If you have empty cans of paint left after a project, don't throw them away! Turn them into hanging planters.
Take off the lids and let any remaining paint dry, you will not need the lids. After the paint dries, take a nail and punch some holes in the bottom of the can to allow for drainage, otherwise the can will collect too much water and rust.
If the can has a paper label, peel it off and you will have a plain can that you can paint or leave plain. If the product information is printed right on the can, you can spray paint over it to cover.
You can loop the can handle over a picket fence stake, and the can will sit flush against the fence, or you can hang it from a hook. Plant directly in the can, or to make cleanup easier, use large yogurt or cottage cheese containers with holes cut for drainage - the can will hide the plastic container, and you can pop it out easily at the end of the season.
These look especially nice with cascading plants, but you can put anything you like in them.
By Regina from Rochester, NY
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What a wonderful idea!:) Thanks a bunch for sharing...I am excited to do this project. We have a section of post fencing in our yard and it looks so plain all of the time so, this is perfect!!!:) Thanks, again!
I would think that they paint would not leak into the dirt and effect the plants since it is dried....BUT if you rinse the cans out really well when empty that also should not be an issue. I know that we had a can in the past that the paint pulled right out when dried with a little coaxing, too. That can was for another project but, still came clean.
If you use a plastic container inside the can, there is no leeching. Dried paint would probably not be a problem, and the original article I read where i got this idea did not mention a problem.
if you are planting vegetables or herbs, I would probably suggest the plastic container inside the can just to err on the side of caution.
Wouldn't the paint leech into the dirt and hurt the plants?
If you don't want the risk of paint dried in the can or you don't have time to clean the cans and delabel them you can purchase brand new empty paint cans at hardware stores. Lowes and Home Depot would be the best stores to check first. They are bright and shiny and ready to plant. For a little extra money you could use them year after year!
Just wanted to mention that picture or two would have been nice!
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