How to Make Completely FREE Christmas Planters for Your Porch

If you are anything like me, your mums have seen better days and your pumpkins are definitely expired. You might be staring at your porch wondering what to do with it for the next month. And if you are like me, you have already blown your holiday decorating budget on alllllll the ribbons and wreaths and garlands. So why not make completely FREE Christmas planters for your porch?  Yep, today I am sharing how I made these completely free planters for our front porch in five easy steps.

And I promise you can do it too!

BURNT COPPER PLANTER |   LEOPARD RUG  |   WREATH |  GARLAND  |    BLUE RIBBON

I shared a similar version around five years ago and figured it was time to revisit this method. 

STEP 1: START WITH YOUR PLANTER

To start, you just need a planter. For mine, I am using the same planters I used for fall. Before I got started, I wiped them down just to get any dirt off and make them feel nice and clean. Once you have them ready to go, here is the trick- just keep the dead plants in them! That’s right- if you have burned out mums or flowers- just keep them in. You may need to trim them back and get rid of longer stems, but the dead plants will act as great holders to stuff all your clippings in.

Now, if you don’t have any old plants to work with- that’s ok too! You just need to have dirt in your planters to stick your clippings in. 

STEP 2: Gather Your Clippings and Supplies

Once you have your planter ready, you just need to gather your supplies. The only tool you really need are clippers to clip all your greenery. Then you just need lots of greenery. This is the fun part! Just walk around your yard and see what might work! Any evergreen, cedar, or cypress are good options. 

For mine, I used:

• Christmas tree clippings 
• Magnolia Leaves
• Boxwoods
• Holly 

STEP 3: Add Your Christmas Tree Clippings

To begin, start with the Christmas tree clippings. These can be picked up for free wherever Christmas trees are sold. Home Depot has a bin where they usually put these. This year, I had an old fake Christmas tree in the attaic that I was going to donate. Then I realized I could take it apart and use the pieces for greenery. Here you can see the planter with three pieces of the Christmas tree clippings. 

STEP 4: Fluff it with Clippings

After your Christmas tree greenery has the bulk of your planter full, it’s time to add the other fun clippings. I like using a bunch so that it really fills it. Here is where I added the magnolia clippings and holly. 

STEP 5: ADD THE FINAL TOUCH

For the final touch, I added some rosemary (we have loads in the backyard), boxwood (we also have loads in the backyard) and some pine cones. I know the Christmas tree clippings, holly and magnolia leaves will get me through Christmas, but am experimenting with the rosemary and boxwood.  

Hope you feel inspired to make free Christmas planters for yourself!

xoxo-

Heather

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