I have a slight obsession with flowers this time of year. The minute the stores open up their garden section I am beyond giddy with excitement. Not only do I enjoy overfilling our flower beds and gardens; but any little nook and cranny I can stick a container pot, I do! I have gone through my fair share of pots; plastic ones that I spray painted and have chipped, terra cotta that have aged nicely but cracked, and large decorative fiberglass pots that are simply too expensive. The best pots I have found to date, that I can and have relied on for the past few years, are these handmade patio paver planters; Quick and easy to put together, very durable and sturdy, and for $6.00 a pot a great deal by far. Along with the combination of Patio paints the sky is the limit for coordinating these to match your outdoor decor.
Patio Paver PlantersMaterials Needed:
Five 12X12 Patio Pavers {per pot}
Weatherproof Construction Adhesive {for outdoor use}
DecoArt Patio Paint
I purchased the patio pavers in the Lawn and Garden section of Home Depot. They are very inexpensive; only a dollar or so a piece. You will need five pavers per pot.
Lay out four pavers to form a perfect square. You can see in the photo above that each end overlaps.
Once you have your form, tilt one tile back and apply the construction adhesive on the overlapping lip and firmly press back into place. The construction adhesive can be found along with caulks and sealants in the painting section. {you will need a caulk gun to apply} Move to the opposite side and repeat the adhesive process. All corners should now be adhered.
Now you are ready to attached the bottom. Squirt the construction adhesive in a small bead-like pattern around the inner lip of the entire planter. This will help with water drainage for your planter.
Firmly press the last paver in place, making sure it is centered on the bottom, and let dry for 24 to 48 hours without moving.
To decorate I used DecoArt patio paint. This specially formulated acrylic paint is permanent and weather resistant which makes it the perfect choice for outdoor decor. It does not peel or crack and can be used on concrete wood and terra cotta just to name a few. It is available in 63 different colors too! As much as I adore color, I used two neutral shades as I like a more natural look outdoors.I covered one pot in Natural Tan Grout {DCP39} and the other in Rich Espresso {DCP401}.
The Rich Espresso is a gorgeous metallic with just the right bit of shimmer in the summer sun.
Once the paint cured, I flipped over the pots and filled with a few of my favorite greens.
These are quite heavy so make sure you move them to where you would like to keep them before you start planting.
I like to choose plants that will last all season and make a lovely appearance year after year.
I planted Hosta, Plum Pudding Heuchera, and Ipomoea in one planter and a Fern in the other.
I love the look of various shades of green and the deep purple of the Plum Pudding.
I’m still trying to figure out if I have anymore spaces left so I can make more of these cuties!
Projects and Crafts
Food, Cooking, and Recipes
Entertaining Inspiration and Ideas
Home and Garden
Halloween Inspiration and Ideas
Thanksgiving Inspiration and Ideas
Christmas Inspiration and Ideas
wow – thats great. a wonderful idea. i like ist!!!
many greetings from austria
margit
Thank you Margit
Thank you so much . I am going to do this.
Thank you for sharing such a brilliant (and inexpensive) idea. I definitely think that I can put a few of these to work for me.
Thanks Mel – I seem to add more to my collection each year whether I need them or not 🙂
This is such a wonderful idea! Patio containers are so expensive! Love your floral arrangements too!
Thank you Gail!
This is one of my favorite projects. I saw this on here about a year ago and made them. People always comment on how nice they look. I painted mine black and have one on either side of our entry. My favorite look for them has been taking a large Boston fern and just sitting it right in there. They have a Christmas tree in winter, right now just have arborvitae, and are waiting for warm weather to have the ferns!
This is one of the best ideas! Thanks again for sharing it. Love it.
Also, the site looks great!
Kate
Thank you Kate. I love the look of ferns in them. Great idea to just change out the pot with the seasons – love it!
Stephanie those are gorgeous! What a clever idea! So just to be sure…the little bead glue pattern lets enough drainage out? I really want to try one of these.
Hi Danni – Thanks. Yes – just ‘bead’ the adhesive instead of making it a solid straight string. I still have these exact pots – which I made at least three years ago. I have had everything in them including hostas, ferns, mixed annuals and even ornamental grasses – and have not had any problems with any of them.
Just be sure to place them where you want them before you fill them – they do become quite heavy.
Those are supper cute! I was wondering how well the plants survive in concrete? Did you have to use a water/paint seal on the inside of the box? Just curious 🙂
Hi Tyah. I have only painted the outside and rims of the planters – the inside I have left as is and have not had any problems with any plants I have planted {annuals or perennials – ferns, hostas, ornamental grasses, or mixed annuals}.
What a great idea, I love it. I never thought about doing anything like that. I am as bad as you are about plants,, etc.
Thanks fo sharing this post. Have a wonderful day.
Mary
I was just thinking of making some of these!! Thank you for the tutorial! They turned out great!
What a great idea!!! I love sturdy planters because I always seem to be moving them around, so its nice when they are durable and able to last a few summers!! Thanks for the tutorial!!
So glad you reposted the paver planters. I was looking for it 2 weeks ago. I knew I’d seen it on your website but I couldn’t find it. Thank you for helping me realize I wasn’t crazy!! LOVE your website!!!
Thanks so much Shelley. So sorry about that – my mistake.
Thanks so much for posting this planter. I want to make these but I have 2 questions. #1 Please tell me what the name of this glue is and where to get it? #2 Can I use spray paint to paint it?
Hi Kim, The glue is actually heavy duty construction adhesive. I have used two different brands with success – Liquid Nails
and Loctite Power Grab
.
Either of these brands in the links above work really well – just make sure they are rated for exterior use and are made for concrete material.
