The Cool Way To Decorate Your Flower Beds Using Old Nursery Pots And A Log

A wooden log and old nursery pots combine to form a stunning plant display for your outdoor flowers. Don't get rid of those used pots, as they're perfect for anchoring perennials and annuals to a log. This project is a fun way to repurpose your old materials, and it works for gardeners in all sorts of regions. Let's say you live in a tropical area with warm weather year-round — use the log and pots to grow bromeliads, one of the most dramatic plants for a maximalist home. Or, perhaps you live in a temperate region with cold winters. Use the log and containers to hold annuals during the growing season, then replace them with frost-hardy annuals in the fall for a winter display. A log covered in plants will look spectacular under a shade tree, or inside an existing bed with other stunning perennials.

To start, you'll need a large log and some old plastic pots. The pots may not work well if they're cracking or breaking, as the drilling action can cause them to crack further. Use whole ones in good condition for the best results. Also, gather screws, a drill or screwdriver, and some potting soil. Then, prepare a place to lay the log. 

Finally, collect your plants. The types of plants you should choose depend on your climate and gardening habits. Go for herbs and vegetables if you love making meals, or opt for flowering perennials if you're more of an ornamental gardener. Because the pots sit above ground, the plants in them will be more susceptible to extreme temperatures than those in the ground. Be sure to choose hardy plants that'll survive the winters and summers in your area, like these annuals to plant before cold weather rolls in.

A few tips will ensure no hiccups during the setup process. First, you'll want to pre-drill the holes in the pots before setting them on the wood. This will make it easier to attach the pots to the log without having to hold them in place. Simply use the drill or screwdriver and a screw to poke a hole in the pot, then continue drilling the screw into the side of the log to secure the container. Repeat the process until you attach all the pots.

You have two options for filling the pots. You may fill the pots with soil and transplant your annuals and perennials directly into them. Or, stack the pots! If you're using 1-gallon pots, other 1-gallon pots will fit inside them. Simply place potted plants inside and swap them out if necessary. This is ideal for gardeners with frosty winters, as you can swap out frost-tender annuals for hardy ones in the fall.

At the end of the process, you'll have yourself a decorative log full of lush foliage and beautiful flowers. It'll stun garden onlookers and add charm and natural elegance to your yard. Further decorate it by placing river rocks under the pots or decor, like fungi. You could even place some summer gnomes to create a happy and inviting garden. There are no wrong answers here. Make it your own!