DIY garden ideas, a pink tricycle planter with a galvanized tub of flowers beside painted river rock vegetable garden markers
DIY garden ideas: a tricycle planter and painted rock garden markers.

A garden gets its personality from the little things you make for it, and these 29 DIY garden ideas are full of them. DIY garden ideas are handmade projects that make a yard prettier or easier to grow in, from plant markers and bird baths to raised boxes, edging and yard art. Plenty of them reuse what you already have, like wine corks, old colanders, golf balls, glass bottles and pallet wood. Some are a quick five minute craft, and others, like the tiered herb garden and the garden spiral, make a good weekend build. DIY JOY originals with step by step videos are mixed in, from a chicken wire suncatcher to a cheerful plastic bottle pig planter. Pick one for the patio, one for the veggie bed and one just because it makes you smile! Find even more ideas on the DIY garden ideas hub.

Table of Contents

1. Sparkly Beautiful Beaded Garden Wind Chime

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Sparkly beaded garden wind chime, rainbow strands of glass beads and small bells hanging from a driftwood branch

A sparkly beaded garden wind chime is a great way to use up a stash of craft beads. Drill five holes along a piece of driftwood or a wooden dowel. Cut nylon beading thread to about 22 inches, tie a small bell to one end and thread beads, charms and wooden beads on in a rainbow of colors, one color per strand. Run the tail back up through a few beads to hide it. Adjust the strand lengths so they hang at different heights, then knot each one through a hole over a bead.

Get the full tutorial at Garden Therapy.

2. DIY Bird Bath

DIY bird bath made of a bright orange urn planter and saucer stacked on a pedestal, ringed with purple petunias

This DIY bird bath stacks garden store basics: a 17 inch plastic planter, a 12 inch urn style planter and a 10 inch terra cotta saucer. Drill four or five holes in the large urn for drainage. Spray paint the planters in a bright color, but use waterproof craft paint on the saucer so the birds are not drinking from spray paint. Flip the small urn upside down on top of the big one, tuck potting mix and flowers around it, then set the saucer on top and fill it with water. Raise it on a table if birds stay shy.

Get the full tutorial at Mami Talks.

3. Small Vegetable Garden Using a Garden Spiral

Small vegetable garden using a garden spiral, river rock walls curling up in a spiral bed with young plants by a patio

A garden spiral fits a small vegetable garden into a tight corner and keeps sprawling plants like zucchini from crowding out the rest. Sketch the spiral in the dirt with your foot, then place 4 inch river rock along the line like a puzzle, with the largest, flattest stones on the bottom. Add bagged organic garden soil as the walls rise, pressing it into the gaps so it supports the stone. Lean the stones inward as the wall gets taller so the base stays widest. Plant the top for herbs and the bottom for thirsty crops.

Get the full tutorial at Oh My Creative.

4. DIY Concrete Hand Planters

DIY concrete hand planters, two cupped gray concrete hands filled with purple flowers above rubber gloves being filled

DIY concrete hand planters are a playful twist on store bought concrete pots, and they need just three things: a bag of concrete, a couple of rubber cleaning gloves and a big bucket for mixing. Fill the gloves with concrete, shape the fingers into a cupped pose and let them cure completely. The waiting is the hardest part. Peel away the gloves, then fill the palms with succulents or small flowers. A pair by the front door makes a cheerful welcome for guests, and they also look great tucked into a garden bed.

Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.

5. Wine Cork Garden Markers DIY

Wine cork garden markers DIY, corks labeled mint, basil and dill in black marker on wooden skewers in green moss

Wine cork garden markers are an easy way to keep plants labeled all season. You need one cork per plant, plus wooden stakes or even chopsticks. Write each plant name on a cork with a permanent marker, pressing firmly. Poke a starter hole in the end with a screwdriver, then push the stake in. A coat of clear spray sealer helps them stand up to the weather. Push each marker into the soil next to its plant. No corks at home? Craft stores sell them by the bag, or friends can save some.

Get the full tutorial at A Thrifty Mom.

6. Make a Butterfly Feeder

Make a butterfly feeder from a pink flower shaped plate hung on cords, holding orange slices in a sunny garden

A butterfly feeder takes about five minutes and helps bring pollinators into the garden. Start with a bright, inexpensive plate from the thrift or dollar store, since butterflies love warm colors. Cut five pieces of mason line about 3 feet long, loop them through a washer or metal ring and knot them into a simple macrame style holder, with beads if you like. A flower shaped plate with notches holds the strings neatly. A round plate needs a wall mount plate holder. Hang it in the sun and add slices of overripe fruit.

Get the full tutorial at Garden Therapy.

