Article By: Mirna Cacic

We just love anything shabby chic, and this cute chair planter is no exception! Raid your local thrift store or garage sale for an old wooden chair that you can turn into a planter for cheap! This is a great way to dress up your porch, patio, or garden if you’re on a budget. Paint the chair a fun color or add whimsical designs to it to dress it up and match it to your garden decor. This project is great because you don’t need any special power tools to get the job done, and it can be done in less than an hour!

Supply Checklist:

1) Old Chair

2) Paint

3) Sand paper

4) A planter with a lip, wide enough to fit inside your chair (the lip will help hold the planter in place)

5) Polycrylic

6) Screwdriver

7) Damp cloth

8) Plants and soil

Step #1:

Sand your chair using the sand paper. This will help remove any varnish that will prevent the new paint from sticking to your chair. Sanding the chair will roughen up the surface so the paint can stick better.

Step #2:

Take out the seat from the chair. You can do this easily by removing any screws using a screwdriver.

Step #3:

Get a damp cloth and wipe down the chair to get rid of any dust before painting. When you’re finished, paint your chair your desired color.

Step #4:

To make the new paint on your chair last longer, give it a few coats of polycrylic.

Step #5:

Add your soil and plants to your planter, then place the planter into the spot where the chair seat originally was. Now place your new shabby chic planter anywhere you like! Try it out on your patio or porch, or place it in your garden amongst your flowers!

Photos: DIY Cozy Home, Love This Pic, Moonstruck Vintage.

You probably already know how much we love succulents! They’re all the rage these days because they’re easy to care for, and come in tonnes of different varieties and colors. For more info, check out our succulent post here. If you’re having trouble deciding which succulents to pick for your home, we’ve got our 10 favorite succulent varieties in this post here.

Here’s what you’ll be needing to make these super cute pots!

1) Oven-bake clay

2) Clay roller

3) Scallop edge cut from chipboard. This one was made using Clear and Simple Stamps Border Scallop Dies.

4) Clay shaping tools

Step 1: Roll the clay out until it’s 1/4 inch thick.

Step 2: Cut the clay into a long rectangle.

Step 3: Place the scallop edge on the clay rectangle and follow the scallops with your knife tool.

Step 4: Smooth the scalloped edges.

Step 5: Using a stamp of your choice, press the stamp into the clay.

Step 6: Gently peel the stamp away from the clay.

Step 7: Wrap the rectangle around a circle cut from clay to make a cylinder.

Step 8: Using a shaping tool, join the edges of the clay together.

Step 9: Use a straw to make a hole in the bottom of the pot.

Step 10: Bake according to package directions. Done!

 Photos and idea: Damask Love.

Make sure your garden and yard are pet-friendly this summer! We’ve got 10 tips on how to keep your dogs safe in your yard all summer long!

1. Supervise

If dogs are left alone in your backyard without you, they’ll quickly find something to amuse themselves with. It could be tearing up your plants, or digging a hole. You need to be with them in the yard and give them structured exercise to prevent them from getting bored.

2. Obedience Training

Make sure your dog knows basic obedience training. You can do this by enrolling your dog in a training class. This is a great way for you and your dog to bond, and your dog gets some well-needed socialization with other dogs as well.

3. Latch Your Gates

Make sure your gates have strong latches to prevent your dog from escaping your yard. Locking the gate will also prevent children or delivery people from opening the gate and accidentally letting your dog out.

4. Build a Fence

If you can’t keep your dog away from your flower beds, consider building a low fence. Even a low fence is enough of a visual deterrent for your dog to stay away.

5. Toys

Keep a basket of toys handy in your garden. These can be toys that your dog can play with only in your garden, and in time, he’ll look forward to going out so he can play with his special toys. Keeping your dog occupied is key in preventing him from looking for trouble.

6. Shelter

Even if your dog lives indoors, he’ll appreciate having his very own space in the garden to relax. Build or buy him a nice and comfortable doghouse where he can retreat for some quiet time.

7. Build Pathways

Create garden paths in your backyard from brick or gravel to keep paws dry. Your dog will quickly learn to stay on the path so you lawn won’t become packed down.

8. Container Gardening

If your dog can’t seem to stay away from your garden, try planting flowers or vegetables in pots or planters. Many plants do well when planted in a pot, and they are less likely to be trampled by your dog.

