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Making your garden a unique personal retreat doesn’t always necessitate a store visit. By harnessing your creativity and dedicating yourself to sustainable practices, you can revitalize unused items.
Upcycling is not just an excellent method to minimize waste, but it also gives you the opportunity to imbue your garden with a distinctive allure and character that mirrors your own taste.


There are several methods to integrate upcycled elements into your garden design, regardless of the size of your patio or backyard. The limitless options include transforming old furniture into planters or converting thrown away household items into garden art.
These DIY upcycled garden ideas are excellent for those who wish to beautify their outdoor area with a unique and environmentally sustainable approach.
Opting to upcycle not only enables you to save money, but it also contributes positively to the environment. Each crafted item gives your garden a unique narrative, morphing it into an attractive and sentimental space.
Brace yourself to be enthralled by projects that convert the mundane into the magnificent, and simultaneously maintain the eco-friendliness of your garden.
DIY Upcycled Garden Ideas
31. Herb Planter From a Wagon from This Old House

This item demonstrates how to transform an old tire into a colorful and functional garden planter. It includes steps for cleaning, painting, drilling drainage holes, and lining the tire to prepare it for planting flowers.
The planter can be placed on a wall or hung from a tree using chains and hooks, adding charm to outdoor spaces. The design allows for easy movement and watering, making it a practical and budget-friendly way to upcycle tires into decorative garden art.
30. Swinging Tire Planter from DIY Showoff

This item demonstrates how to transform an old tire into a colorful and functional garden planter. It includes steps for cleaning, painting, drilling drainage holes, and preparing the tire for planting with fabric and packing materials.
The finished planter can be placed on a wall or hung from a tree using chains and hooks to add charm to outdoor spaces. It offers a creative way to upcycle tires while enhancing curb appeal with vibrant flowers.
29. Old Tire Planter from Addicted 2 DIY

This item demonstrates how to transform an old tire into a stylish and functional planter by combining recycled materials with simple woodworking techniques. It includes building a sturdy wooden base with angled legs and wrapping the tire in sisal rope for a natural, textured finish.
The planter is designed to hold flowers or herbs and is elevated to protect plants from pests like rabbits. The project encourages repurposing scrap wood and tires, offering a creative way to reduce waste while adding a unique decorative element to outdoor spaces.
28. Upcycled Rainbow Pallet Flower Garden Planter from Hello Creative Family

This item features a colorful flower garden planter made from an upcycled wooden pallet, painted in vibrant rainbow hues. Terracotta pots filled with flowers in matching colors are attached to the pallet, creating a cheerful and eye-catching outdoor display.
The project encourages hands-on creativity and bonding through a simple weekend craft using basic materials like acrylic paint and varnish. It demonstrates how to transform recycled wood into a functional and decorative garden piece that brightens any outdoor space.
27. Hanging Colander Planter from Sadie Seasongoods

An enamel colander is transformed into a charming hanging porch planter by attaching chains to its handles and adding a liner for soil. The built-in drainage holes make it ideal for planting, while the sturdy metal prevents excessive swinging in the wind.
The process involves securing carabiners to the colander’s handles with wire to keep them in place and clipping chain to hang it from a porch hook.
Once filled with soil and plants, the colander serves as a unique, vintage-inspired outdoor planter that combines function with rustic style.
26. Rain Boot Garden from The Chic Site

This project transforms old or outgrown rainboots into charming garden planters, adding a playful and colorful touch to outdoor spaces. It encourages repurposing items that might otherwise be discarded, creating a unique and personal display for patios, yards, or entryways.
The rainboot garden brings a nostalgic element by reminding users of childhood memories while brightening up their surroundings. It offers a simple, creative way to refresh outdoor areas with minimal effort and materials.
25. Old Drawers into Planters from My Repurposed Life

Old drawers are transformed into charming porch planters by reinforcing their bases with scrap wood and adding wooden feet for stability. The drawers are painted and fitted with drainage holes to support healthy plant growth while maintaining a rustic, colorful look.
The design includes shelves or crates underneath the drawers to maximize planting space and add visual interest. Using simple tools and materials like a nail gun, wood glue, and leftover wood pieces, these planters offer a creative way to repurpose furniture into functional outdoor decor.
24. Painted Steel Drum Flower Garden Idea (source unknown)

