tree planters; small = flower beds. Stack for raised beds.

2. Tree Stump Planters

Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mccaughan/4508539235

Hollow fallen stumps with chisels/drill. Fill with soil. Natural, rustic, permanent.

3. Wine Crate Planter Boxes

Ready-made, portable, perfect for herbs/veggies. Line with landscape fabric if gaps large. Stain/paint for cohesion.

4. Mason Jar Herb Wall

Mount jars on board with pipe clamps. Kitchen herbs at arm's reach. Decorative + functional.

5. Tin Can Planters

Punch drainage holes. Italian tomato cans = vintage; painted orange/purple = modern. Herbs, succulents, annuals.

6. Eggshell Seed Starters

Halved shells in carton. Perfect for shallow-rooted seedlings. Transplant shell-and-all (calcium bonus).

7. Colander Planters

Photo credit: photobucket.com/user/herballygifted/media/IMG_3552_zps44a541bf.jpg

Built-in drainage! Paint to match decor. Shallow-rooted plants only.

8. Boot & Shoe Planters

Photo credit: flickr.com/photos/jo-h/5861107114

Kids' outgrown boots, old hikers. Fence-mounted = vertical garden + whimsy.

9. Lightbulb Terrariums

Hollowed bulbs (safe removal!). Moss, air plants, water-rooted herbs. Miniature worlds.

10. Concrete Block Planters

Cheap, stackable. Paint for style. Driveway borders, raised beds. Plants soften industrial look.

11. Aged Terracotta Pots

Antiquing, crackle finishes transform basic pots into vintage statements.

12. Vertical Systems

Pallet gardens, hanging shoe organizers, twine-connected pots. Balcony/indoor solutions.

13. Plastic Bottle Planters

Credit: photobucket.com/user/maywong24/media/DIY/DIY-Plastic-Bottle-Hanging-Planters_zps605ffb20.jpg

Cut, invert, hang. Self-watering versions possible. Endless configurations.

Your recycling bin is a planter goldmine. Start creating!