It’s easy to feel the start of the season when you have a colorful outdoor space for entertaining and relaxing. Those lovely, colorful planters at the garden store can be expensive, though! So on a limited budget, I’ve learned that a can of paint and a few other simple supplies can go a long way to transform cheap everyday items into brilliant decor for your yard.
Painted Planters
Spray paint a dollar-store bucket to make a colorful planter. Use two colors to create an ombre effect, or tape off a custom design. Make sure the first layer is completely dry before applying paint, at least four to eight hours. Cut or drill a few small holes in the bottom for drainage.
Colorful Concrete
Paint cinder blocks with exterior latex paint and use them as planters. This could be a great idea for edging your garden.
Radiant Rubber
Paint an old tire and line the inside with a heavy-duty garbage bag or tarp to create a bright shabby-chic planter. You can add empty water bottles to the hollow sides to save on soil.
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The Mississippi Free Press produced this story through the MFP Solutions Lab, supported by the Solutions Journalism Network. This series digs into Mississippi’s systemic issues and sheds light on responses to them in other communities. Beyond just reporting on problems, these stories interrogate their causes and inspect potential solutions.