1 HOUR 1 HOUR
The great thing about outdoor work boots is that they are so large. But what do you do when you are finished with them? They are not fit for use and are unsafe once they get old and worn through, but with all of that space inside, they really lend themselves to being turned into containers.
This project should be planted in the spring so that your bedding plants have time to produce the best displays. When choosing your plants, simply pick your favourite colors. The varieties I have used (see opposite) are easy to find and come in a huge range of colors, so you can change the display every year. If you are not a fan of annuals, then grow perennials instead; just feed the pots every year and change the soil every couple of years. These containers are incredibly versatile and lightweight, allowing you to easily move them around and to swap out the plants to maximise their impact throughout the season.
A pair (or even a few pairs) of old work boots
Drill (optional)
Pieces of broken pots/pottery
Multipurpose soil
Slow-release fertilizer or granular fertilizer
Dibber (optional)
Annual bedding of your choice—in plugs in the spring is best (I used marigolds, petunias, Senecio cineraria, Tagetes, begonias, and geraniums.)
1.Make sure there are holes in the bottom of your old boots. If they don’t already have them from overuse, drill a few into the rubber sole, being careful of any steel midsoles they may have.
2.Place a few pieces of pottery in the bottom of the boots for drainage.
3.Fill the boots with soil mixed with a little fertilizer. Using a dibber or your finger, make holes in the soil and place a plug plant in each hole. Firm the soil around each plant.
4.Water the finished boots and feed every two weeks with a liquid fertilizer, such as tomato feed, seaweed feed, or comfrey tea (page 57). After the bedding has gone over, collect their seeds (to use next year) on a dry day and compost the plant material.
5.They will flourish in almost any position as long as they get some sun and plenty of food and water. Bedding plants really want to flower, so they will cope with most positions. Do protect them from very high winds, though, so that their tender stems do not snap.
I have used a variety of hues for a bright display, including classics like Petunia, Senecio cineraria, Tagetes, and Begonia.
