Repurposed Garbage Can Planter with Vintage Fencing
Finding a planter pot large enough to soften the lines of a big, ugly garage can be challenging…and expensive! The severeness of yards of blacktop set against a tall expanse of boring garage doors calls out for some pretty! Little pots of flowers just wouldn’t cut it in my driveway, so I came up with a vintage, junky solution that brings a whole new irony to the concept of trash to treasure! Today I’ll show you my Repurposed Garbage Can planters with vintage fencing!
I’m so excited to be sharing this creation with some other vintage-loving friends for a “Vintage Garden” hop today! If you’re popping on over from County Road 407, welcome! I’ll share everyone’s post links at the end; can’t wait to see all the beauty these talented ladies have come up with!
I think my version of vintage definitely leans toward the junky, especially when it comes to my driveway planter pots! You can see the rest of my unique outdoor decor and projects in my “Summer Porch Tour” post.
The idea to create these unusual planters first came to me while I was curbside junking {“Curbside Junking Adventures and Tips”}. So many people were getting rid of their old, metal garbage cans, in favor of the garbage-company endorsed plastic ones. I’ve always had a soft spot for galvanized metal, and add a little rust and corrugation…my wheels started spinning. Just because these humble containers were used for garbage, who says they can’t be transformed to a new life? Trash to treasure, indeed!
Besides good junky looks, these old garbage cans are big! They would be large enough to make a statement next to my tall, ugly garage, and elevate the plantings to eye height. I first started using them next to the garage last winter for my spruce tips. This is my first season to plant some flowers in them!
To fill up all the extra space, and not use as much potting soil, I filled the bottom 2/3 of the garbage can with upside down larger plastic planter pots. It adds drainage for the plant roots and also makes them less heavy if I need to move them.
For added interest at the top, I added one of our Vintage Fencing planters. Mr. Fix-it makes these for me by bending some tall, crimped wire fencing in a circle and weaving the ends into each other. He then bends the top scallops down and the lower scallops out.
Originally we made these the perfect size for me to have a plastic pot sitting in the top. This year I decided to forego the plastic and just enjoy the architectural beauty of the fencing. I also have larger diameter circles in the garden around my peonies. We also used shorter fencing to make “Vintage Fencing Squares”. Yep, I love this old fencing!
I got my pots planted really late this year, but they’re starting to fill out. I’ve got 3 of these repurposed garbage can planters by my garage. I placed different plants in each to see how they would do with my sun conditions. In the middle I placed the tallest plants-cosmos, cleome and that new, climbing tropical plant (can’t think of it’s name right now). I love old fashioned, happy zinnias for their flower power. I added some kale and some bright green sweet potato vine for texture.
I love how the tropical is vining around the fencing! Maybe next year I can get the flowers planted sooner and do more vining plants. I love the bright colors with the subdued corrugated metal. I may even brush some poly on all that beautiful rust to give it some extra patina!
I hope this unique, junky idea will make you think twice next time you see an old garbage can on it’s way to the dump! You may even find a roll of wonderful, vintage fencing you can pair with it! Create your own Repurposed Garbage Can Planter!
Please Pin and Share, and then check out all the other wonderful creativity of the “Vintage Gardens” blog hop! Thanks to Amber of “Follow the Yellow Brick Home” for organizing this fun event!
“Vintage Gardens Blog Hop”
Follow The Yellow Brick Home | Panoply | Decor To Adore
My Thrift Store Addiction | Petite Haus | Poofing The Pillows
Art and Sand | Belle Bleu Interiors | Have A Daily Cup Of Mrs. Olson
The Painted Hinge | White Arrows Home | County Road 407
Lora B. Create and Ponder | Beauty For Ashes
Sharing at these link parties:
Lora, so glad I found you. LOVE LOVE the garbage cans and old fencing. I have both stored and tah dah…I will be making some of these for myself and friends that love flowers. Happy Mother’s Day! Billie Pierce – Central Texas
So glad you’ve got them on hand already, and glad you found your way here! Welcome, Billie;)
I have been using this same vintage-style fencing in a pot to grow black-eyed susan vine. But the way you bent the top parts back totally elevates the look of it! I never thought of that. But I’m doing that next time! I can’t wait.