7. DIY Plastic Bottle Pig Planter

DIY plastic bottle pig planter, an orange pig and a pink pig made from gallon jugs and filled with flowers on the grass

A plastic bottle pig planter turns an empty gallon jug into a cute garden friend. The gallon becomes the body and four small plastic bottles become the feet, with the opening cut on top for the soil. An adult should handle the cutting and smooth any sharp edges. Coat the whole pig, caps and gaps included, in primer so the paint sticks, then paint it pink, orange or any color you like and glue on the ears, snout and googly eyes. A piece of cardboard inside saves on soil and keeps it light.

Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.

8. Decorative Garden Ball Tutorial

Decorative garden ball tutorial, a pink flat marble ball and a green and white swirl ball sitting in a flower garden

Decorative garden balls cover a sturdy base in flat marbles for dazzling yard art that costs about $5 to $20. An old bowling ball, a thick glass lamp globe or a strong fishbowl works as the base. Sand off any glossy finish first so the adhesive grips. Spray paint the ball first if you want color to show between the gems. Glue on flat bottomed glass gems, also sold at dollar stores as vase fillers, with an outdoor silicone adhesive. Skip the grout, since it will not stick to silicone, and test your materials first.

Get the full tutorial at Empress of Dirt.

9. Beautiful DIY Garden Stones

Beautiful DIY garden stones, a round mosaic stepping stone covered in pink floral broken china pieces set in mortar

These beautiful DIY garden stones turn broken china into mosaic art for the flower bed. Mix mortar mix following the bag, spray a stepping stone mold with cooking spray and fill it to about a quarter inch from the top. Smooth it and tap the mold to release air bubbles. Wrap china in a thick dish towel and break it with a hammer into a mix of shapes and sizes. Press the pieces in with even pressure, and blot any water that rises with a paper towel. Let them set 24 to 48 hours.

Get the full tutorial at Over The Big Moon.

10. DIY Wine Bottle Bird Feeder

DIY wine bottle bird feeder made from a cobalt blue swing top bottle and saucer, with a small bird perched to eat

A DIY wine bottle bird feeder reuses a pretty bottle, and the tricky part is drilling the glass. Use a diamond drill bit just under 1/2 inch, which suits small seed like sunflower chips. Keep the bit wet the whole time. Start the running drill at a 45 degree angle and slowly bring it to 90 degrees, letting it grind rather than pushing. Drill one hole on each side near the base, then epoxy a small plate or saucer to the bottom. Wrap heavy copper wire around the neck to hang it.

Get the full tutorial at Rebecca's Bird Gardens Blog.

11. Pallet Wood Garden Walkway

Pallet wood garden walkway, weathered pallet planks forming a curving path through a green flower bed beside stones

A pallet wood garden walkway is a charming path through a flower bed, and it has held up for years without rotting. Lay pallet planks side by side in the soil, either lined up perfectly or staggered for a more relaxed look. To keep it tidy, kneel on a garden pad, lift one plank at a time, dig out the weeds, fluff the soil and wiggle the board back into place. Fill a little soil between planks for stability. Every few years, pull the whole path up, weed and relay it.

Get the full tutorial at Funky Junk Interiors.

12. DIY Concrete Garden Globes

DIY concrete garden globes, three rough gray concrete spheres resting among green ivy leaves in a shady garden bed

DIY concrete garden globes cost less than $15 for three, and the molds are old glass lamp globes from the thrift store. After testing a few recipes, cement mixed with peat moss won out, with potting soil and a hypertufa mix as alternatives. Mix the recipe to the consistency of thick cake batter, breaking up peat moss chunks with gloved hands. Spray the inside of each globe with cooking spray and fill it, stopping before the neck so the ball stays round. Bag them and let them cure in a cool spot.

Get the full tutorial at The Garden Glove.

13. Flower Pallet Garden

Flower pallet garden, an upright gray pallet planter overflowing with red, orange and white impatiens and begonias

A flower pallet garden stands a pallet upright and plants it with flowers so it spills color like a European balcony box. This one has been in use for three years and is still in great shape, and this season it switched from herbs to bright impatiens and begonias. Plant the flowers, then soak the soil well. Water every evening, and feed every week or two for bigger blooms. The post links its own earlier vertical pallet garden tutorial for the build steps. It suits a patio where you entertain.

Get the full tutorial at DIY Show Off.

14. Colander Flower Planter

Colander flower planter, a bright coral metal colander filled with pink petunias and trailing greenery on a white table

A colander flower planter takes about five minutes once your materials are together. Cut a circle of landscape fabric and set it inside the colander, which keeps the soil from spilling out of the holes while still letting water drain. Add potting soil, but not too much, since the roots and soil from the plants take up space. Tuck in the flowers, fill gaps with soil and give it a drink of water. Try a mini herb garden instead of flowers. It makes a sweet hostess or housewarming gift too.

Get the full tutorial at Two Twenty One.

