Cardboard Garden Project: Hanging Basket

While testing cardboard gardening, we put together a panel of family and friends to give it a try. My wonderful aunt, Cherry Bibler, lives in Washington state, and she graciously volunteered to help us out. (She’s a GREAT gardener, too!)

Cherry wanted to see if she could turn an old fruit box into a hanging basket of sorts, so she put together this wonderful cardboard garden project how-to. I’m really impressed with how it turned out; I think it looks great, especially with keeping the box all natural. Here’s how she did it:

Supplies

• Cardboard box
• Marker
• Box cutter
• Soil
• Plants (succulents)
• Hanging basket

Instructions

Stacy Tornio

First, use a marker to identify where you want to place your plants. Then use a box cutter and carefully make cuts in the shape of a “X.” At the same time, don’t forget to add a couple of drainage holes into the bottom of your box.

Stacy Tornio

Fill the box loosely with soil. Then take your plants and push the roots through the openings you created. (Cherry used succulents because they’re a good choice for growing vertically, and they don’t require a lot of water.)

Stacy Tornio

After you have your plants placed, fill in with soil on top and around the edges so everything is secure.

Stacy Tornio

Place your new cardboard garden container in a hanging basket. Water as needed. At the end of the season, you can bring your plants inside to overwinter. Or you can toss the whole thing in the compost bin and start over next year! You could also leave it outside over winter and see if the plants make it until next year to transfer into a new container or box. That’s the beauty of cardboard—it’s perfect for trying things.

Next, check out how to plant a hanging flower basket in 5 easy steps.