Laundry Basket Planter
When I see something left on the curb to be picked up by the trash man, my mind starts racing to create a use for this item. I begin to think I could totally use this for… and then, it becomes a “need.” I have to have it or my life will not be complete!
This broken laundry basket I saw on the side of the road was no different, except I couldn’t think of a use for it. I grabbed it off the side of the road anyways, not even caring. So, it sat in my basement for about six month when it finally hit me “I can use it to as a planter.” Here is how I turned this trash into treasure.
First, I taped up the crack in the side with some plain old packing tape. Next, I hot glued burlap on the inside to cover the slats of the basket. This was to help make sure my dirt stayed in.
Then, I attached rope around the basket, making sure to cover the seam where the two fabric pieces came together.
Finally, I added the dirt and plant. You can’t even tell it was a broken laundry basket. Ye-haw!
94 Comments
Deborah
This is awesome! I love how it turned out and that knot is the perfect touch.
Emily
Thank you so much Deborah! It was a lot of fun to do!
Marlena Smith
How cool! That twine bow really finishes off nicely !!
Emily
Thanks Marlena! Glad you stopped by!
Michelle
How does it not rot if you water?
Letty
What a beautiful idea, love it
Maria
Loved this idea!!
Love Burlap & rope knot together!!
What type of plant did you use and does it stay in the shade or full sun?
This is going to be my next project as soon as you let me know about the plant? Thank you for inspiration to work in my garden??
Melodye kerns
This plant is hosta. They can use some sun, but really shade is better. They need no attention at all and come back every year. Beautiful in with flowering plants. They just keep spreading each year.
Cathryne
I think the same thing anytime I see things on the side of the road! Glad I’m not the only one. This is a great idea too. Might be good for a Mother’s Day gift! Thanks for the inspiration.
Emily
Cathryne,glad you stopped by! Great idea to give this as a gift! It’s nice to know that there are other trash collectors out there. :)
Marlin
I cant tell that your basket planter made out of laundry basket ! What a great idea to re-purpose things ! Beautiful basket planter !!
Emily
Thank you Marlin! So glad you stopped by!
Cathy
What a clever idea – I love it and what a budget friendly way to get those large planters ….thanks for sharing…
Emily
Thanks Cathy! I really enjoyed this project! So glad you came by!
Katie @ The Casual Craftlete
I love this and that you shared it again from last summer! It’s such a great up-cycle project.
Emily
Thanks Katie! It was a lot of fun to make!
Jen
No way! This is SUCH a great upcycle! You are so imaginative!
Emily
Thanks Jen! I love being inspired by unusual things!
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Katie @ Upcycled Treasures
So happy you re-posted this, it’s awesome! Pinned :)
Emily
Thanks Katie! It was such a fun project!
Melissa @ DaisyMaeBelle
Fantastic upcycle! LOVE that knot! Life to the full! Melissa
Emily
Thanks Melissa! Glad you stopped by!
Audra @ Renewed Projects
That’s a terrific idea! I love projects that give a second life to items. And I love the knot design you tied on the front.
Emily
Thank you Audra! Glad you stopped by!
Mary @ Orphans With Makeup
Wow, that is such a creative idea. Upcycling at its BEST!!!!!!
Mary @ Orphans With Makeup
Emily
Thanks Mary! I am really happy with how it turned out!
Kim of Mo'Betta
Such a good idea! Those large planters are expensive, so now I’m on the lookout to make my own – thanks for the idea!
Emily
Hope you find one, Kim! Thanks for you kind words!
Amber
What a smart idea! I love the rope detail!!!
Emily
Thanks Amber! When I stated with the rope, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with. But it the end it came together and I am really happy with it!
April
Great idea! I think I might do this with a broken laundry basket that I have.
Emily
Thanks April! Let us know if you do try this. We would love to see pictures!
