11 ways to upgrade your planters

Fancy decorative containers? Too expensive. Faded plastic planters? Time for a facelift. Upgrade your planters and pots with these creative ideas that will make your plants even more beautiful.

DIRTY LAUNDRY

Salvage an old or broken laundry basket to make this planter. Hot glue pieces of burlap to line the inside and outside of the basket, and glue a thick rope around it. Fill with soil and add greenery.

TIRE OF FLOWERS

Make a rustic statement on the side of your house or shed. Drill holes for drainage in the bottom of old tires, hang them and fill with dirt and flowers. The tires will hold heat, thus protecting your plants on chilly nights.

DIY CEMENT BOWLS

Make your own cement planters. You’ll need two bowls or containers for molds — one larger than the other. Mix equal parts cement, peat moss, Perlite and water (be sure to wear gloves to protect your skin). Spray the inside of the larger mold and the outside of the smaller mold with nonstick cooking spray and scoop enough cement mixture into the larger container to form a 1- to 2-inch layer around the inside. Press the smaller container on top of the cement and place rocks inside it to weigh it down. Dry for 24 hours; remove the inner container. Let cement dry an additional day before removing outer mold. Smooth the edges with sandpaper and drill a hole in the bottom for drainage.

GARDEN CHANDELIER

Dress up your yard by painting an old chandelier and replacing the lights with plants.

CHALK IT UP

Spruce up old planters with a coat of bright paint and a chalkboard paint rim. Label your pots with waterproof chalk marker.

NUMBER IT

Metal buckets make cute planters on their own, but add your house number for form and function.

STICKY SITUATION

Give indoor pots and vases a quick and easy makeover with colorful tape.

RAINY DAY

Colorful rain boots filled with flowers or herbs add whimsy to your outdoor space.

TIERED PLANTER

Add some height to your outdoor decor. Stack three planters on top of one another with small plastic planter dishes under each of the top two pots.

BRINGING BROKEN BACK

Salvage a cracked planter by burying the broken side underground to look like plants are spilling out from it.

ROCKIN’ BUCKET

Drill holes for drainage in the bottom of a plain bucket, then cover it in mosaic tiles. Stone tiles give it a natural look, but other styles can add a modern touch to your porch.