A porch adorned with red and purple flowers in concrete planters, complemented by a blue lantern and a ceramic pumpkin with a cutout face. The entrance features a turquoise door and a black-and-white checkered rug topped by a leopard print welcome mat.
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DIY Concrete Planter

ByLisa

All summer I have been thinking about making a DIY Concrete Planter and a few weeks ago I stumbled upon the perfect item for this project at Walmart of all places. A trash can! Now you might recall that I am no stranger to the trash can planter, but this was different. I wanted to cover it in concrete to make it look like one of those high end versions I refuse to spend $150 on. The moral of the story, where there’s a will, there’s a way! Now I am going to show you how to make your very own concrete planter for a mere fraction of the cost! Bonus, you get a peek of my fall front porch 😉

A porch with two large planters; one is dark gray with a geometric pattern on a wooden stand, and the other is a DIY concrete planter with rustic charm. Both are filled with vibrant, blooming flowers. A black lantern with a white candle sits in front.This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my policies.

Before I dive into how I did this let me give you a little back story. I picked up four of these trash cans from Walmart for $3.98 each! I knew I wanted to try my hand at the concrete planter look, but also loved the gray pattern.  So I bought two of  blue pattern and two gray  with the intention of transforming the blue two. They are the perfect size for a taller more substantial planter and I figured for $3.98 the risk of it not turning out was worth a try.  Worst case scenario I could simply use the gray ones. 

A store shelf displays various wastebaskets. The top shelf holds striped and patterned black, white, and blue wastebaskets. The bottom shelf features light blue, marble-patterned, and white bins with the word "TRASH," nestled beside a sleek concrete planter for a modern touch.

DIY Concrete Planter

Trash Can 
Gray Tile Mortar
Nitrile Gloves
1/2 Inch Wooden Dowel
Drill
Mixing Paddle

Step 1

Pick up a trash can like mine or something similar. The ones I bought don’t appear to be available online but something similar in size should work. These are 11.38L x 11.38W x 14.38H inches.  Just make sure it is fairly rigid and not too flexible.

A black and white woven-patterned trash can sits on a white table next to a concrete planter in a garage. In the background, ladders are mounted on the wall, with various tools scattered around.

Step 2

Mix up a small batch of tile mortar. I used a leftover bag from when we renovated our bathroom since we don’t have a current need for it. But I imagine the Feather Finish I used on my concrete table top would also work. If you don’t have any on hand, you can buy pre-mixed mortar as well so you don’t need a mixing paddle. Just note that some mortar is fast drying and may set to quickly. The goal is for it to look like a concrete planter when you are done.

An orange bucket filled with a dark mixture, possibly for crafting a concrete planter. A power drill with a mixing attachment is poised in the bucket, indicating the concoction is being stirred. The scene unfolds on a concrete floor.

Step 3

Cover the trash can in mortar making sure to cover the inside top edge as well. I wore nitrile gloves and used my hands to apply it. This was VERY messy and I definitely suggest laying out plastic. I did mine in the garage on a folding table which is basically my go to workstation.  To see behind scenes footage, check out my DIY Concrete Planter highlight on Instagram.

Two large concrete planters with a textured finish sit on a black plastic covering in a garage. In the background, various ladders and tools are mounted on the wall. A chandelier hangs from the ceiling, casting light on this industrial setup.

Step 4

Add a pattern. I used a half inch wooden dowel rod that we had in our scrap wood pile to make a fluted pattern on the outside. You have to wait until the mortar isn’t sticky anymore but not dry, about 45 minutes after application. As it sets it starts to have a consistency similar to play dough and that is when you can start adding a pattern. I patted the mortar down and then went around the planter with the dowel rod making an imprint.

A large, textured cylindrical object resembling a concrete planter sits in the workshop, surrounded by shelves of paint cans, tools, and materials. A tall wooden pole stands beside it, hinting that this intriguing piece is still a work in progress.

If you do this too early it will just pull off the mortar. I shared some video of this process in my IG stories you can check out.

Step 5

Add a plant of your choosing. Once the planter is dry, I let mine dry for 24 hours, you can plant something inside.  Since fall is upon us, I planted some mums and decorated my front porch for fall.

Front porch with a teal door, decorated for fall with a carved pumpkin, patterned lantern, and potted chrysanthemums in purple and red nestled in a concrete planter. A black and white doormat sits on the step, creating a festive autumn atmosphere.

This project was SO easy and inexpensive and brings so much texture to my front porch. And as you can see, I also used the unaltered trash cans I picked up with these plant stands that were just too good to pass up! If you missed the tutorial on how I made the door hanging, you can check that out here.

A turquoise front door with a framed "F" and "fall" sign hangs on it. The porch is adorned with a black lantern, potted purple flowers in a concrete planter, a decorative pumpkin, and a striped welcome mat.

Front porch with two colorful planters: one tall concrete planter with purple flowers, one smaller with red flowers in a patterned black pot. Two decorative pumpkins, one gold and one orange with a face, sit in front. A "before" image of a plain pot is inset.

A porch decorated for fall showcases two large concrete planters brimming with red and purple flowers. Between them, a carved ceramic pumpkin with a smiling face adds charm. A black-and-white striped doormat is partially visible underneath.

If you enjoyed my DIY Concrete Planter, please share it on Facebook or hover over an image and save to Pinterest! And if you don’t already follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook, I would love for us to be friends!

A turquoise front door decorated with a fall-themed wreath, featuring an "E" and pinecones. A concrete planter brimming with colorful flowers and decorative pumpkins lines the steps beside a striped doormat. To the left, a wall lantern casts a warm glow.

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Front porch with teal door, two large concrete planters overflowing with vibrant flowers, a black lantern casting a warm glow, and festive pumpkin displays. A welcome mat and mini wooden stool add charm. Text reads "DIY Concrete Planter" along with a website URL for more inspiration.

This post, DIY Concrete Planter, appeared first on Garrison Street Design Studio.

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