Brenda New
Can you please show me how that knot was tied and how you hid the ends? I just LOVE this and want to duplicate this as exactly as I can. Then I’m going to try some alternative embellishments and maybe even try a substitute for the burlap! But that knot! Beautiful, but how’d you do that!!?
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the cape on the corner
wow! now that is one good repurpose!
Emily
Thanks You! This is such a fun project to do!
kali
Hi. May have missed it but did the burlap also go on the bottom? Did you drill holes for drainage? Could the sides and edges (burlap) be mod podged to keep it from deteriorating from weather?
FreshOne
Awesome! !!! Awesome!!!! Awesome!!!! What more can I say :-)
Emily
Thank you! So Glad you stopped by!
Regan
I just LOVE this. Question, how does it hold up when you water the plant? In the rain?
Emily
Thanks Regan! I made this last June, and it held up very well. By the end of the summer the burlap had a little bit of staining toward the bottom. This year I just wrapped the bottom portion right over top of the old burlap and I am good to go!
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Molly
What a clever idea! It made me laugh that you picked it up off the roadside, and then it sat for a few month, it sounds like something I’d do, lol!
I wanted to say thanks for linking up last week to our Lovely Ladies link party, and to let you know that I’ve featured it at the party this week. You can check it out here if you’d like- http://www.justalittlecreativity.com/2014/04/lovely-ladies-linky-party-32-six-blogs.html
Can’t wait to see what you link up next :)
Emily
I am picking stuff up all the time. My basement is full of “some day” projects. Thanks for the feature! What an honor! Glad you stopped by, Molly!
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Gail McMurray
You are so clever, what a excellent idea. I love the knot on the front. Just joined your email list, love your site.
Emily
Thanks Gail! The knot wasn’t planned but it turned out great, so I just went with it. Glad you stopped by!
Hellen
i would line the basket with a green garbage bag to keep water in and avoid staining the burlap.
Going to try this! Thanx
Emily
Hellen, that is such a great idea! Let us know how it works for you!
Rachel
Nailed it!
Emily
Thanks Rachel!
Sandi P
Love it! My head is spinning with ideas now for old baskets. Wait, my son left a broken old wire wastebasket when he moved out. :-)
Emily
Thanks Sandi! Please come back and share your new ideas with us! Glad you stopped by!
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ginnee
Very pretty. I am wondering what it looks like when you water the plant. Wouldn’t the soil discolor the burlap or leave a water mark?
Emily
Thanks Ginnee! Over the course of the summer it did start to show some discoloration, but it held up for pretty well and I recovered it for the next year.
JAMIE SMITH
Thank you so much for publishing this DIY. Who doesn’t have a couple(or twenty) old laundry baskets around, you’re amazing!
Roxanne
i love this! My only question is, is there something you can put in the basket so you don’t have to fill it completely up with dirt? That would get heavy!
Michele Baldwin
Yes! Use styrofoam!
Jessilune
How durable is it? I know it is cheap (yay!) but if care is taken in winter I’d like mine to last more than a season or two.
Also do you line it with plastic so when it is watered the covering does not get stained?
shellie
Love the planter!!!!!!! I have all the materials to make this but the rope. What size rope did you use?
Lynn
It looks great. How did it hold up after you started watering the plant?
Emily
Thanks Lynn! It held up great for about 1 year then I just re-wrapped it with more burlap to cover any staining that occurred.
Daphne
i am yet another fan of this lovely repurposed planter! An answer to Roxanne’s question regarding how heavy this pot will get, put those über irritating styrofoam packing peanuts in the bottom of of the pot (about 1/4 or so) and that should help with the weight issue! Hope that helps a little!
When I first saw this planter, I thought it was terracotta! Hmmm…a skim coat of plaster-of-Paris, or whatever, and then paint the perfect color of your choice! Terracotta, white, gray…your choice! Two of them parked at your entry. Yes! I am rambling, sorry.
Anyway, thank you for sharing this idea. I love it!
Glennis
I love to repurpose things too. Your planter was genius! Actually when I first saw the finished product, I thought you’d used the basket as a mold for a cement planter.kudo’s to you for your creativity!
