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Painted milk jug hanging planter in a garden

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Painted Milk Jug Hanging Planters for Your Garden

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This whimsical and charming idea came from a garden in Memphis, Tenn. This city hosted The Fling, a garden tour for top garden communicators and influencers from across the country (and the globe!). Memphis is a gardening hub these days. the Cooper-Young Garden Walk is now part of Experience Memphis Gardens and that means you can tour inspirational gardens throughout the town.

These clever recycled containers caught my eye in a South Memphis garden. Be inspired by the photos and check out the directions at the bottom of the post.

Hanging basket planters made of milk jugs on a corrugated metal wall
Painted milk jug planters line the corrugated metal wall at the entrance to the South Memphis garden. Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

I think the best types of plants for these planters are spiky tropicals like cordyline and drape-y vines like vinca and pothos.

Painted milk jug planters hanging from a tree in a garden
Painted milk jug planters hang from a tree in this Tunis Avenue garden in South Memphis. Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
Painted milk jug hanging planter in a garden
Bold and colorful painted faces bring color and whimsy to the garden. Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
Painted hanging basket planter in a garden
A bold design and color palette disguise the recycled milk jug in this hanging basket planter. Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
A painted milk jug hanging planter in a garden
Bright painted flower blooms decorate a recycled milk jug hanging planter in a garden. Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

Make a Milk Jug Hanging Planter

  • Clean the milk jug.
  • Cut off the bottom.
  • Poke drainage holes near the cap.
  • Poke holes about an inch from the bottom that’s now the new top.
  • Decorate the planter with acrylic paints, paint pens and Sharpie markers.
  • Use fishing line, repurposed chains or jute twine string to secure the planter.
  • Fill the planter with good quality potting mix and set plants inside.
  • Hang planters from trees and porches, and along fences and walls.

More Recycled Garden Inspiration

A metal frame with glass bead strings
This trellis decorated with strings of glass beads adds depth and pops of color to a South Memphis garden. Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
Closeup of glass bead strings in a metal garden trellis
Glass beads embellish a metal trellis in a South Memphis garden. Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

More About The Fling

Learn more about The Fling (formerly the Garden Blogger’s Fling) and check out these hashtags related to the Memphis Garden Blogger’s Fling:

#GBFling2025 #MG2025 #cobrahead #crescentgarden #dramm #picklewix #provenwinners #teakcloseouts #firsteditions #Bonnieplants #MagicGardener #TimberPress #CenturionBrands #CooperYoungGardenClub #GBFling2025 #MemphisFling #GardenBloggersFling #gardenbloggers #tulahats #tulahatties #MGFling2025

Join the Conversation

What are your favorite garden recycle projects? Let me know in the comments below or join me on Facebook or Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

More Garden Stories from A Cook and Her Books

Creative Garden Edging Ideas
Renew Flower Pots with Spray Paint

The Fling

Learn more about The Fling (formerly the Garden Blogger’s Fling).

And check out these hashtags related to the Memphis Garden Blogger’s Fling:

#GBFling2025 #MG2025 #cobrahead #crescentgarden #dramm #picklewix #provenwinners #teakcloseouts #firsteditions #Bonnieplants #MagicGardener #TimberPress #CenturionBrands #CooperYoungGardenClub #GBFling2025 #MemphisFling #GardenBloggersFling #gardenbloggers #tulahats #tulahatties #MGFling2025

About the Author

Lucy Mercer

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