10 Dollar Tree Hanging Basket Upcycles That Are So Creative

As winter draws to a close and the first signs of spring appear, it's easy to imagine the serene view of morning light spilling over the trees and casting a warm glow on your backyard. But when your landscape is looking a bit bare, that glow doesn't have quite the same effect. Imagine turning overlooked corners into vibrant yard and garden highlights without spending a fortune. There's something deeply satisfying about turning an inexpensive, everyday item into a piece that looks custom and thoughtfully designed. Dollar Tree has a wide range of affordable products that can help you do just that, like their hanging baskets.

Dollar Tree's Garden Collection hanging wire planter has so much potential. With the right tools and a bit of creative thinking, you can transform this simple basket into beautiful yard and garden features no one will ever know came from Dollar Tree. For example, you can use two of these baskets to create backyard lighting features or lanterns to brighten up your patio. Or, add unique planting features like moss for a stunning garden display. You can even get creative with some rope or twine for a macramé or woven basket look. To create these stunning features, you'll want to gather the right tools. Most of these projects require wire cutters and/or pliers, and various types of fasteners such as zip ties, rope, or metal glue. Many of these materials can also be sourced from Dollar Tree, like the Crafter's square plier tools.

The right lighting can take your backyard patio from a daytime oasis to a nighttime sanctuary. With this clever hack, it's easy to turn Dollar Tree planters into patio lighting that will do just that. You will need two hanging baskets, zip ties, some fairy lights, faux foliage, and glue for this project. Zip tie the two baskets together so they form a ball. Wrap the ball in the fairy lights with the battery pack on the inside. Glue on the foliage, and you've got stunning hanging lights for your patio.

Another way to add light features to your yard or garden using these hanging wire baskets is to add some solar lanterns inside. Unlike fairy lights, you won't have to replace batteries or constantly turn the lights on and off. Plus, you can hang them on RCUICA hanging poles anywhere in your garden. For a greener look, glue faux foliage to the bottom of a hanging basket and install a solar light. For something more sophisticated, glue the solar lamp inside a decorative jar. Complete the cage by attaching another basket on top with zip ties.

If candlelight is more your thing, light up your backyard with this flower basket lantern. This DIY uses a candle and wood platforms in a basket cage. Start by adding a circular wood platform to the bottom of a wire basket and attaching it using a KRAFTPROTZ super glue that can bond wood to metal. Place a pillar or LED candle in the center then decorate around the candle with faux foliage or flowers. Complete the cage with an upside-down hanging basket attached with zip ties. Glue another wooden platform to the top to finish off the look.

Kokedama is a Japanese gardening method that uses moss balls as hanging planters. Traditionally, these moss balls don't rest in a container, which limits the types and size of plants you can use them for. Dollar Tree's hanging baskets are perfect for holding a moss ball that can be topped with your favorite flowers. Soak your moss in water, and lay it moss-side out in the basket, ensuring to pack it tightly with potting soil and water. You can add a cardboard to help hold moisture, but it isn't required. Plants can be added directly to the soil.

Grab some hanging wire planters and coco coir liners from Dollar Tree for this simple inverse hanging flower basket (or sphere). Instead of the classic hanging baskets, you'll have a sphere of floating flowers. Use scissors to cut holes in the coco coir liner in each space between wires then gently push your flower's roots through the holes so the roots are inside the basket and the flowers hang outside. Pack potting soil into the basket and water  everything well. Repeat the process with a second basket and carefully zip tie them together so they form a sphere.

If you want a light up planter, but you're concerned about putting lights next to living plants, or maybe you just forget to water your plants, this simple hack is for you. You can pick up everything you need from Dollar Tree. Start with the hanging baskets and coir liners, Garden Collections solar lights, and artificial flowers. For the base, you can use a flower block or foam sphere. Use hot glue to attach the base to the liner inside the basket. Then, pierce the florals, foliage, and solar lights into the base. That's it!

If you have knot-tying skills, you can turn your Dollar Tree wire hanging baskets into macramé planters. For each space between the wires, cut eight 2 ½ foot long cords of macramé rope. Loop them onto the top bar of the basket with a lark's head knot. Then, starting all the way to one side, tie two cords together with a double hitch knot, creating your favorite pattern as you go. To finish it off, feed the loose cords through the circular hole in the bottom, using hot glue to secure them in place. 

With this simple DIY, you can turn a Dollar Tree wire basket into the most elegant tiered planter for your porch. All you'll need is a tomato cage and pliers. Flip the tomato cage over so it sits with the top ring resting on the ground. Use your pliers to bend the rods above the third ring on the cage so they face the ground. Tuck them into the rods below. Next, remove the hanging basket chains and use the remaining hooks to attach the baskets to the rings on the tomato cage. The bottom basket can rest directly on the ground. 

Another simple way to upcycle your Dollar Tree hanging baskets into something more sophisticated is to add windchimes. This easy DIY brings beauty and interest into your back yard, with almost no effort. Start by turning the basket upside down and tying your wind chimes to the bottom circular hole. You can also secure them with hot glue so they don't slip. Add a coir liner to the basket, fill with potting soil then plant your favorite flowers. You can hang the basket anywhere outdoors with enough clearance for the wind chimes to sway freely.

For a simpler alternative to macramé, use this woven basket planter DIY to dress up your Dollar Tree hanging baskets. Using a 25-foot long rope or twine, start by hot gluing and/or tying the end to the bottom circular hole. Coil the rope around the circular hole until it covers it completely. Then, wrap the rope around one of the vertical wires once and continue with the next wire over. Repeat the process until the entire basket is wrapped in rope. Coil the remaining rope around the top of the basket to finish off the look.