Upcycled Chair Planter
When it comes to finding containers for plants, I like to think outside the box. Think: A rustic colander turned into a hanging basket; an old farmhouse sink filled with trellising flowers; a forgotten chest of drawers converted into a vertical garden; or an old pair of boots stuffed with herbs - all add a little interest and humor to a garden. Repurposing rustic chairs into flower planters is one of my favorite garden projects, if not only because it gives me an excuse to scour every rummage sale that pops up in spring and summer.
When I do set out to find the perfect chair, I make it my first priority to find one with a removable seat. While I could technically cut a hole in a solid wooden seat, it would make this project unnecessarily difficult. I find it’s much easier to spend a little extra time looking for a chair with a wicker, fiber, or removable seat that can be cut or popped right out of the base. If, like me, you gravitate towards vintage, be sure to avoid chairs that might be covered in lead-based paint. Although the chippy, weathered look is appealing, the last thing you want to do is bring toxic substances into your garden. If you can find a metal chair, perfect - wood won’t weather well and plastic, well, just isn’t all that pretty! Hope you enjoy this project - if you make one, please send a photo!
Materials
old chair with removable seat
plants (flowers or herbs)
Directions
1. Carefully remove the chair’s seat and paint or decorate the chair as you wish.
2. Cut a section of chicken wire to fit inside the open seat of the chair. The wire should be large enough to form an 8- to 12-inch-deep basket that can extend over the chair’s edges.
3. Place the center of the chicken wire inside the open seat of the chair. Press the wire down into the seat to create a basket 8-12 inches deep. Bend the excess wire over the edge of the chair. If there is excess wire, cut away some of it but make sure to leave enough to secure the basket to the chair.
4. Using the floral wire, secure the basket to the seat frame of the chair. Twist and tie the wire to the frame every 3 to 4 inches. Trim away any excess chicken wire or bend and tuck it neatly under the frame of the seat.
5. Place the coco fiber plant liner inside the chicken wire liner. Pull and spread the edges of the liner over the seat frame of the chair to conceal the chicken wire.
6. Place a layer of potting soil inside the coco fiber liner. Transplant your plants and cover them with another layer of potting soil. Set the chair in the garden and water well.
Tip: If you want to cover the appearance of the chicken wire, plant herbs and flowers and veggies that cascade along the edges of the plant liner. I used variegated vinca vines for trailers and white calibrachoa along with purple vein pentunias for fillers.
