How to Show Off Your Garden Flowers Using Vintage Thrift Store Finds

Some of my favorite things in this garden aren’t plants. They’re the rusty, beat-up, full-of-character vintage pieces I’ve brought home from thrift stores and flea markets over the years.

A galvanized tub here, an old wheelbarrow there. Each one has a story, and together they give the garden a feeling that no catalog planter can replicate.

Here’s a look at the vintage containers and yard art pieces I use most, along with the practical details that actually make them work.

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Creative Outdoor Container Ideas Using Vintage Finds

Whiskey and Wine Barrels

Beat-up whiskey and wine barrels are made for a cottage garden. The weathered wood fits right in, and because of their size, they hold enough soil for a real planting.

We built an inside stand with a round top to prevent the barrel’s wood from rotting, leaving about 12 inches of depth for soil.

Drainage holes were drilled through both the barrel bottom and the stand. Before adding any dirt, I applied an oil-based Varathane sealant to the interior to protect the wood from moisture. It holds up well season after season.

Galvanized Buckets and Tubs

Old, rusty galvanized buckets, pails, and tubs are the vintage containers I use the most. I constantly find them at thrift stores, and they never go out of style in a cottage garden.

The practical question I get most often: how does the water drain? Simple. We drill holes in the bottom of each piece, always drilling from the outside in so there are no jagged edges on the exterior.

My absolute favorite is a large galvanized tub that lives near the greenhouse steps. It’s perfect for an herb garden and gets better looking every year. I love mixing these vintage pieces with newer ceramic planters for contrast, and I use a technique when filling deep containers with less soil so they don’t get heavy to move.

Vintage Enamel Hand Wash Set

This one stopped me in my tracks at a thrift store. After a little research, I confirmed I’d found a genuine vintage enamel hand wash set with a stand, and I paid well under $50 for it. A quick search on Etsy shows similar prices listed for over $150. It’s one of the most distinctive things in the garden.

Vintage Tool Boxes and Handled Caddy Carriers

Years ago, I found a vintage wooden tool carrier with handles and an iron holder at a thrift store. I love the stand it came with. The box itself has seen better days and will eventually need to be rebuilt. Metal toolboxes work just as well if you come across one, though most of mine end up indoors with faux flowers.

Vintage Wrought Iron Planters

Window box holders, wall planters, and flower stands. Vintage wrought iron pieces work in almost any spot in the garden and look especially good when they’re a little rough around the edges.

Vintage Wheelbarrows

One of my wheelbarrows came from a former client during my years as a senior care placement advisor. He was moving into assisted living and wanted his wheelbarrow to live in a real garden. And it does.

We drilled drainage holes in the bottom. One thing worth knowing: wheelbarrows can be surprisingly shallow depending on the size. Be thoughtful about what you plant inside. Shallow-rooted annuals work best, and wagons have the same appeal with similar depth limitations.

Vintage Bird Baths

Bird baths look generous among cottage garden flowers and herbs, and they can double as flower containers. Mine is still holding water, but even without converting it to a planter, it earns its place in the garden every season.

Vintage Cast Iron Fountains

A vintage cast-iron garden fountain makes an excellent container to grow trailing or low-growing flowers. One of mine was actually featured in Country Home Magazine years ago. There’s something about a fountain filled with blooms instead of water that catches people off guard.

Vintage Bikes and Bike Baskets

A vintage bike with a flower basket might be the single most photographed thing in my garden.

It adds height, character, and a softness that’s hard to get any other way. If outdoor space is limited, a tricycle works just as well.

I use coconut liners in my bike baskets to hold the soil. Moss also works.

The one thing I’ve learned the hard way: wicker baskets don’t survive Pacific Northwest winters. The one I tried lasted less than a year. If you use wicker, plant in a removable pot and leave the basket outside during the dry season.

Vintage Chicken Feeders

Chicken feeders are one of those unexpected finds that look completely at home in a cottage garden. They’re the right size for herbs or small flowers and have that galvanized, slightly industrial character that mixes well with soft blooms.

Vintage Chairs

A vintage metal or wooden chair can support a potted plant, hold a pumpkin and fall, or add height and interest to a garden corner.

I’ve had great luck finding these at thrift stores for next to nothing. Online prices are usually higher, but you’ll get an idea of what to look for.

Iron Bed Frames and Gates

Vintage iron bed frames are one of my favorite structural elements.

They can serve as a garden border, a support for tall flowers like gladiolus, or just a beautiful backdrop. I’ve used one in a raised bed, and it works especially well there.

Wrought Iron Garden Border Panels

Both vintage and vintage-inspired wrought iron border panels add a whimsical, finished quality to a cottage garden bed. They’re easy to find at thrift stores and estate sales and give even a simple planting a more intentional look.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Vintage Items Make the Best Flower Containers?

Galvanized buckets and tubs, whiskey barrels, wheelbarrows, chicken feeders, and cast-iron fountains all work beautifully. The key is making sure each one has proper drainage. Most metal pieces can be drilled easily from the outside.

How Do You Add Drainage to a Vintage Galvanized Container?

Drill holes through the bottom from the outside in. Drilling from outside keeps the rough or jagged metal on the interior, where it won’t scratch anything. A standard drill bit works for most galvanized metal.

Can You Use a Wicker Bike Basket as a Flower Container?

In a dry climate, yes. In a rainy one like the Pacific Northwest, wicker breaks down quickly. I had one fall apart within a year. A better option is to plant flowers in a removable pot and nest it inside the basket, keeping the wicker covered or stored during wet weather.

How Do You Protect the Wood Inside a Whiskey Barrel Planter?

We built an interior stand to keep the soil about 12 inches deep rather than filling the whole barrel, which reduces moisture exposure. Before adding soil, I coat the interior with an oil-based Varathane sealant. Drainage holes drilled through both the barrel and stand keep water from pooling.

Where Can You Find Vintage Garden Containers?

Thrift stores, estate sales, and flea markets are the best places to look. Prices are a fraction of what you pay online. Etsy and similar sites are useful for knowing what something is worth, but patience at the thrift store almost always pays off.

More Vintage Garden Ideas

If you’re just getting started with vintage garden decor, liquor pieces that already have some wear. The rust, the dents, and the chipped paint.

That’s what makes them look like they belong. They never overlook the oddly shaped pieces. Half the time, those are the most interesting ones in the garden.

Until next time,

Happy Vintage Thrifting for Your Garden!

Jennifer | Cottage on Bunker Hill

Jennifer is sharing her fabulous trip to the Todd Farm Flea Market. You’re not going to believe all the incredible thrifting opportunities at this vintage venue.