Decorative flower pots have always been a summer gardening favorite. You can choose from a variety of summer annuals in a range of vibrant colors for both sunny and shady areas. Now, gardening with summer flower pots just got a whole lot easier and more affordable. Follow these steps for a beautiful summer gardening project.

#1 Buy Thrift Store Pots – Brand new clay and terra cotta gardening pots can be quite expensive, especially if you need larger sizes. I have found that stores like the Goodwill and the Salvation Army often have a variety of flower pots for sale. Interestingly enough, these pots don’t have to be true gardening pots. I have bought ceramic bowls, cement urns, and glass containers that have all worked quite nicely for this project. In addition, you can find these types of discount bowls at yard sales and dollar stores.

#2 Purchase Seeds or Small Annuals – I am always amazed how inexpensive seeds and small annuals can be. I can usually spend less than five dollars at a reasonably priced nursery and come home with enough plants to fill multiple pots. Leafy annuals like inpatients and flowing vines like vinca are a great way to fill up small to medium sized pots. Of course, seeds take time to grow and mature, but they are a great way to save if you can wait a few weeks for the flowers to bloom.

#3 Re-use Old Potting Soil – I have found that potting soil lasts forever. If I dig out all the roots at the end of the season and lightly cover the remaining soil, I can use it again the following spring. I simply leave the dirt in the pots and store them in my outdoor shed. The next year, I buy one bag of potting soil to top off my dirt from the previous year. That one bag is enough to layer about 2-3 inches deep in all of my pots.

#4 Decorate Using Rocks – I incorporate accent pots and containers into my garden or patio area. These can easily be filled with accent stones or rocks from a local hardware store or a craft store. If you really want to make it affordable, fill the bottom of the pots with plastic sacks and then stack rocks on top of the sacks. The sacks can handle rain and heat, and the rocks will still cover the plastic so you won’t be able to see it. That way, you only need half as many rocks. I especially like this idea in areas where my dog likes to play. He will dig up the pretty flowers, but he won’t mess with the artistic rocks.

Have an enjoyable summer as you decorate with gardening flower pots. Create gardening masterpieces with beautiful and affordable style.