9. Water

Provide your dog with fresh water in your garden for when he gets thirsty from playing. You can also add in a small kiddie pool for him to cool off in. If kiddie pools aren’t your thing, a small pond can be made on a budget that can match the rest of your garden decor.

10. Get to Know Your Breed

Some breeds are more prone to digging up plants and making holes than others. Make sure your dog has plenty to keep himself occupied with so he doesn’t turn to your garden. If your dog loves digging, consider giving him his own corner of the yard to dig in. Always provide plenty of praise and treats when he uses it!

Photos: Rogue Hydro, Pet Resort Willow Wood, Hillside K9 Academy, Seegar’s Fence, Plow Hearth, Maxi Sciences, Millennium Land, Urban Food Warrior, Hunt ‘Em Up, Dog Behaviour Advice.

This tiered hanging planter can be made in a day, and with basic woodworking tools. What’s great about this planter is when you water the top plant, the runoff from the previous pot drips into the plants below. All you need to do is place a little dish or bucket underneath to catch any excess water, and it makes watering all 4 plants a breeze!

What you will need:

– scrap wood

– jigsaw

– terracotta pots

– rope

– 3/8″ boring bit

– paintbrush and paint

– drill

– plants

– metal ring

Step 1:

Measure the plank of wood and mark it to create a square with 3/4″ to 1″ of space around your pot.

Step 2:

Trace the lip of the pot onto the wood. Trace a circle within the circumference of the one you drew but spaced 1/4″ from the outer circle. You can also use a circular template that’s 1/4″ inches smaller that the radius of the pot to do the same thing. You’ll end up with 2 concentric circles. One has a radius of 1/4″ smaller than the first. Repeat with all 4 squares.

Step 3:

Clamp the first piece of wood to a stable surface. Drill a hole into the center of the circles with the 3/8″ boring bit. This will provide space for the jigsaw blade to enter the wood so you can begin cutting. Work slowly and in sections. Use the jigsaw to cut out the shape of the inner circle. Repeat with all 4 squares.

Step 4:

When you’ve cut out the inner circles, clamp a single square down to a piece of scrap wood. Using a ruler, make a dot in the 4 corners of the squares, 1/2″ in from each side. Use the 3/8″ boring bit to drill holes through the wood at the 4 corner marks. Repeat with all 4 squares.

Step 5:

If you like, you can paint the sides of your squares. You can also paint your rope if you want a different color. Only paint the 2 cut edges on each square, and position the squares on the ropes so that the unpainted and painted edges alternate when it’s hanging.

Step 6:

It’s now time to hang your squares! Space your plants 12″ apart (choose more or less depending on the size of your plants). Cut 4 lengths of rope and tie them together in a knot 6″ from the top. Use the 6″ rope strands to secure the ropes to the metal ring.

Step 7:

Hang the ring and slide the first wood square onto all 4 strands, about 12″ from the top knot. Tie a knot directly underneath the wood square on all 4 ropes. Place the plant into the opening, making sure it’s level.

Step 8:

Repeat step 7 with the remaining 3 squares. After the last square is on and the knots are tied underneath, cut off any extra rope.

Finished! Find a sunny spot for your new planter and fill the squares with your plants.

Photos and idea: Design Sponge.

Succulents are beautiful plants that are very hardy and super easy to take care of. With their fat leaves and many different shapes, sizes, and colors, they look like they came straight out of a sci-fi movie! Here are our 10 favorite succulent varieties!

1. Kalanchoe ‘Pink Butterflies’

This gorgeous succulent is actually a hybrid of K. daigremontiana and K. delagoensis. It’s very drought tolerant and it produces hundreds of tiny plantlets on its leaves. Requires full sun to partial sun and water when the soil begins to feel dry.

2. Orostachys iwarenge ‘Dunce Caps’ 

Dunce caps is an unusual succulent that comes from China, and it’s definitely one of our favorites! Its leaves come in purple, blue, and green tones. This succulent needs full sun and produces orange and white flowers in the fall.

3. Crassula ‘Calico Kitten’ 

This is a succulent that’ll look great in a hanging basket. It has small leaves that trail from the pot as the plant matures. This plant loves full sun, and when watering, make sure you let the soil dry out completely before watering again.

