Key takeaways
- Use pallets stamped HT (heat treated), and avoid any stamped MB
- Every recycled container needs drainage holes in the base
- Keep tyres, old painted wood and treated timber for flowers, not food crops
- Line wooden planters and raise them on bricks to slow rot
- Cut-down plastic bottles make free cloches for young plants
Recycled garden projects turn things you’d otherwise bin into planters, cloches and bird feeders, usually for nothing. Pallets, old wellies, colanders, bottles and even a chest of drawers can all find a second life outside. The trick is choosing materials that are safe, then adding drainage so plants thrive.
Here are ten easy projects, with the safety points that matter. For broken terracotta and crockery, see the guide to clever uses for broken pots. For a whole budget makeover, try garden design on a budget.
Old boots, bottles and pallets can all become planters. Add drainage holes and they’ll grow plants as well as any shop-bought pot.
Is pallet wood safe for garden projects?
Usually, if you pick the right pallet. Look for the stamp on the side. HT means heat treated, which is what you want. Avoid anything stamped MB, which means it was treated with a fumigant chemical.
Skip pallets with oil or chemical stains, and leave coloured ones alone. Blue, red or brown painted pallets usually belong to a hire company. Wear gloves, pull out loose nails and sand rough edges before you start.
1. Pallet compost bin
Four pallets make the simplest compost bin there is. Stand them on their edges in a square and tie the corners together with strong wire or cable ties. Use one side as a gate if you want easy access. The gaps between the slats let air in, which helps everything rot down. The guide to making compost at home explains what to put in.
2. Pallet raised bed
Take a couple of pallets apart and screw the boards to short corner posts to make a low raised bed. Line the inside with a permeable membrane, stand it on level ground and fill it with compost. For a fully costed build, the guide to building a raised bed for under £10 walks you through it.
3. Vertical pallet planter
A pallet fixed to a sunny wall makes a herb or strawberry garden that takes up almost no floor space. It’s ideal for small yards and balcony gardens.
Staple a permeable membrane across the back and the bottom of each gap to make pockets. Fill with compost, firming it well, then plant into the openings. Fix the pallet securely to the wall with screws or brackets, as it gets heavy when wet. Vertical planters dry out fast, so water from the top most days in summer.
Herbs and strawberries in a wall-mounted pallet. Pockets this shallow dry out quickly, so keep a watering can close by.
4. Painted tyre planters
Old car tyres make sturdy planters for flowers. Paint them with exterior masonry paint, stack two or three for extra depth, and fill with compost. They suit bedding plants, bulbs and small shrubs.
As tyres age they can release zinc and other chemicals, so don’t grow food in them. Many tyre fitters will let you have old tyres for free, but ask first.
Bright exterior paint turns old tyres into cheerful flower planters. Keep them for bedding, not veg.
5. Colander hanging basket
A colander already has drainage holes, so it makes a ready-made hanging basket. Line it with moss or a coir liner to hold the compost in, then hang it from three chains. Fill it with trailing plants such as lobelia, petunias or creeping Jenny.
6. Welly, teapot and tin planters
Old wellies, teapots, tins and mugs make fun little planters for herbs, succulents and bedding. Drill or punch a few holes in the bottom of each one first. A masonry bit works on ceramics if you go slowly and keep it wet. Rubber boots crack after a few seasons in the sun, but they’re free to replace.
A row of planted wellies, teapots and a colander. Each one needs drainage holes before you fill it.
7. Plastic bottle cloches
Cut a large plastic bottle in half and pop it over a young plant. It keeps off cold winds and a light frost, and gives seedlings a head start in spring. Take the lid off on warm days so the plant doesn’t cook, and remove the cloche once the plant fills it.
Half a plastic bottle keeps cold winds off a young seedling. Take the lid off on warm days so it doesn’t overheat.
8. Old window cold frame
An old window laid over a simple box of bricks, boards or pallet wood makes a cold frame for hardening off seedlings. Polycarbonate or acrylic panels are safer than glass, especially where children play. Prop the lid open on sunny days so it doesn’t overheat.
9. Furniture and sink planters
An old chest of drawers can become a tiered planter. Pull the drawers out at different depths, drill holes in each base and fill with compost. Trailing nasturtiums, pelargoniums and herbs look lovely spilling over the edges.