Emily
Thanks Glennis! Glad you stopped by!
Joyce
This is really cool! I would be a bit concerned about it getting “dirty” (pardon the pun) after it had been watered a few times. Wouldn’t it be nice in the house with a large potted plant in though?
Antoinette
This is such a cool idea, now I know what to do with my broken basket. Brilliant ….
Emily
Thanks Antoinette! Let us know if you give it a try!
Carol
This is such a fun looking idea will be trying it..
Sandra Darr
Wow! I have a broken laundry basket I was going to throw out.
Not anymore!
Lovely post, thank you for the inspiration!
Joanne
Beautiful but what if the burlap gets wet?
Ivory
You know I often wonder where my talent went, now I know… You just show us that you are loaded with so much great talent. Thanks for sharing such beautiful work.
Anne Love
To wrap the basket you could use a natural cotton painters dust sheet, these are very inexpensive, and look just like burlap, they are basically a finer version. It’s a great idea to make big garden planters.
Anne
Beth Nevels
I just found this adorable idea on Pinterest. I was wondering how your beautiful planter had held up in the weather and if it held together during plant watering . Thanks for the idea !!!
Lucy Johnson
This is beautiful. Very creative. I might have to try this.
Carole Angel
Absolutely brilliant idea. Just moved into a house with a boring yard and am always on the lookout for ideas. This is one I will try. May have to sideline my sewing for awhile and begin trash collecting!! Thanks very much for your post!
Carole
Jemilah Senter
Oh boy! This is great! However since my laundry baskets are currently in good shape, I think I will check the dollar store as they have smaller ones that I think will be great for this. I’m also going to try some styrofoam peanuts in the bottom. Thanks for such a great idea!!!
Erin
That is a great idea, Jemilah! Hope it turns out great for you!
Betty
When you water the hostas, will the water seep through the laundry basket and burlap rendering the exterior burlap soiled and nasty looking? That would be my luck. I was wondering if some plastic on the inside of the basket (3 sides only) would prevent that; assuming that the the 4th side would be facing a wall. The other alternative would be to glue heavy plastic inside on all four sides, and drill drain holes in the bottom. Your thoughts and ideas…?
Anita
Great idea. I’ve been wanting a big square planter, but they’re so expensive, and I have an old laundry basket I can use.
Debby
I love this and will do it myself as soon as I get home. To address the water staining the burlap problem:
First add those packing peanuts to catch excess water then line the inside of basket with plastic bag with holes in the bottom, then a few more peanuts before soil. I’m so going to do this. Thank you for the great idea.
ingrid
I just came across this on a Facebook post.
I love the idea and the finished look. But I somehow question the durability and practicality of using hot glue which will not hold up to water over any length of time and also the burlap would get stained from the water and eventually get mouldy…I am thinking that perhaps before planting, lining it with heavy duty plastic would have been a good idea and made it last a bit longer.
I am a crafter and I recycle, reuse, repurpose just like you and I’m not criticising…just sharing a thought.
Ingrid
Anita Wright
I love this idea I grow lots of Hosta if it only lasted one year as a lot of baskets do I’d be thrilled Old washing up bowls with holes put in could be used the same way My minds racing ????????
DAISY
This is truly very impressive, it’s beautiful, great job.
Thanks so much for sharing, Daisy
DAISY
Debby I’ll be doing it at the same time as you, good luck, enjoy.
Daisy
Carol Stalzer
This gives me an idea for those styrofoam boxes that meat gets shipped in. Drill holes in the bottom and cover the outside with burlap.
Tara
That’s beautiful, what a great idea. I have a lot of burlap and was never sure what to do with it. I got it now thank u!!
hwgang
It looks great, but doesn’t the dirty water leak out and stain the burlap in use?
Ramona Mills
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Marie
I told up in the rain. How long has it lasted
Amy
Impressive!! Extremely creative!! Thank you for sharing!