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Vertical Planter – Flower Patch Farmhouse

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Turn Old Metal Containers into a Fun Vertical Planter!

Create a unique upright planter with old buckets and old tubs. This fun and easy-to-make garden upcycle is a great way to create your own garden feature.

I often see plastic upright planters featured on garden channels and blogs but I don’t find them attractive. I’m sure they work great, but they don’t match the beauty of my garden.

So what do I do instead? I build my own!

stacked tin tubs to build vertical planter, planted with violas, text overlay reads: How To!, Flower Patch Farmhouse dot com, DIY Vertical Planter, step by stepstacked tin tubs to create a vertical planter, planted with violas, text overlay reads: Discover How!, Flower Patch Farmhouse dot com, DIY Vertical Planter, step by step

I often run across these old tin buckets and tubs at yard sales, yard sales or even the junk store. Most are low priced but in good condition. Some will already have holes in them which saves you a little work!

You want the tubes and buckets to be graduated sizes, the diameters to be precise.

tin buckets and a tub sitting on the floor. One bucket is next to it and the big tub is painted white.tin buckets and a tub sitting on the floor. One bucket is next to it and the big tub is painted white.

Creating a Vertical Planter with Metal Garden Containers

1. Clean yourself

Start by washing the floor or spraying to remove any dirt and debris and let the metal pans dry. We always want to start with clean containers.

2. Create Good Flow for your Vertical Planter

With a drill and a 1/4 to 1/2 inch bit, create holes in the bottom of the metal bucket or tub. Once you have holes in the container check how well and how fast it comes out.

You may need to add more. Good drainage is always the key to successful container planting.

on the floor of a corrugated iron tub with holes covered in iton the floor of a corrugated iron tub with holes covered in it

3. Give yourself some Insurance

This is completely optional but can help…add about an inch of perlite to the bottom of the container. This helps with drainage as well.

Even though water will sit at the bottom of the container, perlite traps oxygen and can help prevent root rot or drowning of plants.

Like I said, this is optional. If you have plenty of drainage holes and you support your containers by touching the top of your seat, there should be no drainage problems.

a tub made of tin with perlite on the floor, ready to be used as a vertical plantera galvanized tub with perlite on the floor, perfect for a vertical planter

4. Save Money

Use a strong plastic container to hold the next layer of vertical plant.

This tip is great for saving on filling containers with potting soil. It takes up space that the roots won’t need and keeps this project budget-friendly.

Note: most new pots are made of thin plastic and are not strong enough to do this job but you can substitute other materials if you don’t have a pot that will do the job.

You can also use old bricks. But if you don’t have anything feel free to skip this step.

a tin tub with an overturned nursery pot buried in clay soil to create a tub stand or the next tub to sit on, a vertical planter.a tin tub with an overturned nursery pot buried in clay soil to create a tub stand or the next tub to sit on, a vertical planter.

5. Add Potting Soil

Add potting soil to the gallon tub on top of the inverted container, (if you have one installed)

Any quality type should work for you or you can make your own DIY potting soil like I did here…

DIY Potting Soil You Can Make

6. Stack to Create a Vertical Garden Planter

I use 3 metal containers in my planter, any longer and I think they might be unstable. Once the bottom container is filled then place the next size up on top of the stand you created or the soil.

Fill the second container with potting soil and place the last container on top of that. You can place them in the center to plant around or if you are leaning against a wall or fence you can stack the containers along one edge like I did.

metal containers are stacked and planted as a vertical plantermetal containers are stacked and planted as a vertical planter

Different Ideas for Vertical Planting

  1. Plant strawberries
  2. Create a vertical vegetable garden
  3. Make it a fairytale garden
  4. This would work in a small salad garden, planted with lettuce, spinach, and green onions.
  5. Dream and design your own

Change Upright Garden Containers With the Seasons

Spring

In the spring plant your vertical plants with pansies, violas, tulips, and daffodils.

A DIY vertical garden planter filled with pansiesA DIY vertical garden planter filled with pansies

Summer Vertical Planter

Fill with summer flowering annuals that can spill and fill metal containers with color. Petunias, zinnias, and other heat-loving plants will do well.

standing plants with petunias in it, standing plants with petunias in it,

To fall

You can easily add fall elements without sacrificing summer flowers that may still be blooming. Add a little pumpkin with your flowers for a fall look!

Hydrangeas and pumpkins to decorate the dining roomHydrangeas and pumpkins to decorate the dining room

Winter

If you get a lot of snow like I do then you can cover your container with something like pine needles (free for me) as mulch or decorative twigs, faux berries and pine cones in it to give it a winter feel.

My friend Pam over at House of Hawthornes does a great job of creating winter patio plants, jump over to see hers. How to Make Winter Planters on the Porch!

Sowing seeds in the winter, when you are sick of the snow and want to plant!Sowing seeds in the winter, when you are sick of the snow and want to plant!
My containers are under there somewhere!

I hope you build yourself an upright planter and enjoy it for years to come. Now to create a video sharing how I do this!

Another idea, use a half-sized wine barrel…

Old buckets in a wine barrelOld buckets in a wine barrel

Happy Gardening!

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