I’d love to find some new planters to add greenery and life to our outdoor space. After looking at planter options, I’ve fallen in love with the idea of using galvanized metal tubs, buckets, and pails as planters. Today I’m sharing some inspiring galvanized tub planter ideas so you can see how much beauty they can add to a space too! (post includes affiliate links; full disclosure statement available {here}):
I especially love the look when a mix of different plants are used, like these beauties:



If you’d like to use galvanized containers as planters, I’ve got a few tips for making your container garden a success:
- To ensure good drainage, drill a few holes in the bases of your planters and cover the holes with a piece of landscape fabric or screen mesh to prevent soil loss.
- If you plan to keep your planters in a very sunny spot, line the sides of them with bubble wrap before adding your plants to insulate them from the hot metal.
- Use a high quality potting mix for planting
- If you’re using large galvanized tubs on your patio or deck, consider adding casters to the bottom to make them easy to move around.
Galvanized planters are also perfect for growing invasive plants such as mint that have a tendency to overtake gardens. They can also be used for small gardens (my post on inexpensive raised garden bed ideas has several other ideas for small gardens too!)
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And if you live a little closer than you’d like to your neighbor, think about using them to grow tall rush plants to serve as a privacy screen as shown {here}.
One final tip – pick up one or two more planters than you plan to use for gardening because they also make the best shabby chic coolers for those summer outdoor parties!

For a more festive look, freeze water balloons and use them instead of ice in your galvanized planter. I used white water balloons for this gathering but colorful ones would be perfect for a kids’ party!

For more simple entertaining ideas, you’ll definitely want to check out my post on outdoor decorating ideas!
Do you have visions of how galvanized planters could beautify your outdoor space?
