Turn An Old Bird Bath Into An Upcycled Succulent Garden

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Old bird baths are going out of style in favor of cleaner, more bird-friendly models that feature moving water or natural elements. But that doesn't mean you can't put your stand-alone bird bath to good use in your garden. Instead of throwing out your old bird bath, you can turn it into a planter. Some gardeners use the pedestal and the bowl to create a unique garden feature, while others bring the bowl inside to use for houseplants. Whichever option you choose, succulents are an excellent choice for an upcycled bird bath garden because they have shallow roots. Plus, you can get away with planting succulents in containers without drainage holes with careful watering practices.

YouTuber Debra Lee Baldwin did a fantastic job of creating the perfect succulent garden from an old concrete birdbath. By following her guidance, you can create a stunning succulent display of your very own, and it doesn't even have to cost much! Once you gather all your materials, potting mix, and succulent plants, simply fill the cleaned bird bath with potting soil and install your succulents. That being said, you'll still want to create a budget for your project and have a good selection of succulents that work for your garden. Let's take a closer look at the planning and assembly process so you can avoid falling for common succulent myths that lead gardeners to believe they are all beginner-friendly plants.

Before you can finalize on your budget, you'll want to make sure you have everything you need to complete the project. Luckily, it's not so much. Of course, you need an old bird bath. Also, just because succulents can survive in planters without drainage doesn't make that the best choice, which is why you may want to have a drill. Make sure your drill bits are designed for the material that your bird bath is made of. If you don't already have a drill, you can purchase this RYOBI Cordless Drill from Home Depot for around $50. Drill bit sets can range from $15 to over $100, depending on the sizes and purpose. You may also want to have some tools for repotting succulent plants, such as tweezers, shears, brushes, wooden poles or spoons, and a watering container. You can purchase this Garden Tools Set with succulent tools included on Amazon for $26.

Beyond the tools, you should plan for the cost of the plants and the potting mix. You can propagate your own succulents if you already have some or purchase new plants. The cost of purchasing new succulent plants can range from a few dollars to over $100. Depending on the plant selection, potting soil ranges from around $5 up to $20. Overall, the cost of the project can be as little as $5 for potting soil if you have tools and plants on hand, or several hundred dollars for a brand-new tool setup and pricy plants.

The succulents you choose will depend on where you plan to place your bird bath. The most important thing to consider is the growing conditions of all the plants you are placing in the succulent garden. There are some succulent plants you shouldn't grow together since some succulents do well in full sun, while others need partial shade. In addition, they can't all handle the same soil conditions. Finally, consider water needs. Don't plant drought-tolerant succulents with humidity-loving varieties.

Before adding plants, consider drilling a few holes for drainage. Some succulents may also do well with gravel or sand layers at the bottom of the bird bath for additional drainage, so be sure to check the growing conditions for your selected plants. When it comes to placement, start with your largest plants. Loosen the root balls and begin arranging your succulents in the bird bath. Fill in any gaps with potting mix to create a secure mound.

Avoid stacking too many plants or adding succulents that will grow too tall in the mounded arrangement. The DIYer in the video suggests keeping the height as tall as the rim is wide or shorter to prevent the weight from causing the basin to tip over and spill the plants. If you are going to stand the succulent garden on its pedestal, make sure the base is heavy enough to hold the added weight of the soil and the plants. If not, you will want to plan for a way to make it more stable, such as using a clever tree stump hack to secure the bird bath so it doesn't fall.