15. DIY Tiered Herb Garden

DIY tiered herb garden, a stepped cedar planter of wooden boxes full of green herbs on a deck by a white railing

A DIY tiered herb garden keeps herbs up on the deck, where deer cannot reach them, and works well in small spaces. The build uses five 1x6x8 cedar boards plus 1×2 and 4×4 pieces for the supports and legs. Drill pocket holes on the bottom sides of each level and lay out every piece to check the sizes. Attach the bottoms with pocket screws and wood glue, building the left and right sides of each tier separately before joining them. A spade bit drills drainage holes, and clear silicone seals the joints.

Get the full tutorial at Decor and the Dog.

16. DIY Light Bulb Mini Planter

DIY light bulb mini planter, a pink painted glass bulb with white daisies holding green grass on a white stick stand

A DIY light bulb mini planter gives an old bulb a cute second life. Carefully separate the glass globe from the metal base. Paint the glass in your color, adding a second coat if needed, and once it dries, draw little flowers with paint pens. For the stand, cut 8 to 10 sticks to about 2 inches, hot glue them in pairs into A shapes, then join the pairs at the bottom, angling each one slightly so they form a round base. Fill the bulb with a small succulent or handmade paper grass.

Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.

17. Cascading Flower Pallet Planter Box

Cascading flower pallet planter box, a tall wood planter on legs spilling bright purple wave petunias under a window

This cascading flower pallet planter box is built to let wave petunias spill over the front, and it is made almost entirely from pallet wood. Measure 20 inches down from the top of the legs and attach a 2×2 support with 2 1/2 inch screws, then repeat on the other pair. Nail or screw the bottom pieces to the supports. Cut pallet slats to 40 inches for the front and 16 inches for the sides and screw them to the legs, since brad nails let wet wood warp. Pine 1x4s work too.

Get the full tutorial at Her Tool Belt.

18. $40 Tiered DIY Planter Box

$40 tiered DIY planter box, a two level pine planter with dividers holding young herbs on a dirt garden patch

This tiered DIY planter box looks high end but costs about $40 in materials. It needs only five 2×6 boards, a drill, a saw and some screws, and it goes together in about an hour. Two tiers and built in dividers let you separate herbs, vegetables and flowers, or keep sun lovers apart from shade plants. The raised design puts everything within easy reach for watering and weeding. It is simple enough for a beginner woodworker, and it fits patios, balconies and small yards. The step by step video walks through every cut.

Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.

19. Brick Edging for your Flower Beds

Brick edging for your flower beds, gray concrete pavers tapped into a trench with a mallet along a pink flower bed

Brick edging for your flower beds is a maintenance free border that stops grass from creeping into the bed and keeps mulch or decorative stone out of the lawn. It uses 6 by 9 inch concrete pavers, a rubber mallet, a stiff brush or whisk broom and an optional 2 1/2 inch wood block as a spacer. Cut a shallow trench along the bed, set the pavers on edge in a neat line and tap each one level with the mallet. Brush soil into the joints to lock the row in place.

Get the full tutorial at World of Lush Gardens.

20. Chicken Wire Suncatcher

Chicken wire suncatcher, an embroidery hoop of chicken wire hung with colorful glass tulip bead charms and a ribbon bow

A chicken wire suncatcher is part suncatcher and part wind chime, with glass beads that throw color when the light hits them. Loosen the embroidery hoop and set the inner ring on chicken wire, lining it up with as many diamond shapes as possible. Cut it slightly larger, fold the edges and fit it back in the hoop. Thread tulip and leaf beads onto head pins, bend the ends and connect jump rings into short chains. Hook each charm onto a vertical wire, then tie on jute twine and a ribbon bow.

Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.

21. Dragonfly DIY Yard Art

Dragonfly DIY yard art, two copper and brass wire dragonflies with colorful glass bead wings above green garden plants

Dragonfly DIY yard art turns copper tubing, brass rod, wire and glass beads into garden critters. Cut a short piece of 3/8 inch copper tubing for the body and drill holes for the wings, eyes and support rod. Solder two thin brass rods through the middle, then bend them around a dowel jig to form the wings. Wrap copper wire around each wing, threading on beads. Thread eye beads on wire, glue a small spring on for the tail and solder a long brass rod underneath so it stands in the dirt.

Get the full tutorial at Birds and Blooms.

22. Clay Plant Markers

Clay plant markers painted teal, blue, yellow and pink with stamped herb names, one pushed into a pot of thyme

Clay plant markers keep pots of herbs and veggies straight and double as garden decor. Roll air dry clay smooth, flatten it to the thickness you want and cut out the marker shape with a paper template. Stamp the plant name near the top with inverted letters, testing on a scrap first, then let it dry completely. Prime, paint each marker in its own color and outline the edges with a metallic pen if you like. Brush on a thin coat of UV resin and cure it under a UV lamp until it is no longer sticky.

Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.

23. Golf Ball Ladybugs

Golf ball ladybugs painted shiny red with black heads and spots, scattered among green succulents in garden soil

Golf ball ladybugs are a playful bit of garden art, and any round or oval object works as the body. Sand the whole surface of each golf ball so paint grips, then spray it with primer. Once the primer dries, paint the ball red, then add the black head, center line and spots. Finish with a water based varnish to protect them from the weather. Scatter them through a rock garden, a flower bed or a potted plant so they look like they are crawling off on a little adventure.

Get the full tutorial at Art Drops.

24. DIY Container Water Garden

DIY container water garden, a large black pot of water with lily pads, a pink water lily and tall yellow canna leaves

A DIY container water garden brings water lilies to a deck or a small yard with no room for a pond. Pick a sunny spot, since tropical plants love sun, and a medium to large watertight container. Set potted water lilies, water lettuce and a canna lily in the water at the right depths. A few fish help with mosquitoes, and mosquito dunks cover the rest. Keep a small net handy for water changes. Most of the supplies came from big box and discount stores, for about $40 in all.

Get the full tutorial at Whats Ur Home Story.

25. Build a Garden Box

Build a garden box, three stacked cedar raised beds on a lawn above a finished box planted with young vegetables

This raised garden box is built from cedar so it holds up for years. One 3 by 5 foot box takes four 8 foot cedar decking boards for the walls, two 10 foot boards for a top lip and one 8 foot 2×4 for inside bracing. Mark and cut the boards with a miter saw into four 3 foot and four 5 foot pieces. Cut the 2×4 into corner braces and screw the walls to them. Each box cost about $90 in cedar, and regular lumber is cheaper but will not last as long.

Get the full tutorial at One Little Project.

26. DIY Wine Bottle Edging For Your Garden

DIY wine bottle edging for your garden, a row of blue glass bottles set upside down in gray gravel along a garden bed

DIY wine bottle edging upcycles empty bottles into a sparkling garden border. Save bottles in one color for a clean look or mix greens, blues and clears for something more playful. Dig a narrow trench along the edge of the bed, set the bottles neck down into the soil side by side and backfill firmly so they stand straight and even. The bottles go into the ground more easily than you might expect, so it is simple enough for beginners. Sunlight catches the glass and makes the whole bed glow.

Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.

27. DIY Beaded Wind Chime

DIY beaded wind chime, rainbow strands of glass beads and tiny flower charms hanging from a branch against a white wall

A DIY beaded wind chime mixes shimmering beads, charms and tiny bells into garden decor that sings in the breeze. Lay out each bead sequence before stringing so the colors stay balanced. Use fishing line or strong jewelry wire so the strands hold up outdoors. String glass, wood and metal beads for texture, finish each strand with a small bell and tie them along a natural branch hung from twine. Lengths can vary from strand to strand. No two chimes ever come out the same, and the video shows every step.

Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.

28. Make a Living Fence For Your Garden

Make a living fence for your garden, young willow saplings woven into a crisscross lattice beside a grassy path

A living fence uses rows of shrubs or young trees in place of boards or wire, and it gives back shade, a windbreak, less soil erosion and a home for birds and small animals. Choose a species that suits your climate and your purpose, from privacy to food or fuel. Plant the saplings close together, then rely on two techniques: regular pruning to push dense, bushy growth, and inosculation, where neighboring branches are woven or pressed together until they graft into one. Mature fences still need trimming to hold their shape.

Get the full tutorial at Eco Snippets.

29. Rubbermaid Container Garden

Rubbermaid container garden, green storage bins planted with tomatoes and vegetables lined along a wooden deck railing

A Rubbermaid container garden is a cheap, effective way to grow vegetables on a deck or patio. Pick opaque bins, since see through containers grow algae. Drill 3/4 inch holes in the bottom and around the lower sides. Set the lid upside down underneath as a drip tray, with a few cut down deck balusters on top so air reaches the bottom and water can drain. Fill the bins about a third full of marble chips, then add potting mix to within 3 or 4 inches of the top. Mix in peat moss for tomatoes.

Get the full tutorial at Back Porch Garden.

DIY Ideas for Your Garden - Cool Projects for Spring and Summer Gardening - Planters, Rocks, Markers and Handmade Decor for Outdoor Gardens

Stephanie Hicks | DIY JOY

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Stephanie

Since I lover experiments, I’ve alwaysnloved to create, paint, as well as cook and style food. I feel in love with DIY as soon as I discovered it and could not have been more excited when I learned I could share projects with people around the world. Taking photos is a passion of mine, as is design and painting with oils. I love holidays and celebrations, crafting cute little gifts and serving up at least one new recipe I am excited about.

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