Container Gardening Idea – How To Recycle An Old Wicker Loveseat
Many people ask what was my favorite recycle-reuse garden project of all time that I did in the garden? Hands down it was the conversion of an old wicker chair into a planting container for the back garden; truly a creative container gardening project that I loved. I found the wicker piece in the garbage at a clients house and wrote my first story on it back in 2010. He said, “You want that piece of crap?” My reply, “HECK YEAH!” To me it was a diamond in the rough and a little fun for the garden.
The secret in building a container or “flowerpot” from a random junk object, is to create the “container” area for the soil and plant roots. Once you do that, you can plant anything in the container garden. I planted different plants in it each year; first year was moss and leftover perennials, second year was impatiens and ivy, and the third year was sweet potato vine. By the end of that year the wicker was truly rotting and I gave the loveseat away to a local gardener to use in her garden.
How To Make A Container Garden From A Wicker Loveseat
Supplies:
- Something to transform into a flower pot (an old chair works fine)
- Paint (preferably old or recycled so you can keep it out of the landfills)
- Something to prevent the soil from leaking, I used old plastic storage bin “lids”
- Wire mesh, old wire, and wire cutters
- Soil
- Moss (spaghnum)
- Plants
How to do:
- Build the “container” area, making sure there is plenty of room for soil and plant roots. I did this by turning the chair over, laying old storage bin “lids” down on the bottom, then covering the it with wire meshing that I attached with old wire and wire cutters.
- Paint the entire object. Prime first if possible, then paint the top coat over the primer.
- Place moss around the edges of the container area to prevent the soil leaking out. Soak first to expand it. If you don’t want to use the moss, you can use shredded leaves or old greenery as a filler.
- Fill the container with potting soil.
- Plant with your favorite plants.
Photo credits this page go to Kelsey Lee Connors.
This style of reused planter will keep items out of the landfill for a few more years and offers a bit of whimsy in the garden. This was a super fun container gardening project and it survived for four years in my garden before I passed it on to a friend. What kind of creative container gardening ideas can you come up with for next season? Send me photos – I want to see what you come up with!
What an awesome project!!!
Thanks Michelle and lots of fun to do as well!
Shawna
Hi, Shawna — This is a great idea, very eye-catching. Love the way you pull the blue color into the garden with a blue pot nearby. Maybe do a chair w/moss and succulent cuttings to complete the vignette?
Debra – fabulous idea and a girlfriend gave me one of those wicker chairs with the wide backs last year – think it might make for an interesting seating arrangement…
🙂
Shawna
LOVE this idea! The blue color you chose for the wicker loveseat is a great focal point, and I like how you did 'step-by-step' photos…cute!!
I'm recently getting into reusing old items and incorporating them into the garden, so this was a great post. Thanks!
purty
Thanks Doug and Judy – wish I had more junk – could do some more fun things. Woot!
Shawna
That is very pretty… I love the way the blue plays with the green creepy sedum. AWESOME!
Thanks Bren! 🙂
Shawna
Shawna, what a creative way to reuse an old piece of furniture! Very green, and looks great too!
Good Idea, Blue color is Eye catching. Check this site about Wire Mesh http://www.banaraswala.com/wire_mesh.html
Now I know what to do with the old wicker I find. Great idea and I love the colr.
Thanks! Glad you like it!
Shawna
That is a fabulous idea.The wicker love seat which has lost it's charm as a seater is so easily turned into a decorative piece and is thus stopped from going to the dump.The increased dump created pollution which is a cause of ill health for you and me.
What a great idea, very creative.Wicker is so versatile. You could also make a flower pot from wicker lamps or bowl.
What a great project for old wicker. A perfect way to have a portable flower bed. Thanks for sharing.
Keeping the creative going and going! 🙂
Such an awesome project! You are more careful than I … I would have forgone the tarp thinking I will be able to cut the grass anyway … but the tarp is the proper way to go.
Go green!!! 🙂