Unique Planters Made from Unusual Vessels for your Backyard Décor

One of the many things you can do to customize your home’s appearance is to choose unusual containers for the plants on your patio and in your back yard. You can choose to plant vegetables as well as flowers to make them stand out even more.

Any container you choose for a planter should be strong enough to support the amount of dirt it will need to hold. Dirt is much heaver than most people think; it’s not at all unusual for a good sized planter to require 100 pounds of soil to prepare it for planting.

Plant containers also need to be made of highly durable material, as the effects of rain, snow, sun and wet soil can be very damaging to most materials over a period of time. Here are a few ideas for unique plant containers you may want to explore:

• Old cast iron bathtubs: While claw-footed tubs are quite popular for interior décor right now, it’s still possible to find inexpensive used ones at salvage businesses if you’re patient and willing to spend some time to shop. While it’s true that cast iron can rust, a quick sanding and some rust-protective paint can work wonders. Before planting, place some small, smooth rocks on the bottom of your tub and leave the drain unplugged so that excess water can drain.
• Sinks and toilets: Depending upon how formal or casual you want your yard to be, you might also consider using an old sink or toilet as a planter.
• Kid’s swimming pool: These work especially well in small back yards without much room for flowerbeds. Hard plastic kid’s pools come in vibrant colors and can stand up to the strains that soil and rocks provide. Don’t use the plastic inflatable variety-they’re too weak to be serviceable.
• Trunks or stumps from fallen trees: Because these are natural materials, they are perfect for a naturalized garden setting. Often you can simply plant seeds for flowers or small root cuttings for plants right in the crevices that an old tree stump can provide. Alternatively, planting climbing flowers such as clematis or morning glories immediately adjacent to the stump allows those flowers to use it for support. If you decide to take this route, consider planting a wichuriana rose in or near the stump. The tiny white flowers and spreading growth habit make an enchanting picture.
• Chimney flue pipe: These square terra cotta tiles will contain your flowers and repel weeds if you simply place them with one open end on the ground and fill them with soil. The dirt will provide sufficient weight to keep the tiles upright, and the terra cotta color is a classic floral background.

For smaller container sized gardening, the possibilities for unique vessels that can double as a planter, is only limited by your imagination. An old wooden wine barrel, a large art glass bowl, an old set of copper pots that are no longer useful in the kitchen, an antique Red Wing pottery crock or the inside of an old tire. Other cool ideas include an old large glass ceiling light shade that you can turn upside down and is already complete with a drain hole!

There are obviously numerous other types of containers that will work, too. Scour flea markets, thrift stores and yard sales, keeping an eye open for all possibilities.