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Garden Art Projects For Grownups Needing Creative Inspiration

Love to garden but looking for something to do other than planting? Or, maybe you are looking for some ways to add unique touches to your garden to show off your personality?
Well you’re in luck because today I have tons of easy garden art projects that you can complete at home with junk you probably already have laying around! Most of these projects are geared towards adults but I threw in a couple that you could do with the kids (if you want)!
The best part is that these projects aren’t junky “throw away” garden art projects like you typically see. These are ideas that can customize to add a lot of unique touches and whimsy to your garden… without it looking lame or like a kid decorated your garden for you. So… let’s see what you can come up with!
Spruce up your pots & planters
Decorate your flower pots
Spruce up your flower pots with some paint and pattern like these beautiful black and gold metallic painted ones made from concrete. Don’t want to tackle the project today? You can buy this set on Amazon!

Even if you have mismatched pots or planters, you can easily unite them into a set by using a common color or theme, like these Pow Pots in sunny yellow.
Upcycle your junk into a planter
I love to say that absolutely ANYTHING can become a planter if it has a little nook or cranny to stick a flower into! And there are tons of ways that you can get creative with things you have laying around the house. Here are some of my favorites:
Drawer Planter

I found an old dresser in the dumpster and turned one of the drawers into whimsical planter in one afternoon!
Folding chair planter
In this video, I turn an old folding chair into a really cute planter. The best part is I was able to maintain the “folding” ability of the chair so that I could store it easily over the winter!
Shoe holder planter

In this project, those over-the-door shoe holders that everyone has laying around are upcycled into a cool vertical planter! (Image Source)
Stinky boot planter

When you cast an old pair of boots in concrete, you can a unique planter. This can be done at home in an afternoon. Or, if you are in love with this one you can buy it right now on Amazon.
Garden art projects you can make from pallets

I painted this Starry Night mural on an old fence I removed in my backyard… but you could easily do the same project using an old pallet or some scrap wood, too!

With a lick of brightly colored paint, you can turn an old pallet into a gorgeous planter! (Image Source)

You’d only need one pallet to build a simple potting bench or plant stand in your garden. Not that construction savvy? You can buy this one for a pretty reasonable price on Amazon.
Create planters from old tires

All you need for this project are some old tires and a few tubes of paint and you’ll have a super creative planter that will scare the crap out of your neighbors! (Image Source)

For all you country folk out there who have access to old tractor tires… you can even make a POND! (Image Source)
No tractor tires? You can also check out my post about the easiest (and coolest) DIY water feature I’ve ever seen!! There’s step by step instructions there too!

Add some pretty pink paint and a few feet of rope and you’ll have a gorgeous tire rope swing planter like this one. (Image source)
Garden art projects for the birds
Make a splash with a DIY bird bath!

I made this solar bird bath fountain in a few hours for less than $50. And, if you don’t have a pump you can still follow along to make a cute bird bath in an afternoon!

If you’re feeling extra creative, try your hand at this beautiful mosaic bird bath. Mosaic instructions are available here.
Craft a bird feeder

If you have some legos laying around, why not turn them into a cute bird feeder. (Image Source) And yeah… this is a bit kiddish… but I still think it’s so unique. Maybe you can use the legos in a different way… you know… with a little more intention of your color choices and design. It could come out really neat!

If you’re in the market for something a bit more sophisticated, how about these beautiful bird feeding station made from recycled cans? (Image Source)

Isn’t this bird feeder made from an old teacup and saucer just perfectly whimsical? It’s so simple to do, too. (Image Source)
Build a bird house

I made this “cheep housing” birdhouse for my mom as a Mother’s Day gift one year. I painted it in the same color as her house and added some fairy garden stuff to make it even more adorable.
To build the birdhouse, I used the easy one board birdhouse plans from Lowes and got creative from there! I made another one with a penny roof, too!

