This easy upcycle project will show you how to turn a woven basket into a gorgeous summer planter filled with flowers in a red, white, and blue color scheme.
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Is there anything more "summertime" in the US than lemonade, apple pie a la mode, and red, white, and blue? When I decided to turn this basket into a planter, I knew I wanted to plant a patriotic arrangement in it. The rest of the flowers in our yard and garden are very cottagecore. I wanted something fun and summery.
I found this woven hanging basket at a yard sale last summer for two dollars. For a while, it hung on the back of our front door with a fake pothos plant inside. But once we hung a shelf with hooks in our entryway, the basket took up too much space. It had been sitting in our attic ever since.
Fast forward to garden season and I'm just about done with my planting. But if I can find a space to add new flowers, I will! So while I was searching for something in our attic a few weeks ago, I came across this basket again. It was at that moment that I realized I could use it in our garden.
How to Turn a Woven Basket into a Planter
First, I had to prep the basket for outdoor use. Between the sun, the rain, and everything else in between, I wanted to seal the basket to prevent it from wear. Then, I lined it and filled it with a patriotic mix of flowers.
If your woven basket isn't coated, prevent it from weathering with varnish. We had a can of polyurethane in the basement. I coated each side of the basket - inside and out - with the polyurethane. A couple quick coats and we were good to go.
Make sure to coat your basket in a well-ventilated area, like outside. Then, allow the basket to dry according to the varnish you use before hanging.
Once the basket was dry, I used zip ties to attach it to the chicken wire fence around our garden. I started with two zip ties and ended up placing a third in the center just to make sure it was good and secure.
Now comes the fun part - filling it! I lined the basket with fabric weed barrier I had. You could also use plastic, but make sure to poke holes in the bottom for drainage. Once the basket was lined, I filled it with potting soil.
Next, I used a combination of red, white, and blue flowers to fill the basket. I used Shortcake Raspberry Spreading Petunia (spills), Diamond Snow Euphorbia hybrid (thriller), Magadi Compact Dark Blue Lobelia (thriller), and Dusty Miller (filler).
Water the plants and wait for them to fill in the basket (you won't even see that weed barrier sticking up soon enough). Then, enjoy your upcycled planter all summer long! You can even change out the florals in the fall or add faux greenery over the winter.
SUPPLIES
- Woven hanging basket
- Polyurethane, or other varnish
- Zip ties
- Fabric weed barrier, or plastic lining with holes poked in bottom
- Potting soil
- Red, white, and blue flowers
STEPS
- Make sure your basket is relatively clean. Then, take it outside and coat it with polyurethane, or another varnish. Coat the inside and outside of the basket to prevent it from weathering.
- Allow the basket to dry. Then, use zip ties to attach the basket to a fence. You could also hang it on a nail depending on where you want to place it.
- Line the basket with fabric weed barrier or plastic lining. Make sure water can get through the fabric or plastic by cutting some slits in the bottom.
- Fill the basket with potting soil. Then, plant your favorite combination of red, white, and blue flowers. Place trailing vines on each side of the basket.
- Water the basket and enjoy your new planter!
If you want to add an extra patriotic touch to this planter, tuck a small American flag into it. This is an easy upcycle project you can make over Memorial Day weekend, for the 4th of July, or just to enjoy over the summer season.
Did you make this Woven Basket Planter project? Share it on social media using the hashtag #holokahome. Don’t forget to tag me @holokahome!
