Don’t throw that old rusty grill away. Plant something in it!

Repurposing objects as plant containers is a fun way to reuse things that may otherwise end up in the landfill. It’s rewarding to reuse “junk” as garden containers because it allows you to get creative while leaving less of an eco-footprint.

Think about it, by reusing an object, you’re not only keeping it out of the landfill, you’re also not purchasing a new product that was probably made overseas and shipped half way across the world, requiring huge amounts of fossil fuels in the process. So, look around your house, at garage sales, in dumpsters, and at thrift stores for anything that can hold soil, and make a planter out of it.

Depending on what you use, found objects tend to add a rustic or funky flair to a container garden. If your style is more classic or elegant, you may have a hard time finding objects that suit you. However, you can always paint a found object to dress it up (just be sure to use exterior-grade paint for durability).

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Old toolboxes

Old toolboxes make cute planters when overflowing with small annuals or succulents. Be sure to drill a few drainage holes in the bottom.

Found Object: Stacked tires

Tires look great when filled with dirt and planted with larger annuals or when kept simple and planted with a single large upright element like a dwarf evergreen or tropical plant. Start with the largest tire and stack two or three more on top, decreasing in size towards the top. Paint the tires for an added splash of color. Make sure you like the location before you fill the tires with soil, since it can’t be moved without deconstructing it.

Old wheelbarrows

Wheelbarrows look right at home in any garden and look great when spilling over with annuals. Tilt the wheelbarrow by propping one leg on a brick or rock to increase the visibility of the flowers and help with drainage.

Old grills- found objects from the garage.

Grills are adorable when planted with herbs. I think charcoal grills, with their deeper rounded bellies, probably work best for this. Drill holes for drainage if the grill doesn’t already have them. Of course you could plant annual flowers or succulents in them instead of herbs.

Old bicycles

Bikes with baskets (see picture) may not have a lot of room for flowers, but the bike itself brings a lot of character to any garden. I lined the basket with rubber pond liner and hid the black rubber with Spanish moss.

Pieces of chimney liners

Pieces of chimney liners (terra cotta tubes) make nice vertical planters and can be used as is or painted to add a splash of color. Use a strong waterproof adhesive to glue a piece of screen to one end so that the soil stays in the tube. If the piece is taller, you may want to fill the bottom with styrofoam packing peanuts to reduce the weight and amount of soil needed.

Found Objects: Wooden crates and boxes

Crates and boxes add a nice rustic country look to any garden. Line them with landscape fabric to help hold in soil and moisture. They look great when left as raw wood or when painted.

Remember, this is just a list to get you started. Before you toss anything in the trash, take another look at it and think about whether or not it can be reused as anything else. Have fun and get creative!