4. Spiral Aloe 

This plant is very hardy, and it is native to Africa. Give it full sun or light shade and water it only once in a while. Make sure it has well-draining soil, too.

5. Pachyphytum oviferum ‘Moonstone’

Moonstones have round, pale-lavender-grey leaves and they produce flowers in spring. It thrives in cool temperatures and dry conditions. Place it in a sunny spot and only water it when the soil feels dry to the touch.

6. Echeveria ‘Afterglow’ 

This beautiful plant needs full sun and regular watering. Make sure it has well-draining potting soil, as the roots can rot if kept too wet.

7. Lithops ‘Living Stones’

No, they’re not rocks, but succulents! These plants resemble stones, and come in many varieties and colors. Some even produce beautiful flowers. To care for these out-of-this-world plants, they need very little water and a partly-sunny spot to thrive in.

8. Sedum morganium ‘Burrow’s Tail’ 

Burrow’s tail looks best in a hanging planter. Its branches can grow up to two feet long, and in the summer it produces red, yellow, or white flowers. It needs full sun and regular watering in summer. In the winter, water only once a month.

9. Moraea tortilis ‘Spiral Grass’ 

We’re sure you’ve never seen this succulent before! A great and unusual addition to any garden or home, Spiral Grass is native to South Africa. The leaves can grow up to 15 cm tall and it has white or purple-blue flowers in spring to late summer. It needs plenty of sunlight and moderate water.

10. Sempervivum ‘Virgil’ 

This purple beauty is a fast grower, and it thrives in full sun and little water.

Photos: Debra Lee Baldwin, Garden Share, Livin SD, Pernell Gerver, Flickr, The Palm Room, Ali Express, NS Succulents.

Old romantic urns are a must-have for any front porch or garden. They give your home an instant classy feel, and look amazing filled with lush flowers or crawling vines. In only a few simple steps we’ll show you how to turn that cheap plastic urn from Home Depot into something fit for any royal home.

Step 1:

Go to your local home and garden centre and get yourself some plastic urns. The bigger they are, the more dramatic they will look.  Next, stock up on spray paint and acrylic paint. The spray paint used in this project is a faux concrete paint for texture. You will also be needing black and mossy green acrylic paint.

Step 2:

Put on a mask and spray paint the urns. Apply 2 coats of the faux concrete spray paint for maximum coverage.

Step 3:

Once the spray paint has dried, get out the mossy green paint and gently dab the urns to create a more natural effect. Mix the green and black paint to get a darker green to use on areas you would like to look more ‘mossy’. You can also try dipping the paint brush in garden soil, then in paint, and shaking off the excess to create a ‘dirty look’ on the urn.

Step 4:

Continue to layer the paint until a desired look is achieved. If you like, you can seal it with a clear matte spray paint.

Originally posted on: Designs by Gollum.

We love terra cotta pots, and who doesn’t? They are so versatile and work well in any garden. But, sometimes the new pots are just a bit too orange, and would look better if they had an ‘aged’ look. Those aged terra cotta pots for sale are just a bit too expensive, so here are 4 ways how to do it yourself!

1. The Yoghurt Method

First, soak your pot in water for about 15 minutes. Take it out and using a foam brush, brush on yoghurt in uneven directions. Let the pot sit outside in a cool, moist place for 4-6 weeks. The final effect will be a green patina effect.

2. The Lime Method

Mix equal parts garden lime and water in a bowl until you get a paste. Brush on the mixture onto the pot until it’s completely covered in a thick layer. When dry, use sandpaper to smooth out the pot, and be sure to rub some areas more aggressively than others for a natural look. The final step is to seal the pot with 3-4 coats of a matte sealer. This gives pots a white, chalky look.

3. The Moss and Buttermilk Method

Head to the woods and gather some moss. Remove as much dirt as you can and tear it up into small pieces. In a bowl, combine buttermilk and moss pieces and mix. You can now brush the mixture onto your pots, and when finished, place the pot in a shaded place. You should soon see moss start to grow onto the pot.

4. The Clay Soil Method

Rub the soil over the pot, and add water as needed if the soil doesn’t stick. Then, place the pot in a shaded area for at least 1 month. Get out a wire brush and brush the pot to create a textured surface.

Photos: Canadian Gardening, Mother Earth Living.