Turn An Old Bike Into A Garden Centerpiece Full Of Charm

Turn An Old Bike Into A Garden Centerpiece Full Of Charm

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Does a pastel image of a bike leaning in a garden, basket brimming with flowers, bring back memories of the ’90s? Well, maybe it does, but seeing one in a real-life setting can make for pretty adorable garden décor. A weathered bike among plants is cute, but it can also be functional. So, upcycle an old bike into a garden centerpiece full of charm. Let the frame be a growing structure, the basket a planter, and the entire thing a lighting concept when coiled with outdoor-safe LED string lights.

Typically, bikes that become yard décor are more vintage cruiser than 10-speed. But with the right treatment, any bike will make a charming fixture for your yard. Keep this project from treacly twee-ishness by adding plenty of quirk. Let the bike boast lighting, cover all of its surfaces with growing things, or paint it a dazzling color that’s anything but precious.

Whip up your own iteration of this garden enhancement with an old bike, a basket, planting medium, and the plants of your choice. Don’t go without your favorite paint color in a weather-safe finish. Grab a pair of wire cutters to cut off gear and brake wires. If you want to morph the entire frame into a growing surface, also pick up some chicken wire and sphagnum moss. Just don’t confuse sphagnum with peat moss. Sphagnum is harvested sustainably; the latter is not, and you shouldn’t use peat moss in your garden.

Bloom up your repurposed planter bike

Get a gorgeous garden feature with this easy DIY. A quick and cute floral bike upgrade involves just a paint job, a string of solar lights, and a basket of flowers. If you don’t already have a bike basket on hand, a natural fiber one like this ProSource Wicker Bike Basket is highly-rated, affordable, and is ready to work as a planter. However, it’s not hard to find rectangular wicker baskets at thrift stores that you can attach to handlebars with wire. A lined wire basket will work, as well. Snip off wires, and coat any parts of the bike you want with paint, even the basket. Coil weatherproof solar-operated string lights around the frame, and tuck soil and plants into the basket.

If your bike has a rear-wheel platform for a basket (or if you simply want to jury-rig a platform back there), top it with another basket of flowers. Bejewel the spokes for a thrill. Or, for a double thrill, choose glow-in-the-dark ones like these Nanaborn Bike Spoke Beads.

Make the bike into a garden centerpiece with a moss-filled chicken wire covering fitted with plants. Cut pieces of chicken wire to fit loosely around the sections of the bike frame, and secure them with wire. Stuff the openings in the chicken wire with sphagnum moss, and follow up with plant starts that have small root systems. Give the plants a generous drink from the hose, and enjoy!

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