Easy DIY Vertical Planter

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Turn some Old Metal Containers into a fun Vertical Planter!

Create a unique vertical planter with some old galvanized buckets and tubs. This fun and easy-to-do garden upcycle is a fantastic way to build your own garden feature.

I often see plastic vertical planters featured on garden channels and blogs but I just don’t find them attractive. I am sure they work fantastically, but they just don’t meet my garden aesthetic.

So what do I do instead? I build my own!

I often run across these old galvanized buckets and tubs at yard sales, barn sales or even a junk shop. Most are reasonably priced yet in great condition. Some will already have holes in them saving you a bit of work!

For this project you want the tubs and buckets to be in graduating sizes, the width to be precise.

Creating a Vertical Planter with Metal Garden Containers

1. Clean Them Up

Start by washing down or spraying off any dirt and debris and let the metal containers dry. We always want to start with clean containers.

2. Create Good Drainage for your Vertical Planter

With a drill and 1/4 to 1/2 inch bit, create holes in the bottom of the metal bucket or tub. If you already have holes in the container test how well and fast it drains.

You may still need to add more. Good drainage is always key in successful container plantings.

3. Give Yourself Some Insurance

This is completely optional but it can help…add about an inch of perlite to the bottom of the container. This helps with drainage as well.

Even if water were to sit at the bottom of the container the perlite holds oxygen and can help prevent root rot or the drowning of the plants.

As I said, this is optional. If you have plenty of drainage holes and support your containers a touch above the surface it is sitting on, there should not be any drainage issues.

4. Save Money

Use a rigid plastic potting container as a stand for the next layer of the vertical planter.

This tip is great for saving on filling the containers with potting soil. It takes up space that the roots won’t need and keeps this project budget-friendly.

Note: many newer pots are made of thinner plastic and thus not sturdy enough for this job but you can substitute other things if you do not have a pot that will do the job.

You could also use old bricks. But if you don’t have anything feel free to skip this step.

5. Add Potting Soil

Add the potting soil to the galvanized tub to the top of the upturned container, (if you included one)

Any quality brand should work for you or you can make your own DIY potting soil like I did here…

6. Stack to Create the Vertical Garden Planter

I use 3 metal containers for my planter, any taller and I think it may be unstable. Once the bottom container is filled then place the next size up on top of the stand you created or the soil.

Fill the second container with potting soil and place the final container on top of that. You can stack them in the center for planting all around or if it is up against a wall or fence you can stack the containers along one edge as I did.

Different Vertical Planter Ideas

1. Plant with strawberries
2. Create a vertical herb garden
3. Make it into a fairy garden
4. This would work for a small salad garden, planted with lettuce, radishes, and green onions.
5. Dream up and design your own

Change the Vertical Garden Planters with the Seasons

Spring

For spring plant your vertical planters with pansies, violas, tulips, and daffodils.

Summer Vertical Planter

Fill with summer blooming annuals that can spill and fill the metal containers with color. Petunias, zinnias, and other heat-loving plants will work beautifully.

Fall

You can easily add Fall elements without sacrificing the summer flowers that may still be blooming. Place a mini pumpkin in with your flowers for a pop of fall!

Winter

If you get a lot of snow like I do then you can cover your container with something like pine needles (free for me) as a mulch or stick decorative branches, faux berries and pine cones in it for a winter feel.

My friend Pam over at House of Hawthornes does a beautiful job of creating winter porch planters, hop on over and see hers. How to Make Winter Porch Planters!

I hope you build yourself a vertical planter and enjoy it for years to come. Now for me to create a video sharing how I do this!

Another idea, use a half wine barrel for the lowest tier…

Happy Gardening!

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