18+ Smart Inexpensive Large Planter Ideas

Getting creative with large planters can transform your garden without emptying your wallet. Here are some inventive and budget-friendly ideas to give your plants the space they need to shine.

Use Rope Tubs for Planters

Rope tubs make perfect, budget-friendly planters.
Rope tubs make perfect, budget-friendly planters.

Rope tubs, often found at home improvement stores, can be easily turned into large planters. Drill some drainage holes, and these are ready to house your plants.

Might be a good match:

  • Large Rope Storage Tub: Transform this durable rope tub into a stylish planter for your garden or patio today!
  • Power Drill with Drill Bits: Easily drill drainage holes using this versatile power drill for perfect planter preparation.
  • Outdoor Plant Potting Soil: Fill your planters with nutrient-rich soil to boost the growth of your beautiful plants.

Repurpose Old Laundry Baskets

Transform a laundry basket into a charming garden planter.
Transform a laundry basket into a charming garden planter.

Why not turn that unused laundry basket into a large planter? Just line it with a trash bag, poke some drainage holes, and you’re good to go.

Products that could assist:

  • Heavy Duty Trash Bags: Line your laundry basket with durable trash bags for a secure and efficient planter setup.
  • Garden Drainage Pebbles: Add drainage pebbles to prevent waterlogging and promote healthy plant growth in your planter.
  • Fabric Plant Liner: Use a plant liner for added soil stability and easier cleanup in your DIY planter project.

Create a Tire Tower

Old tires become vibrant planters with a splash of paint.
Old tires become vibrant planters with a splash of paint.

Stack old tires to build a tiered planter. Paint them in vibrant colors for a fun, quirky look, and fill each tire with flowers or herbs.

You might give these a try:

  • Outdoor Acrylic Paint Set: Transform old tires with vibrant colors using durable outdoor acrylic paints. Bring life to your garden!
  • Herb and Flower Seed Variety Pack: Fill your tire tower with a mix of herbs and flowers for a stunning and aromatic display.
  • Garden Soil Mix: Ensure healthy plant growth by filling each tire layer with nutrient-rich garden soil. Nurture your plants!

Transform Old Metal Buckets

Metal buckets bring vintage charm to your garden.
Metal buckets bring vintage charm to your garden.

Give old metal buckets a new life as planters. Their sturdy build is perfect for larger plants, and they add a vintage charm to any space.

Try these:

  • Metal Bucket Planter Liners: Protect your plants and maintain moisture with durable metal bucket planter liners.
  • Rust-Resistant Plant Coating: Preserve the bucket’s rustic look with easy-to-apply rust-resistant plant coating.
  • Garden Plant Supports: Enhance growth and stability for larger plants with these adjustable garden supports.

Turn a Broken Wheelbarrow into a Planter

A rustic wheelbarrow adds character as a garden planter.
A rustic wheelbarrow adds character as a garden planter.

An old, broken wheelbarrow can become a unique planter. Just fill it with soil and flowers for a whimsical garden feature.

Items that may come in handy:

  • Organic Potting Soil: Enrich your plants with nutrient-rich potting soil for vibrant, healthy growth in your wheelbarrow.
  • Gardening Hand Trowel: Easily fill your wheelbarrow with soil using a durable, ergonomic gardening hand trowel.
  • Flowering Plant Seeds: Choose colorful flowering plant seeds to create a stunning display in your garden feature.

Construct a Cinder Block Planter

Cinder blocks offer versatility and structure for large planters.
Cinder blocks offer versatility and structure for large planters.

Stack cinder blocks to build a modular planter. You can arrange them in various configurations to suit your space and plant needs.

Maybe worth checking out:

  • Cinder Blocks: Stack cinder blocks to create your modular planter; customize shapes to suit your garden space.
  • Heavy-Duty Gloves: Protect your hands while handling blocks with durable gloves designed for tough outdoor tasks.
  • Potting Soil: Fill your cinder block planter with high-quality potting soil to promote healthy plant growth.

Use Concrete Mix for a DIY Planter

Create custom-sized planters with concrete for a sleek look.
Create custom-sized planters with concrete for a sleek look.

With a bag of concrete mix, you can craft a durable and stylish planter. Mold it into your desired shape and size for a custom fit.

You might like:

  • Concrete Mix: Create a custom planter with durable concrete mix for unique garden accents.
  • Silicone Mold for Concrete: Achieve perfect shapes effortlessly with reusable silicone molds for your DIY planters.
  • Concrete Sealer: Protect your new planter from weather damage with a reliable concrete sealer.

Convert an Old Bathtub

Old bathtubs can serve as unique and ample plant homes.
Old bathtubs can serve as unique and ample plant homes.

An old bathtub makes a quirky and spacious planter. It’s a conversation starter and provides ample room for a variety of plants.

Possibly helpful picks:

  • Drainage Rocks: Ensure proper water flow in your bathtub planter with versatile and durable drainage rocks.
  • Planter Liner: Protect your bathtub planter with a reliable liner, perfectly fitting your unique garden project.
  • Potting Soil: Enhance plant growth with nutrient-rich potting soil, ideal for upcycled bathtub gardens.

Fashion a Large Basket Planter

Woven baskets bring a natural touch to garden settings.
Woven baskets bring a natural touch to garden settings.

Use a large woven basket as a planter by lining it with a plastic sheet. This adds a natural texture to your garden decor.

May just do the trick:

  • Large Woven Basket: Add natural charm to your garden with a spacious, rustic woven basket planter.
  • Heavy-Duty Plastic Liner: Protect your basket from water damage with a durable, waterproof liner.
  • Potting Soil Mix: Support healthy plant growth with nutrient-rich, well-draining potting soil.