Why not try your hand at making a bird house covered in moss? If you aren’t feeling the DIY, this one is available to buy on Amazon, too!
Plant label garden craft projects

Make some really cute plant or herb markers like these (Image Source). It’s a really simple and easy project you can do for almost no cost. You can definitely use Popsicle sticks for this. But, if you’re looking for something a little sturdier, I’d recommend these bamboo plant label sticks (Amazon) because they stand up to the elements a little bit better.
Oh, and trust me on this one, you’ll want to get a good waterproof permanent marker. I love the Sharpie Rub-A-Dub Laundry Markers (Amazon) because they don’t fade over the winter (and I’ve tried lots of markers for this)!

Aren’t these DIY river rock garden markers adorable? Just choose some river rocks or stones that resemble the shapes of your veggies or plants and paint away! (Image Source)

How about flattening some spoons and stamping plant names or sayings on them? All you’d need is some old silverware and a metal letter stamping kit like this one from Amazon.
My friend Sue from Fly Me Home Decor made the plant markers pictured above and you get get your hands on them through her Etsy store. They also take custom orders!
Sew your own gardening apron
Did you know that you can sew your own garden apron? Watch this video to learn how!

And, if your sewing project is a total failure like mine was, check out this super cute (and reasonably priced) garden apron on Amazon… I just love the green color!
Spruce up outdoor furniture with some paint

Wow… what an impact this brightly painted table and chair set makes on the porch. Picking mismatched bright poppy colors is a great way to breathe new life into drab outdoor furniture. (Image Source)

If bright pops of color are too much for you, you may like this muted, distressed chalk painted bench. The best part? This is actually a METAL glider. Chalk paint is a great solution to painting metal furniture without having to prime it. You can also use a can of spray paint with the primer already in it. (Image Source)
Make a cute garden sign

I think this might be my next garden art project. I just love these directional signs and this is so easy to do! All you need is some scrap wood and a little bit of paint. It’s a great project to involve the kids in, too. (Image Source)

This hand painted garden sign is adorable. And, I swear that hand-painting isn’t that intimidating. You can get full step-by-step instructions right here at Elegant Nest.

I HAD to include this adorable “garden tour 5 cents” sign because I own it. I set out originally to DIY it but I ended up getting a really great deal on it on Amazon. It wouldn’t take much to do this at home using wood or some sheet metal, though!
Paint some garden stones

How sweet are these little painted strawberry stones? Even the kids could help with this one. I first saw these for sale online so check out TheHauteStone’s shop on Etsy!

Want to get some calm and zen back into your life? Try painting some mandala stone patterns like these. Aren’t they just mesmerizing to look at? I’m sure they’d make a great addition to your garden! Get stone mandala stone painting tips right here. I’ve also seen some Pinterest projects where rock mandalas were painted with glow in the dark paint (like this set on Amazon). How cool would it be to line and light a backyard garden path with these?

Who doesn’t love a painted mushroom stone? Ok… maybe some people won’t love this but I know others will! What a fun afternoon garden art project to tuck behind a hosta in your woodland garden! (Image Source)
Wrapping Up
So, even if you are low on cash or don’t have much planting to do, there’s still plenty of creative art projects you can tackle in the garden. I really love to paint and I think painting is one of the easiest ways to really transform the look of your garden so I would start there if you’re new to all of this!
More Gardening Posts You’ll Love
- Cooper-Young Garden Walk – Lessons from Touring 80 Memphis Home GardensThe Cooper-Young Garden Walk in Memphis Tennessee was a great experience for any garden lover. Here are photos, takeaways and ways you can implement these ideas into your own garden.
- Working with Landscape Designers Without Settling for Their Vision (Marte’s Story)After 3 years and 4 different landscapers, the Design Your 4 Season Garden course helped Marte nail down exactly what she wanted from her garden designers.
- Redoing Your Landscaping? Read This Before Tearing Out “Old” Plants!It’s tempting to tear out overgrown landscaping in lieu of something new and fresh. But removing mature landscaping can cost you a lot more money and time that you may realize.

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