Make a Mini Fairy Garden in a Birdbath Planter

Updated: Mar. 29, 2024

Transform an old birdbath into a planter using succulents and other miniature plants, plus fairy garden decorations.

birdbath mini garden planter — If you have an old birdbath, you can turn it into a garden planter.

Transform an old birdbath into a planter with this easy idea. If you have a birdbath that’s had its day, give it new life as a planter for a miniature fairy garden. Add a little magic with a stone pathway or a few fairy garden accents. We’ve listed our favorite plants for this project, as well as landscaping tips.

Learn how to repair a cracked birdbath.

Miniature Plants for Your Birdbath Planter:

Succulents

Use succulents for accent plants or “shrubs.”

Stonecrop sedum
Limelight sedum
Blue Spruce sedum
Silver Onion echeve

Ground Covers

Use ground cover plants to create a mat of green in the miniature garden, and a “waterfall” over the birdbath planter.

Golden club moss (Selaginella kraussiana ‘Aurea’)
Scotch moss (Sagina subulata ‘Aurea’)
Blue Star creeper
Pink cranesbill (Erodium x variabile)

Conifers

Provide woodland “shade” and a layer of realism with dwarf conifers.

Jervis dwarf Canadian hemlock
Dwarf Pagoda Japanese holly
Mont Bruno boxwood
Fernspray false cypress
Lime Glow juniper

Materials for a Birdbath Planter:

Old birdbath or other container
Bagged potting mix
Planting material
Small stones, gravel or pine bark nuggets
Fairy garden accessories (optional)

Birdbath Planter Instructions:

mini birdbath planter Heidi Hess

Step 1

Place a birdbath or other container, like a terra-cotta pot or wooden box, where it will stay permanently before planting in it. It will be too heavy to move later. Play around with the landscape design with the plants still in their pots to make things easier on you and the plants.

Step 2

Fill the planter about two-thirds full with soil.

Step 3

Remove plants from their pots one at a time, knock off soil, and loosen and spread out roots. If roots are matted, spray with a hose to detangle them, then gently pull them apart.

Step 4

Position the plants in the soil by spreading the roots of each as widely as you can, while leaving room for neighboring plants. This step is especially important if you are using a birdbath or similarly shallow planter. Once you’re satisfied, add as much soil as possible to cover the roots, but not so much that watering will wash it away.

Step 5

Gently water all plants with a watering can or by holding your thumb over a hose nozzle to make a fine spray.

Step 6

Add decorative features. Try using everyday items in a new way. Gravel can be a tiny stone path; tumbled glass transforms into a shimmering pond. Fairy garden decorations range from minuscule arbors and bridges to tiny houses and animal figurines.

Next learn how to clean a birdbath the right way.

Why Trust Us

For nearly 30 years, Birds & Blooms, a Trusted Media Brand, has been inspiring readers to have a lifelong love of birding, gardening and nature. We are the #1 bird and garden magazine in North America and a trusted online resource for over 15 million outdoor enthusiasts annually. Our library of thousands of informative articles and how-tos has been written by trusted journalists and fact-checked by bird and garden experts for accuracy. In addition to our staff of experienced gardeners and bird-watchers, we hire individuals who have years of education and hands-on experience with birding, bird feeding, gardening, butterflies, bugs and more. Learn more about Birds & Blooms, our field editor program, and our submission guidelines.