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Description

You don’t need a garden to get growing – make some upcycled planters to turn even the smallest space green

Resources

A4 paper
Rope
Scissors
Sticky labels
Coloured pens or pencils
Seeds
Gardening gloves
Compost
Cotton wool balls
Garden fork
A sharp implement, such as a screwdriver
Watering can
Gravel or stones
Kitchen roll
Cress seeds
Wood nails (optional)
Breathable membrane (optional)
Paints such as acrylic for them to paint outside - or normal paint and add PVA glue
Items to use as recycled planters, such as old wellies, shoes, trainers, bags, old or punctured balls, pallets and so on

Instructions

Everyone should chat about what plants need to grow: light, water, and nutrients (usually from soil).
Explain that you don’t need acres of green space to grow things. It’s easy to rummage through the recycling to turn upcycle things into interesting, practical planters.
Ask everyone to hold up the item of recycling they’ll be turning into a planter. Take a look around and see the variety of different items people will use.
To start, adult volunteers should help everyone make holes for drainage. The best way to do this depends on the item – you may want to drill holes or puncture the planter with a sharp screwdriver or sharp nail. Put something like a block of wood behind the surface you’re making holes in. We’ve included instructions for specific items below.
Next, people should line the bottom of the planters with gravel or stones to help water to drain.
Then, everyone should fill up the planter with peat-free compost.
Give everyone some plants or seeds to add to their planter.
Everyone should make the finishing touches. They could add labels to tell people what they’ve planted, stand their planter on a tray or plate to catch water, or figure out a way to hang their planter from a hook, shelf or outside.
People can take their planters home or place them outside the meeting place. Remind them to take care of the plants by watering them every few days when the soil begins to dry out.

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