We had a hurricane in our region earlier this year and found that one of our plants didn’t make it. This plant was near the lamppost, where we added the stone address marker DIY project. Visit the post here if you want to see how we did this project. We had to remove the plant that had died and replace it with something. My husband and I decided to do a flower container. This post will show the steps on how we transformed this shabby plant rock bed near our lamp post into a beautiful focal point at the beginning of our driveway. Follow along and see the amazing transformation.
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Tools and supplies needed to make this beautiful front yard flower container:
First, let’s share the list of supplies and tools we used.
One terra cotta pot is about 27 or 28 inches tall. - we purchased it at Floral & Hardy of Skippack, PA
Quart size exterior paint in red. We made sure it had a primer in it as well as being mold resistant. We picked the top of the line to protect the container through the extreme weather.
Paintbrush thick one that can handle the thick paint.
Handy Paint Peal
One bag of drainage rock (linked to Amazon - affiliate link)
One-half bag of Top Soil (linked to Amazon - affiliate link)
1 - 12 inch by 12-inch paver stone
One tall plant for the center - we used Cock's comb
3 - mini mums in Yellow for around the sides
2 - small pepper plants for in between the mums
One bag of container soil for the plants
Scissors to cut open the bags and cut back garden weed block
Gardening gloves
Now that I had all my supplies and tools available, I started this DIY container project.
How long did it take to make this flower container?
From start to finish, it took 28.75 hours. It took about 4 hours to dry the paint on the pot, plus a 24-hour set time. Then about 45 minutes later, add the soil and plants, and water them.
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How to make a front yard flower container?
Before the picture of the front yard flower container: We were so sad that the plant had died, so we wanted to replace it before winter hit our area.
This image shows you exactly what the area looked like after we removed the plant. It left us with a gaping hole that we needed to fill it with something.
Get a gorgeous, durable pot that is real terra cotta.
We got this one at the local nursery. It wasn’t cheap, about $179.00, but we wanted something that would be durable and could withstand our cold winters. This one had thick porous walls, so we could paint it with acrylic paint to match the home. While I liked the color, it didn’t match at all with our home’s red accents. It was way too light.
Paint the terra cotta pot.
Now, my husband started painting the pot. He placed it on three cans of paint to raise it up, and a layer of cardboard was on the bottom. He added two coats and followed the paint can instructions. The first coat looked a little pink, but when it dried, it turned red.
Fill in the hole left by the plant with top soil.
First, I removed the decorative rocks in the garden bed so that the rocks didn’t fall into the hole. Then, I inspected the hole size.
Since I had a hole that was about 15 inches wide by 10 inches deep, I needed to fill it in. Cutting back the weed blocker to access the additional part of the hole helped me see how much of the area I needed to fill. Then I added the topsoil to the hole, and I broke up the clumps of topsoil as well. Then, I stepped on the dirt to remove any air gaps. You can use a tamper if you want.
I then added more topsoil and pressed it down again, so there were about 3 inches of space from the top edge to the soil. This allowed for the drainage rocks that needed to be added next.
Add the drainage rocks to the topsoil in the hole.
I added some of the rocks and tamped them down with my hand. And continued to add more drainage stones to make the paver level. I had an unused square 12 inches by 12 inches paver from a previous project and used it to place on top of the rocks after it was level.
This is where the terra cotta pot will be placed when it is finished. I added the rest of the weed blocker to the top of the drainage rocks and put the paver on top.
Next, I added decorative rocks around the paver in the garden bed.
Here is what it looked like after it was level and the rocks were added around the paver.
Add the soil and plants to the painted pot.
My husband placed the finished pot in its new home.
I first added the rocks into the pot to help with drainage. Then, I added the soil until I got to about 2-3 inches from the top of the pot.
Planted the plants into the container.
I started with the largest plant. And I placed it in the center and worked around the container to add the smaller ones.
The container garden front yard reveal.
That is it! We are finished! Check out how the flower container looks next to the lamp post. We love it and can’t wait to show it to others when they visit this Thanksgiving. What do you think? Please comment below and feel free to share on Pinterest, HomeTalk, and other social media sharing sites.
Remember that when the season is over, we will remove these fall flowers and leave the pot empty. We are thinking of covering it so that the pot is protected from the snow this winter. Hopefully, that will help keep the flower container usable for many years.
Visit our other outdoor DIY posts.
How to make a two-tier Raised Bed Garden
DIY Easy Holiday Wrath with fresh herbs
I found some of these posts to give you more gardening ideas. Feel free to check them out.
125 Container Gardening Ideas by Southern Living
How to Make DIY Gardening Containers by HGTV
Please note these are affiliate links through Amazon, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through and decide to make a purchase.