This collection offers a wide range of creative ideas for designing and planting flower gardens in various spaces, from porches and patios to large backyards. It includes unique container options, repurposed planters, and colorful flower bed layouts that add personality and charm to any outdoor area.
The suggestions cover both beginner-friendly flowers and practical tips for selecting locations, preparing soil, and planning garden layouts. Users can experiment with vibrant color combinations and tiered designs to create visually appealing gardens that bloom beautifully through spring and summer.
23. Umbrella Flower Planter from Good Home Design

22. Tricycle Flower Planter from Judy Sturman

21. Repurposed Chair Planter from Seattle Times

This item demonstrates creative ways to repurpose old household objects into unique garden planters. It features projects that transform items like wooden chairs, metal watering cans, and vintage wagons into vibrant containers filled with flowers, herbs, and decorative plants.
The examples include detailed planting arrangements and simple modifications such as cutting, painting, and adding drainage to prepare these items for gardening use. Each project combines practical gardening techniques with imaginative design to turn discarded junk into charming outdoor décor.
20. Wagon Wheel Succulent Garden (source unknown)

This item highlights creative ways to repurpose old or unused household items into functional and decorative garden features. Examples include transforming a broken wheelbarrow into a planter or using wooden pallets to build vertical gardens, adding both charm and sustainability to outdoor spaces.
It encourages turning discarded materials into higher-quality garden elements, promoting environmental consciousness through upcycling. Users can experiment with various objects like sinks, dressers, and antique spoons to create unique planters, birdbaths, and plant hangers that enhance their garden’s aesthetic and utility.
19. Wagon Wheel Planter from Urban Gardens NYC

This item highlights creative ways to transform old or unused household items into functional and attractive garden features. It encourages turning objects like wheelbarrows, sinks, and wooden pallets into planters, birdbaths, and vertical gardens, adding unique charm to outdoor spaces.
The focus is on upcycling, which involves repurposing materials to create products of higher quality or value than the originals. These ideas help reduce waste while enhancing garden aesthetics through simple, hands-on projects that breathe new life into discarded items.
18. Bundt Pan Planter from Teresa Royce (via Pinterest)

This item combines a Bundt pan planter with a lamp base to create a unique home decor piece. It repurposes kitchenware into a functional planter, adding greenery to indoor spaces in an unexpected way.
The design offers a creative way to display plants while incorporating lighting elements. It provides a stylish and practical solution for small spaces or those looking to add a touch of personality to their rooms.
17. Hedgehog Bottle Planter from Susie Qute

This item displays the Google Account sign-in page, where users can enter their email or phone number to access their account. It includes options for account recovery and a private browsing mode for secure login on shared devices.
Users can select from a wide range of languages to customize their sign-in experience. The page also provides links to create a new account and access privacy and help information.
16. DIY Copper Tin Can Herb Garden from Homey Oh My

These planters transform ordinary tin cans into stylish copper containers with a brushed metal finish using metallic spray paint. Each can is paired with a handmade chalkboard tag crafted from balsa wood, allowing for easy labeling or personalized messages.
The chalkboard tags are cut, sanded, and painted to provide a smooth writing surface, then tied around the cans with twine for a charming, rustic look.
These planters are perfect for organizing herbs or small plants while adding a decorative touch to any space.
15. Old Chandelier Herb Garden from Buzzfeed

An old chandelier is transformed into a charming hanging herb garden by attaching small flower pots to each arm. The pots are creatively labeled with painted rims and sticker letters, making it easy to identify different herbs like basil, parsley, and mint.
The chandelier is spray painted in two colors to give it a fresh, vibrant look before being hung with an S-hook. This project turns a vintage lighting fixture into a functional and decorative piece for growing fresh herbs indoors or outdoors.
14. Herb Planter From a Wagon from This Old House

An old wagon is transformed into a charming, mobile herb planter by drilling drainage holes and preparing the interior with gravel and soil. This setup allows for healthy plant growth by preventing water buildup and root rot while adding a rustic touch to any garden or patio.
The planter can be customized with a variety of herbs, making it both decorative and functional. Its mobility lets users easily move their herbs to catch sunlight or bring them indoors during colder weather.
13. Shoe Organizer Herb Garden from Drinking with Chickens

A vertical herb garden made from a hanging shoe organizer offers a space-saving way to grow fresh cocktail herbs right where you mix drinks. The pockets can be filled with soil and plants, or small pots can be inserted for easier maintenance and swapping of herbs.
This setup works well on any sunny wall near your bar area and keeps fresh garnishes within arm’s reach. Using inexpensive organizers in canvas, nylon, or plastic creates a living herb wall without the cost or bulk of traditional planters.
12. Recycled Shutter Herb Garden (source unknown)

