Decorate A Rustic Ladder

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Decorate A Rustic old Ladder

Farmhouse ladder1, FlowerPatchFarmhouse.com (2 of 8)I have this thing for ladders.  I don’t know why but every time I see one in a photo I am drawn to it.
  There are some really fun and unique ways of using them out there.
I have a few ladders around here that I have used in various ways outside. 
Like the tossed together bird bath that the deer think is their very own drinking trough to sip from after they have decimated my Mums.
Deer at bird bath LadderI have used taller ones as an obelisk for my climbing roses…
Tess D'Ubervilles rose on Ladder, FlowerPatchFarmhouse.comI love the chippy white paint, that is original to the ladder.
Probably full of lead but since I don’t have it inside I am not worried about it.
Ladder with roses and Iris, FlowerPatchFArmhouse.comThis next ladder I have had for a long time and I have been meaning to use it for something.
Then I spotted my neighbor had one on her back deck and it held whatever is blooming at the moment,
she has been changing it with the seasons and I love looking over at it.
So I decided to do mine up.
I had all these little pumpkins that grew for me and I thought they would look great stacked on the rungs, I did not want too much color to detract from them so I just used the Sweet Potato vines I started from cuttings and popped them into galvanized containers.
I did put a couple Dianthus in the bottom bucket with some boxwood for a wee bit of color.
 a Rustic Ladders and Some Pumpkins, FlowerPatchFarmhouse.comI have long debated with myself whether or not to paint this ladder but I think I am just going to treat it with Tung Oil to preserve the wood and stick with it in its natural state for now.
What do you think?  Should I paint it?  Leave it be????

I have decoratively painted ladders before.
Little step ladders are fun all gussied up with roses.
Ladder painted with roses, FlowerPatchFarmhouse.comI had tons of fun painting this one.
It sold long ago.
Perfect for the Shabby Chic decor many just love.
(if you would like to learn to paint roses CLICK HERE)
Ladder with Roses, FlowerPatchFarmhouse.comNow back to my current ladder I am decorating with on the back deck.
Here I added my vintage crock with a Coleus in it but the Coleus looks like it is drooping.
Actually that is just a cutting sitting in a glass of water to root.
I need to get it potted and bring it in for the winter.
Soon these Sweet Potato vines need to be brought in for winter too, they will get zapped if the temps drop much more at night. Decorate with LaddersI Pinned a Ladder that was festooned with lights shaped like snowflakes.
I would love to look out at my deck and night and see that.
Now to find those lights.
I can see this ladder from my living room, it sits next to my Potting Bench.
Decorate with Ladders 8, FlowerPatchFarmhouse.comHere is a shot that includes the Potting Bench my husband and I built.
I still love it and it has held up excellently thru all sorts of weather for the past few years.
Rustic Ladder & Potting Bench, FlowerPatchFarmhouse.comI think the ladder would’ve popped more for you if I had taken photos against a white backdrop but I took it as is, in place, and how we see it daily.
If you want to see more ways to decorate a rustic ladder click on over to my Pinterest Board.
I have collected a few photos of interesting uses of ladders by others.
LADDERS
Until next time…

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8 Comments

  1. That reminds me, I need to spray mine with a good sealer so it can hold up better outdoors year round

  2. I have an old ladder that looks just like yours. I just decided to clean mines up and put some clear stain on it to keep the rustic look.

  3. I prune in late Fall all the time and it does no harm. Is it cold enough for it to go dormant? I have to prune in late Fall as by the time spring pruning time rolls around I have so much snow on the ground it is impossible. I also have to prune in late Fall as our snows are so wet and heavy it breaks down the canes and causes so much damage that is worse. Once really cold weather sets it the roses are dormant and safe to prune, but if you are hesitant, just give is a light prune bringing the bush down to your height then finish the prune at your usual time. Or you can leave it and test to see how it does.

  4. I like your ladder by the potting bench just as it is, but I was also imagining it painted a kind of muted blue or turquoise. I think either way is fine.

    I really love ladders, too. The wooden ones, that is. I’m not sure what makes them so appealing. Maybe it’s the fact that you can decorate them with all sorts of things, plants, rustic signs, and whatever you can think of. It has a primitive charm, somehow.

    Your climbing roses are so, so, beautiful. I have four rosebushes, none of which climb, but I don’t have good luck with them. I get one blossom a year from all but one which has grown to about eight feet this summer and blooms enthusiastically all summer. I wish it were a climber as it looks rather ridiculous having gotten so tall and spindly. I’m wondering what I should do to it so it will survive our Michigan winter. I usually prune in the spring, but this one, I don’t know. What do you think?

  5. $2 Wow! You got a great deal! I can see why you are Happy Happy. 🙂

  6. I love ladders too. I love yours natural showing the rusty hardware. I just snagged another one for $2 last week. Happy happy!

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