No Garden Space? Turn An Old Wagon Into A Cute, Rustic Raised Planter

As the days warm up, gardeners everywhere feel the itch to sow seeds, transplant seedlings, and generally dig their fingers into the soil. But those of us who have downsized to smaller yards may be missing our raised beds, backyard rows, or flower borders. That's no excuse to give up on growing gorgeous blooms or healthy homegrown crops just because you don't have a garden — there are so many great ideas you can use to keep growing plants in a small space. Even an old wagon can be repurposed into a cute, rustic raised planter.

Sure, there are numerous common household items you can turn into beautiful planters. But there's a particular advantage to using a wagon to grow vibrant vegetation or flowers, whether it's a child's toy or an antique garden tool. A DIY raised planter fashioned from an old wagon is movable, thanks to the wheels and pull handle — meaning you can position it exactly where you want in your yard, and even move it if your needs change. Whether you plan to grow food or flowers in your whimsical container garden, make sure to follow a few tips to keep the plants happy and glowing with health.

Turning an old wagon into a cute, rustic planter may be a fun and creative way to repurpose kids' toys or garden tools, but you'll still need to take into account the needs of the plants you grow. One of the biggest mistakes you're likely to make is to forget to add drainage holes to the bottom of the soon-to-be planter before adding potting soil. If the wagon is metal, you'll need to use a drill bit made out of high-speed steel or cobalt. Those holes and well-draining potting soil are all you'll need for drainage — don't add things like broken terracotta pot pieces to the bottom, thinking that layer will be a substitute for holes.

When growing in an old wagon as a brilliant way to repurpose an old garden tool or toy, some may prefer to place plastic or terracotta pots into the bed instead of planting directly. If you're concerned about the wagon being damaged when watering, you can add saucers under the pots — just be sure to empty them to prevent root rot. If you don't use saucers and don't have any holes in the wagon, you'll need to remove the potted plants regularly and dump the excess water. 

Also, you may not have garden space, but you now have mobility — take advantage of your new raised planter's wheels to position it in the best possible location. You should check the needs of your specific plants, but know that if you're growing vegetables or most colorful annual flowers, you'll need to place the wagon in full sun.