Stack Pallets for a Vertical Garden

Pallets turn vertical space into a garden paradise.
Pallets turn vertical space into a garden paradise.

Stack and secure pallets vertically to create a vertical garden. Fill the gaps with soil and plants for an eye-catching display.

Check if these fit your needs:

  • Fabric Grow Bags: Enhance your vertical garden with durable grow bags to hold soil and plants securely.
  • Heavy-Duty Zip Ties: Secure your pallets with strong zip ties for a stable vertical garden structure.
  • Organic Potting Soil: Fill your pallets with rich potting soil to nourish a thriving plant display.

Repurpose Old Drawers

Old drawers find new life as charming garden planters.
Old drawers find new life as charming garden planters.

Old dresser drawers can be stacked and used as tiered planters. Paint them for a fresh look and plant some blooms.

Give these a look:

  • Outdoor Wood Furniture Paint: Add a splash of color to your repurposed drawers with vibrant, weather-resistant paint.
  • Heavy-Duty Drawer Handles: Upgrade your planter’s look with sturdy, decorative drawer handles for easy customization.
  • Gardening Soil for Planters: Fill your drawer planters with nutrient-rich soil for thriving blooms and greenery.

Use Galvanized Tubs

Galvanized tubs add a sleek industrial feel to your garden.
Galvanized tubs add a sleek industrial feel to your garden.

Galvanized tubs are perfect for large planters. Their industrial look is trendy and they provide ample planting space.

A few suggestions:

  • Large Galvanized Metal Planter: Add industrial charm to your garden with this sturdy and stylish planter. Enhance your space today!
  • Galvanized Steel Tub with Handles: Easily move your plants with this lightweight, durable tub. Perfect for versatile gardening needs.
  • Round Galvanized Flower Container: Create a statement with this spacious container, ideal for showcasing vibrant blooms on your deck.

Create a Stone Ring Planter

Stone rings create a natural and beautiful planter.
Stone rings create a natural and beautiful planter.

Gather stones to form a ring and fill it with soil for a natural planter. This blends beautifully into any garden landscape.

Possibly handy products:

  • Landscape Fabric: Use landscape fabric to reduce weed growth and maintain soil moisture in your stone planter.
  • Garden Soil Mix: Enhance plant growth with a nutrient-rich garden soil mix, perfect for your stone planter.
  • Stone Adhesive: Secure stones with strong stone adhesive, ensuring a durable and sturdy stone ring planter.

Use Large Fabric Pots

Fabric pots offer versatility and breathability for large plants.
Fabric pots offer versatility and breathability for large plants.

Fabric pots are flexible, breathable, and make great large planters. They’re easy to move and perfect for large plants.

A few things you might like:

  • Large Breathable Fabric Pot: Enhance your garden with breathable fabric pots for optimal plant growth and easy mobility.
  • Heavy Duty Garden Fabric Planter: Choose heavy-duty fabric planters for durability and convenience in your outdoor space.
  • Large Eco-Friendly Grow Bags: Opt for eco-friendly grow bags, perfect for healthy plant growth and environmental care.

Convert an Old Canoe

A canoe becomes a conversation piece as a unique planter.
A canoe becomes a conversation piece as a unique planter.

An old canoe can be transformed into a unique planter. Its long shape is perfect for a stunning display of diverse plants.

These products might help:

  • All-Purpose Potting Soil: Nourish your plants with quality potting soil for thriving growth in your canoe planter.
  • Gardening Hand Trowel: Easily plant and maintain your garden with this durable and handy gardening trowel.
  • Plant Fertilizer Mix: Boost plant health with a balanced fertilizer, ensuring vibrant and lush growth.

Build a Brick Planter

Brick planters combine durability with classic charm.
Brick planters combine durability with classic charm.

Use leftover bricks to construct a sturdy planter. This DIY project is durable and adds a touch of classic elegance.

Explore these options:

  • Garden Trowel: Sturdy, ergonomic garden trowel perfect for laying and leveling bricks easily and efficiently.
  • Weatherproof Sealant: Seal and protect your brick planter from the elements with high-quality weatherproof sealant.
  • Landscape Adhesive: Securely bond bricks with powerful landscape adhesive, ensuring durability and longevity for your planter.

Turn Wine Barrels into Planters

Wine barrels provide a vintage look and ample space for plants.
Wine barrels provide a vintage look and ample space for plants.

Repurpose wine barrels as large planters. Their vintage appeal and size make them ideal for bold plant displays.

Some handy options:

  • Half Wine Barrel Planter: Add rustic charm to your garden with these vintage-style half wine barrel planters.
  • Waterproof Planter Liner: Protect your wine barrel planter with a waterproof liner for extended durability.
  • Soil for Large Planters: Ensure healthy plant growth in your barrel planters with high-quality potting soil.

Use Large Ceramic Bowls

Ceramic bowls add elegance and style to your plant arrangements.
Ceramic bowls add elegance and style to your plant arrangements.

Large ceramic bowls make elegant planters. Just ensure they have drainage holes and fill them with your choice of greenery.

Some ideas to consider:

  • Large Ceramic Plant Bowl: Transform your garden with a stylish ceramic bowl; perfect for housing a variety of plants.
  • Drainage Hole Drill Bit Set: Easily add drainage holes to your bowls with this versatile drill bit set for ceramics.
  • Decorative White Pebbles: Enhance your planters with decorative pebbles; ideal for adding aesthetic appeal and drainage.
Text: Joyce Peterson