Planting Annual Flowers in Unusual Pots
Vintage Sap Buckets and Leather Boots as Funky Plant Containers
Aug 26, 2009
There's a new trend in gardening for gardeners who plant annuals in pots and hanging baskets. Rather than the traditional clay pot, urn or plastic hanger, they're looking at just about anything that will hold a plant or two – even old leather boots.
Planting in Sap Buckets
Old rusty sap buckets make great planters. They're tall enough to fill to the brim with annuals and have the flowers spill over the rims and wide enough to carry at least 3-4 plants, if not more. Sap buckets are most often found at country auctions for a couple of dollars or very chic garden décor shops for much more. They epitomize the country garden.
Planting in Old Enamelware
Old enamelware roasting pans, coffee pots, bowls, cooking pots and even enamel mugs make interesting planters. If they're chippy or a little rusty in spots, they're fine in the garden. Antique enamelware comes in a variety of colors and marbelized color blends, from blue and white to green and white. Consider matching those colors to the plants placed inside the enamelware containers.
Planting in Thrift Shop Tea Pots
Thrift shops and yard sales often have pretty floral tea pots for sale that may be missing the lid. These can usually be purchased very cheaply, often for less than one dollar. Pretty floral teapots make great pots for annual flowers, a collection of two or three filled with pansies is certainly worthy of a porch table.
Planting in Leather Boots
Leather boots with a tongue are also funky planters. There is a history with this idea. People have been doing it for at least one hundred years.
The wise gardeners of the past would place a strip of leather or even a pair of worn leather boots beneath the soil under certain plants and the nutrients in the leather would be absorbed by the roots of those plants. So there is more garden culture than charm to this idea. Any leather boot will do and they can be found cheaply in thrift shops. The newness of the boot will fade as the growing season progresses. Remove the laces and open it up wide to obtain the largest planting space within.
Planting in Non-Traditional Containers
Any container not specifically made to hold plants will need a layer of gravel or shards of broken china or clay placed at the bottom of the container before the soil is added. Traditional pots have holes for drainage. Non-traditional containers don't, so this is necessary to avoid having the plants' roots sitting in a miniature bog.
How to Find and Use Funky Planters
Visit thrift shops, yard sales, junk yards and flea markets for anything that will hold a few plants and look appealing at the same time. Half the fun is in the foraging. Clean the items thoroughly with hot water and dish washing liquid. This avoids any bacterial problems that may show up later in the season.
It's not necessary to fill the garden with these unusual planters, but one or two on the porch or garden adds a bit of decorative country charm.
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