Awesome, Kyra! Happy to inspire you! Thanks for the comment, too!
So happy to feature you at Thursday Favorite Things today Lora! Great project!
Awesome! Thanks, Amber!
What a fabulous idea with so much texture. I love it!
Thanks so much, Larissa!
O My Goodness!! Love this wonderful idea!!! Looks so charming!!
Thanks for sharing!!
Hugs,
Deb
Thanks, Deb! Glad you enjoyed it;)
Hello Lora, Such a great idea using the old garbage cans for potted plants! I love the vintage fencing, adds a lovely touch and your flower arrangements are well put together. Love, love.
Thanks for your sweet compliments, Elizabeth! I just can’t get enough of that vintage fencing…or of flowers;)
What a clever way to repurpose a garbage can. You made something utilitarian beautiful!
Thanks, Paula! Everything’s better with flowers, right?
Lora, this is brilliant and beautiful!!! I just love the look and how you filled them with such gorgeous color! It’s just the perfect container!!! I am so inspired!
You’re so sweet; thanks, Kristin! My eye is always drawn to whatever everyone else is done with!
Lora, that’s Yankee ingenuity at it’s best! That mandevilla vine reaching for the fencing is great. I love the mix of wild color. You’ve definitely turned one man’s trash (literally) into a treasure.
Mandevilla vine…that’s what the tag said! Thanks for reminding me, Rita! New tropical to this northern gardener;) I’m liking it; think I’ll do that one again!
Your garbage can is filled with anything but! The flowers are thriving in it! Such a fun idea.
Flowers make everything beautiful! Thanks, Angelina!
Lora, this is so pretty and such an adorable idea! You have made a garbage can beautiful! It has been so much fun being on this tour with you! Enjoy your week!!!
Thanks, Shannon! Glad you could be a part of it, too! Happy Summer!
No one but you can make a garbage can look so beautiful! Love it!
You’re too funny, Cindy! In my world, there’s hardly anything that can’t be prettied up! So fun to be hopping with you today!
I need some vintage wire fencing stat LORA! Oh, my creative heart is dancing with happiness. My son actually earned the rank of Eagle Scout by creating a similar project for ancient oak trees that were being destroyed by a family of beavers. Of course, he used modern wire fencing which is nowhere near as charming.
It can be purchased new, Laura(course then it wouldn’t have all the wonderful patina!) Think I googled it once and it’s still being manufactured…I should have an affiliate link on that one! Your son’s Eagle Scout project sounds awesome! Both my boys were Scouts too, but never made it to Eagle:(
So cute! I absolutely love the vintage fencing you added!
hugs,
Jann
Thanks, Jann! Kinda pretties up the garbage cans;)
Lora, I just have to say, you do the coolest things! Your blog is like a peek inside the mind of a truly creative person. Your garbage can planter turned out great! I love the old fencing wrapped around it.
You’re too sweet, Stacey! Thanks;) So fun to be sharing garden inspiration with you today!
Lora, what a wonderful way to repurpose a garbage can! I have a few garbage cans that I had no idea what to do with, but now I’m inspired! So happy to be on the hop with you!
So glad you didn’t get rid of them, Michelle! Fun to be hopping with you!
I absolutely love this idea! You always come up with the most creative and beautiful uses for vintage junk. Thanks so much for joining the Vintage Gardens Blog Hop!
Thanks, Amber! And thanks for including me in this super fun Vintage Gardens hop! Great ladies, great beauty!
Lora, I love this creative use of a garbage can and fencing–it’s perfect! Happy to be joining the tour with you! Blessings, Cecilia @My Thrift Store Addiction
Thanks, Cecilia! Fun to be hopping with you again!