A deep old sink makes a great alpine trough. Fill it with a gritty mix so the plants never sit wet.
A deep old ceramic sink makes a classic alpine trough. Stand it on bricks, put a piece of broken pot over the plughole and fill it with a gritty mix of half compost and half grit. Sedums, saxifrages and other alpines love the sharp drainage.
10. Recycled bird feeders
A plastic bottle and two wooden spoons make a quick seed feeder. Make two holes opposite each other near the base and push a spoon through, so the handle is a perch and the bowl holds seed. Add a second spoon higher up at right angles.
Old teacups glued to saucers make pretty holders for fat balls. Or roll pine cones in lard mixed with seed for a project the children will love. Keep feeders clean to stop disease spreading. The guide to attracting birds to your garden has more ideas.
Recycled garden projects compared
| Project | Difficulty | Best for | Food-safe? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pallet compost bin | Easy | Composting | Not relevant |
| Pallet raised bed | Moderate | Veg, herbs, flowers | Yes, with HT pallets |
| Vertical pallet planter | Moderate | Herbs, strawberries | Yes, with HT pallets |
| Painted tyres | Easy | Bedding, bulbs | No |
| Colander basket | Easy | Trailing plants | Yes |
| Wellies and teapots | Easy | Herbs, succulents | Yes, if unpainted inside |
| Bottle cloche | Easy | Seedlings | Yes |
| Window cold frame | Moderate | Hardening off | Yes |
| Furniture or sink planter | Moderate | Trailing plants, alpines | Avoid old painted wood |
| Bottle bird feeder | Easy | Garden birds | Not relevant |
Common mistakes with recycled planters
- No drainage holes. The most common reason plants die in upcycled containers. Drill holes in every base.
- Growing food in the wrong material. Tyres, old painted wood and treated timber are for flowers only.
- Wood sitting on wet ground. Raise wooden planters on bricks and line them to slow rot.
- Pots too small. Tiny containers dry out within hours in summer. Use them for succulents and alpines.
- Taking materials without asking. Pallets and tyres often belong to someone. Ask first.
Gardener’s tip: Keep a “salvage box” in the shed. Drop in old tins, boots and bits of timber instead of binning them, and you’ll soon have plenty of materials ready to go.
Now you’ve got ideas for your cast-offs, read the guide to container gardening ideas for more ways to plant them up. For more projects, browse our garden design guides.
Frequently asked questions
Are old tyres safe to use as garden planters?
They’re fine for flowers, but best avoided for food. As tyres age they can release zinc and other chemicals into the soil. Use them for bedding plants, bulbs or shrubs, and grow veg in wood, fabric or plastic containers instead.
Where can I get free pallets for garden projects?
Ask at builders’ merchants, small businesses and industrial units. Always ask before taking one. Leave coloured pallets alone, as these are usually hire pallets owned by a pallet company. Choose pallets stamped HT and avoid any marked MB or stained with spills.
How long do recycled planters last outdoors?
Anything from a couple of seasons to many years. Old wellies and thin plastics crack in sunlight and frost after a few seasons. Wooden pallet planters last longer if lined and raised off the ground. Painted metal lasts well if you touch up chips before rust spreads.
Do I need to drill drainage holes in recycled containers?
Yes, every planter needs drainage holes. Without them, water collects at the bottom and roots rot. Drill several holes in the base, then stand the container on bricks or pot feet so water can drain away freely.
What plants grow well in shallow recycled containers?
Succulents, alpines, herbs, lettuce and radishes cope with shallow pots. Strawberries and trailing bedding suit colanders and hanging containers. Avoid deep-rooted crops such as carrots and parsnips unless the container is deep.
Can I use recycled materials for growing vegetables?
Yes, as long as the material is food-safe. Untreated wood, food-grade plastic tubs and fabric bags all work well. Avoid tyres, old painted wood that might contain lead, and timber treated with creosote or other old preservatives.
How do I stop wooden pallet planters rotting?
Line them and lift them off the ground. Staple a permeable membrane inside so wet compost doesn’t sit against the wood. Stand the planter on bricks so air can get underneath. Untreated pallet wood still won’t last forever, so expect to replace boards in time.
Our team produces practical UK gardening guidance from source research, contributor records and established horticultural practice. Editorial standards are overseen by Matt W.
