Unusual Plant Containers

Gardening expert Laura DeJong points out creative ways to make both indoor and outdoor plant containers.

Get creative when putting together plant containers. Look around at the junk pile before tossing anything out — there could be a gem there.

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Fruit-Crate Container

Materials and Tools:

fruit crate
sheet moss
plastic lining (Garbage bags work great for this.)
planting soil
flowers or green plants (We used ivy, ferns and African violets.)
garden rocks

Steps:

Line the crate with slightly dampened moss.
Line the moss with plastic bag.
Add enough planting soil to fill crate about 3/4 of the way.
Start planting throughout the crate, putting the flowers or plants close together. This arrangement will look nice if it is overflowing a bit.
Tuck in the plastic edges and fill with more sheet moss.
Add any decorative touches you would like. Seasonal ornaments such as gourds and a small bird's nest make for a nice look that can be changed throughout the year.

An old cowboy boot (just off left center in the photo) would look great with a plant inside in a Southwestern-themed room.

Indoor Cowboy Boot Planter

Materials and Tools:

old cowboy boot
handful of gravel
plastic lining (A garbage bag can be used for this.)
planting soil
flowers or green plants (We used sedums, herbs and lavender.)

Steps:

Place a handful of gravel into the toe of the boot to weigh it down.
Line the inside with plastic to protect it from water damage.
Fill the bottom with a couple more handfuls of gravel. This is where the plant will drain. It will prevent the roots from becoming over-saturated.
Fill the remainder of the boot 2/3 of the way up with quality planting soil.
Use your hands to dig into the soil to plant, then gently cover the roots.
These plants do not need to be watered as often, as the roots will pull water from the rock bed at the bottom of the boot.

An old grill could be cute, too. You could even paint it to match the flowers in the arrangement if you are feeling especially creative.

Outdoor Grill Planter

Materials and Tools:

old grill
planting soil
flowers or greenery of choice (We used mums, pansies, straw flowers and money wort.)

Steps:

Make sure the grill is completely clean before planting anything in it.
Make drain holes in the bottom, or simply open up the vent.
Fill it with a quality planting soil.
Plant the flowers. Keep in mind where you will be placing your new planter, and if it gets enough sun/shade for the type of flowers or plants you want to use.
Use the final product as a decoration for the patio or deck, or even to add a splash of color to the garden.