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The next time you find yourself with a laundry basket that’s getting a little old, you don’t have to throw it in the trash. Instead, you can give it a new life by turning it into a planter. An ideal spot to grow berries, this may be an unexpected laundry basket hack, but it might also become your favorite.
This handy trick obviously works, in part, thanks to the fact that many baskets that are originally meant to hold your dirty clothes are in the same general shape as a planter. This means there will be enough space for you to fill it with soil, pop in some plants, and have enough fruits. On top of that, the holes in the sides of the laundry basket come in handy by allowing the plants to grow through each opening. This not only provides more surface area for the plants to extend since they can come out of both the sides and top of your planter but will also make it easy for you to pick off a few berries every time you want to eat some of the tasty treats.
If this has piqued your interest and you’re eyeing your old laundry basket in the corner, you’ll likely be thrilled to find out how pretty darn easy it is to tackle this trick. You might also be intrigued to find out that this works for more than just berries.
How to DIY a laundry basket berry planter
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In a YouTube video from Garden Answer, viewers are told that this is an ideal option, thanks to the fact that the laundry basket won’t take up too much room in your yard. Plus, new baskets are relatively cheap and come in a variety of different colors. To tackle this DIY project, you’ll also need a bit of burlap and a few berry plants.
First, start things off by making a hole in the bottom of the basket. Make it about the size of a coin to ensure there is enough space for water to drain out so that the soil doesn’t become too soaked or soggy. Next, slide in the burlap so it lines the basket in the same way a garbage bag would sit inside a bin. Make sure it extends over the top of the basket before you pour in the soil, filling it to nearly the top. The burlap will keep the soil from spilling out the holes on the sides of the basket, and you can trim off any around the top that’s not needed.
Now, you can plant your berries. Place a few on the top of the basket before cutting the burlap through the holes, starting a few rows down. Don’t cut open the burlap for every hole to give the plants space to grow. Place your plants into each open spot and sit back to watch them grow.
A laundry basket hamper can grow other plants
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If you love the idea of this practical hack but aren’t a huge fan of berries or are simply eager to grow as many varieties of plants as possible, then you’ll surely be thrilled to find out that there are other things that you can put in a repurposed laundry basket. This is also an ideal setup for popular veggies like potatoes, peppers, spinach, and carrots. In this case, you may want to swap the burlap for plastic and keep the plants on top instead of allowing them to grow from the sides. For those who would prefer an option more about aesthetics, you can grow flowers and watch as they bloom from the holes in the basket. Simply follow the same instructions as above, but do so with the plants of your choice.
On the other hand, you might be interested in mixing things up. Along with placing strawberries around the body of the basket, you can fill the top with eye-catching plants. Think along the lines of eye-catching canna with petunias, daisies, carnations, or snapdragons. Each addition adds a new level of visual interest thanks to the colors, shapes, and stunning details. Of course, you could opt for various plants and flowers. Just be sure they’re ideal companion plants that complement whatever you place around the bottom of the basket and won’t compete for space or nutrients.