Spray paint can definitely be used for a finished look. Just make sure it a brand that is durable enough for exterior use and can be used on concrete. I would also suggest a spray on sealer as well if you are going this route.
These look great! Didn’t realize you could glue those pavers together!! Great idea – thanks for reposting – because I never saw it the first time.
This is just a fantastic idea! Low cost, useful, easy and looks great. I’ll pass this website around to my friends who, like me, love flowers, plants and veggies. I’m also one who gets all excited about the new plants coming into the stores and I cannot wait to get there and pick ’em out.
Thank you for sharing, this is truly great,
Kathryn
My son and I went to the local big box store and we picked up everything we needed in one stop. I think I was most impressed with the incredibly solid they were, quite a dramatic statement when
complete. And my 12 year old had as much fun picking out the pavers, as he did taking risks with his flower colors. Altogether a great and cheap project, that we did together.
Great idea and instructions. Has anyone made a larger planter box using this plan? I understand it would have to be made in the spot you plan to use it as it won’t be movable.
Linda
Would love to know too! I imagine they would be extremely heavy – even to turn over when constructing. I have seen the 18X18 pavers used and know they do work….
Thanks so much for this idea. I saw a similar look in the latest Do It Yourself Outdoor Living magazine, but they used different types of pavers & edging. I still like your design best, though. I actually went to Lowe’s yesterday & purchased enough pavers to make 2 containers. OMG they’re so heavy!!! Instead of getting the plain concrete planters I chose ones that were already red. That’ll save me a step. I can’t wait to glue them together…though we’ve had the remains of those awful Oklahoma storms coming through here in Memphis. I’m still tempted to go ahead & make them, but I’m afraid it’s too damp outside. But…it is the start of summer in the south-the humidity is already in full swing! Anyway, what type of adhesive did you use? There were so many choices at Lowe’s–I ended up going with a relatively inexpensive option that said it was for both indoor & outdoor use. I hope it works!
Hi Lacey – Yes, totally agree – the pavers are heavy, especially in batches 🙂 The red pavers are going to look fantastic. Any brand adhesive should work – as long as it is rated for outdoor use and is able to be used on concrete materials (it should state both on the label). Good luck with your planters – would love to see how the red pavers turn out! Send over a pic if you like when your done. Have fun planting!
I can’t wait to try this. But please tell me the name of this adhesive and can I spray paint them?
Hi Kim, The glue is actually heavy duty construction adhesive. I have used two different brands with success – Liquid Nails
and Loctite Power Grab
.
Either of these brands in the links above work really well – just make sure they are rated for exterior use and are made for concrete material.
Spray paint can definitely be used for a finished look. Just make sure it a brand that is durable enough for exterior use and can be used on concrete. I would also suggest a spray on sealer as well if you are going this route.
Stephanie Lynn
I was googling for décor/planting ideas for my patio and up came your brilliant plans for these amazing planters! I love the more natural look in planters, rather than shiny blue and green pots – shudder.
Classy!
And wouldn’t the same idea work well with smaller tiles? Imagine using floor tiles or ….
Do you think there would be a problem with stability as they’re thinner?
Love it – have to make a couple this week!
Hi Kelly, Smaller sized paver tiles would work, however skinny floor tiles may pose a problem. I think there may be issues getting the floor tiles to adhere to each other because the edges are so thin.
I have seen the patio pavers in several different styles, sizes and even colors though – giving you some variety.
If you try the floor tiles please let us know how they turned out!
Thanks!
Awesome idea! Thank you! So, I don’t need to drill drainage holes or did I miss that?
Hi Bernadette, The way the construction adhesive is placed on the bottom paver, as shown above, provides adequate drainage for the planter. (It’s not a solid string but placed in dots allowing space for the water to flow once dried)
Thank you so much for sharing this idea!! I love it. I am totally redoing my patio and building a square area with decorative concrete squares, then building a firepit from concrete stone. This idea will be a gorgeous coordinate to add to the firepit area!!! Tell me, I have seen much smaller square pavers, do you know if anyone has tried making a round container? If so what do you think? Great idea! So glad I found this post.
Love the idea of the round pavers Christina. I would think they would work just as well – as long as there is enough surface for the glue to adhere once the pavers are joined together. Would love to see what you come up with!
I love your idea;-) I enjoy the outdoors anything to do with plants. Just became a empty nester so I sold my house and moved into a condo. My plants came with me. Needed the idea thank you
Thank you for such a great idea. I, too, can’t walk past an empty spot in my yard without filling it with a pot of flowers. It might take me forever to clean up in the fall, but I so enjoy doing it in the spring and enjoying my yard all summer. I can’t wait to try this.
Stephanie where did you find the Art Deco pInt for your paver pots?
Hi JoAn – I picked up the patio paint right from our local craft store (Michaels and Joanns both carry it in our area) – You can also find it
online here
Going to try this out. Do you think it would work to use 24”x24″ pavers?
Hi Karen,
As long as the larger size pavers are thick enough they should work just fine. Be sure to let them completely cure before attempting to move and keep in mind they will be quite heavy – so it’s a pretty good idea to put them together close to where they will permanently be placed. I’d love to hear how they turn out 🙂
These are awesome!
1. Have you experimented with height? I see some great landscape planters that take on a pedistal look. .
I’m thinking it might work but wanted your take.
I definitely think any size pavers would work. I would love to see what you come up with Mitch!
Do you think it would work to glue heavy duty industrial wheels to the planter with the Liquid Nail so that the planters could be moved around?
Linda, These planters are very heavy. If you wanted to add wheels I would suggest to drill through the pavers and secure them with the appropriate hardware. I am not sure any type of glue would be able to support the weight when rolled.