35+ Upcycled Container Gardens and Yard Art Made on the Cheap

This wheelbarrow almost looks as if it got mistakenly left out in the yard and the flowers took over and made it their home.

For a cheeky display, hang old blue jeans along a fence or clothesline and fill them with annuals. No need to fill the entire legs with good topsoil, stuff the bottoms with unamended dirt, packing peanuts or old burlap bags.

Colanders make great planters since they already have drainage holes. Fill with coco liner, small rocks, potting soil and plants, then add twine to hang.

Give old hats new life as hanging gardens. Baseball hats make instant flower pot covers. Simply open the sizing tabs in the back, slip the opening around the base of the plant and snap the tabs closed again. On straw, felt or fabric hats, cut a hole into the front or top and gently feed the plant stems through the hole.

Put that old sandbox to good use by repurposing it into a fun, kid-friendly garden chock-full of healthy fruits and veggies.

This antique shaving stand serves a new purpose as an official greeter. Lined with plants and other decor, including house numbers, it is a fun welcome for all who visit.

This raised bed was made from blocks that are specially designed for planters, but you might get lucky and find a bunch of building blocks at a garage sale or thrift store.

If your kids outgrow their lunchbox or you're still holding on to your favorite one from elementary school (no shame), take it out of the pantry, fill it with plants and put it on display.

The tooth fairy is not going to find a tooth or a pillow in this bed. The only thing she's going to discover is shade-loving perennials, moss and a few rocks.

Don't get rid of that old scuffed-up wooden door. Let it age gracefully outdoors while serving as a connection between the past and present in the form of a rustic garden gate.

When your kids outgrow their toys, use them as planters.

Originally for grinding grain, antique millstones can be used as pavers, fountains, stepping stones, and garden focal points like this one anchored beneath a Japanese maple tree.

Old wood chairs can easily be converted into holders for flowerpots; simply cut a hole in the seat and slip in the pot. Doll-sized chairs don't need any extra preparation because you can just set a small pot right on the seat. Potty chairs work the best because the hole is already there.

Upcycle plastic toy dinosaurs into succulent planters for a desk or window sill. Use a craft knife to cut the hole.

Colorful purses and small tote bags make fun and fashionable plant holders. Lining them with plastic will keep the potting soil from staining the fabrics. Hang the handles from hooks, slip them over fence posts or dangle them from tree branches.

A rusty old piece of gutter moves from the roof to the deck railing to become a planter for colorful annuals.

Don't toss those old tires! Turn them into chic planters with a little paint and some materials from the hardware store.

Dress up a fence or garden wall with brightly painted wood crates grouped together to make outdoor shelving.

Turn a tackle box into a unique container garden. Bait buckets, cricket cages, traps and fishing baskets also work well for holding plants. Design by Nancy Ondra

Make a planter out of an old ruler for your favorite teacher or for your own desk. This is an easy craft that the kids can help make.

Leather or plastic sneakers, shoes and boots make adorable holders for individual flowering or foliage plants. Sit them on the ground, prop them up on a rack or hang them on a wall or fence. Design by Nancy Ondra

Sculptural and functional, bee houses provide refuge and nesting cavities for mason and leafcutter bees. Build one using non-treated scrap wood, hollow bamboo reeds, pinecones and other natural materials.

Not only does a vintage wheelbarrow planter look great, but it's also practical. When the plants need more sun or shade, you can easily move them to just the right spot.

Upcycle a damaged book into a one-of-a-kind planter for your desk.

This old metal box used to be home to a reciprocating saw. Now it's a beautiful, low-maintenance display of succulents.

Unusual containers, whatever they may be, are always perfect for succulent plants. Variegated heartleaf ice plant (Aptenia cordifolia 'Variegata') and Angelina stonecrop (Sedum rupestre 'Angelina') overflow from this antique urinal.

What to do with an old paneless window frame? In this case, the gardener turned it into a piece of abstract art and a place for birds to perch. Make sure to remove all the glass and sharp edges so birds won't harm themselves.

Have you always wanted to try your hand at welding? Well, upcycled garden art is the perfect place to start. Start with something smaller than this marvelous creation from artist Emory Bright. Displayed in a shady section of the garden, this robot-like creature adds whimsy throughout the growing season and will provide interest in the winter months.

Lightweight aluminum garbage cans add a shiny touch of industrial chic to a modern setting.

Old birdcages, birdhouses and feeders make fun and fanciful containers for displaying pretty plants. Abandoned nests, bird figurines, feathers and other avian accessories help to complete the theme. Design by Nancy Ondra

Artist Kelly Davis salvages unique treasures and then turns them into art to adorn the garden. Here is one such example: A fiddler made out of a glass lens, wire and an apothecary bottle.

Old wood pallets are a great (and often free!) source of weathered lumber — perfect for upcycling into a rustic planter box. Paint the slats in watery shades of blue and green for a beachy update.

Turn an old desk into a charming garden by tucking small bushy and trailing plants into the partly opened drawers. Complete the look by popping plants into desk accessories, such as a pencil holder, an old telephone or a small desk lamp.

Old or reproduction food tins make terrific pots for annual flowers or houseplants. Group them by a theme, such as candy, coffee or veggies, or mix them up for a quaint and colorful collection. Design by Nancy Ondra

Recycle old paint cans or buy new metal paint cans. To dress them up, drizzle craft paint around the top rim and add some drips down the sides. Cover with a coat of polyurethane to stop the cans from rusting, or leave them untreated and enjoy the rusty, rustic look that develops within a few months. Fill the can with old wine corks for drainage then add soil and your favorite herbs or flowers. Use paint stirrer sticks as plant markers. Design by Nancy Ondra

Looking for a planter with some height? Make a spiral swirl using reed fencing and a galvanized tub. If you don't have any reed fencing laying around, you can find it in most stores for cheap.

Bring the beach to your garden by upcycling old coolers and pails into planters.