How To Create A Vertical Flower Tower With Milk Crates From The Thrift Store

If you're always on the lookout for new ways to store and display your beloved plants, then this DIY was made with you in mind. You can easily build an affordable garden just about anywhere using only milk crates. Instead of spending an exorbitant amount of money on brand-new planters, you can browse your local thrift store for a few used crates (or even better, you may already have a few at home). There are tons of creative ways to repurpose milk crates in and around your home and garden. Not only are these plastic bins safe to use for plant display, but they can be easily stacked on top of each other to create a "flower tower" effect that is sure to stand out in your garden. You only need a few basic supplies for this DIY: a few empty milk crates, grow bags or burlap fabric, potting soil and compost, and your plants of choice. 

One layout option is to snag four larger rectangular crates for a bottom layer, four smaller square crates for a middle layer, and one small square crate for a top layer, creating a staircase-like effect. You can complete this setup in your garden, adjusting for size based on your property. Instead of a sprawling stack, you may just have room for a small pyramid of three crates: two on the bottom and one on top, which will leave enough space for the plants to grow upwards in all three containers. 

If you don't have extra milk crates at home, you can easily source them from your local thrift store, or even grocery stores and restaurants. Due to the holes in milk crates, you will need the burlap fabric to create a base for your soil and plants. You can find this type of material at your local nursery, craft, or home improvement store, or you can get your hands on free burlap sacks from your local coffee shop. 

Cut a large square in your burlap fabric that is twice the size of your crate and tuck it inside, leaving a generous amount hanging over the sides like a pie crust. This will ensure the soil doesn't spill out of the crate. Most milk crates are one square foot, so you will most likely need a 2-square-foot cut. You can also use a grow bag or fabric pot as your planter lining, which should fit perfectly into a standard milk crate. Stack your crates as desired, leaving room on the outer edges for where your plants will grow. For more stability, you can place your tower against a sturdy wall or fence. Add your soil and compost mix to the crate, leaving an inch from the top. One of the best parts about these planters is that the drainage comes built-in. When you water your plants in their milk crate homes, the water will easily drain down the soil, through the burlap, and out of the crate. It's finally time to add your plants. You can grow a wide variety of plants in your milk crate tower, from produce like kale and cucumbers to vining flowers like clematis, trumpet vine, or honeysuckle.