A rigid plastic kiddie pool is transformed into a spacious garden planter by adding drainage holes and lining the bottom with mesh or landscape fabric. Once filled with potting soil and fertilizer, it provides an ideal environment for growing shallow-rooted herbs, vegetables, and annual flowers.
The planter should be placed on a stable, well-drained surface in a sunny spot to support healthy plant growth. Adding a wire fence around the edge can protect plants from animals, while regular watering is necessary since raised planters tend to dry out faster than in-ground gardens.
11. Plastic Kiddie Pool into a Garden Planter from The Spruce

A plastic kiddie pool can be transformed into a spacious garden planter by adding drainage holes and lining the bottom with mesh to prevent soil loss.
Filling it with potting soil and fertilizer creates an ideal environment for growing shallow-rooted plants like herbs, vegetables, and annual flowers.
Positioning the pool in a sunny spot ensures plants receive enough light, while adding fencing can protect against small animals. This setup offers a simple, cost-effective way to repurpose an unused kiddie pool into a functional raised garden bed.
10. Watering Can Planter from The Gardening Cook

Old watering cans can be transformed into unique planters that add charm and personality to any garden or indoor space. They provide a creative way to display plants, from succulents to flowers, turning ordinary containers into eye-catching garden art.
Beyond planting, watering cans can serve as decorative elements or functional garden features like vases or water displays. Their rustic, weathered look enhances outdoor settings, while painted or embellished cans bring color and style to porches, decks, or window boxes.
9. DIY Tipped Wheelbarrow Planter from This Honey Comb Home

8. Hedgehog Bottle Planter from Susie Qute

This item displays the Google Account sign-in page, where users can enter their email or phone number to access their account. It provides options for account recovery and encourages secure sign-in practices, such as using private browsing or guest mode on shared devices.
The page supports multiple languages, allowing users worldwide to navigate the sign-in process in their preferred language. It also offers quick access to creating a new account and links to Google’s help, privacy, and terms information.
7. Truck Planter from Sweet Magnolias Farm

This item features creative upcycled garden planters made from vintage and repurposed objects, such as an old chair, a toolbox, and a metal locker. Each piece has been transformed with paint, decorative accents, and unique additions like crystals, burlap, and miniature trellises to add charm and whimsy to outdoor spaces.
The planters combine rustic and delicate elements, showcasing how discarded items can be given new life as functional garden decor. These designs inspire users to create their own personalized, eye-catching planters that bring character and a touch of nostalgia to their gardens.
6. Upcycled Drawer Planter from Beyond the Picket Fence

This project transforms old drawers into a charming, multi-level planter with an A-frame design. It involves cutting angled boards to create sturdy legs, attaching the drawers securely, and adding finishing touches like handles, drainage holes, and protective coating.
The planter adds height and character to outdoor spaces, making it ideal for porches or patios. It encourages creativity by repurposing materials and offers a functional way to display plants while enhancing home decor.
5. Laundry Basket Planter from Elizabeth Joan Designs

A broken laundry basket is transformed into a charming planter by reinforcing cracks, lining the interior with burlap, and wrapping the exterior with burlap and rope for a rustic finish.
The addition of a decorative rope knot adds a unique touch, making the basket look like a stylish garden accessory rather than a repurposed item.
This project allows users to create a budget-friendly, large planter using materials that might otherwise be discarded. It also demonstrates how simple craft techniques can turn everyday objects into functional and attractive outdoor decor.
4. Tire Frog Garden Art from Two Women and a Hoe

3. Cheese Grater Owl Garden Decor (source unknown)

This item demonstrates how to create oversized garden art alliums using simple, repurposed materials like a softball, nails, and a metal rod. The process involves drilling holes evenly into the softball, inserting nails to mimic the flower’s shape, and spray painting the finished piece to add vibrant color.
The finished garden art provides a durable, eye-catching decoration that can brighten outdoor spaces year-round. It offers a creative way to recycle thrifted items while adding a unique, handmade touch to your garden.
2. Allium Garden Art from Empress of Dirt

This item demonstrates how to create large, decorative garden alliums using everyday materials like a softball, nails, and a metal rod. The process involves drilling holes evenly into the softball and inserting nails to mimic the flower’s spherical shape, which is then spray-painted to achieve the desired color.
The finished piece serves as a vibrant, weather-resistant garden sculpture that adds color and texture year-round. It offers a creative way to repurpose thrifted or recycled items into unique outdoor art that attracts attention and complements garden spaces.
1. Stained Glass Garden Spinner from Flea Market Gardening
