DIY Plant Pockets with Recycled Denim

Recycled Denim Plant Pocket (2)

DIY Plant Pockets with Recycled Denim

Small space gardens have their challenges but one doesn’t have to sacrifice creating a beautiful outdoor room even if it’s just a balcony! The key is to go ‘up’ through vertical gardening.

Later this week I will explore some vertical options but first I want to share this idea with you. This little project can be done in about an hour using an old pair of jeans and turning them into an adorable DIY Plant Pockets that you can hang on a wall or railing.

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There are plenty of fabric or wool plant pockets available in garden stores now that make great vertical growing vessels. The idea here is that the roots can still breath through the porous material unlike some of the other recycled idea’s out there. I’ve seen turning a plastic wall shoe holder into a vertical garden and although this is a nifty idea, the roots will not get the oxygen they need for healthy plant growth.

So since denim is a breathable cotton material and we all have old jeans lying around, this seemed like a good choice for a recycled plant pocket option. I also had a vinyl tablecloth I decided to use for the backing in the event that it rests against a wall I don’t want to get water damaged.

Using a manila envelope as a pattern piece

Simply use any square or rectangular object for your template. This manila envelope was perfect to use on my husbands old jeans. Cut out two pieces for the front and back of your plant pocket from the denim, and one from your vinyl tablecloth.

For the front, fold over the top of the pocket about a 1/4″, press and sew into place.

Then place this on top of the back of the pocket with both front’s facing up as it would appear once sewn. Put your vinyl right side over both pieces and sew around 3 sides leaving the bottom open.

I made several shapes including one that had a double pocket. You could make one the length of a whole jean leg with many pockets for a long vertical herb planter.

Turn out the pocket, fold in the bottom opening about a 1/4″ and sew this shut. When using your iron to press out the seams on your finished pocket, be sure to press on the jean side, you will not want your iron to have contact with the vinyl so be cautious with this step.

Last is to measure for center at the top of the plant pocket for your grommet placement.

For the finishing touches you could embroider on some simple flowers, add a pre-made silk ribbon bow or sew on some buttons. Try using fabric paint and write herb names on these pockets if your really creative!

Your done! Now you can plant these up with herbs, cute annuals or some trailing vines. Make several in all shapes and sizes in several shades of denim if you want to create a whole wall of them.

Have fun making these plant pockets out of recycled jeans, I certainly did.

Happy sow-sew

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In: Garden Crafts, Sowing By: Shelley Levis Comments: 5 « Kickstart Your Spring Garden Now DIY Vertical Gardens – Are they all safe? »

5 Responses to DIY Plant Pockets with Recycled Denim

doccat5 - March 6, 2014 at 7:41 am - Reply →
Love the idea, but it’s really not practical to try and grow live plants in these. They just aren’t deep enough to sustain the plants for a season. You could however use fake or silk flowers and it would be stunning.
I have seen jeans used a a planter. Have a gardening buddy who thinks way, way out side the box. She took a pair of mens old blue jeans cut off the legs, leaving enough to fold over and “seal” the bottom. Reinforced it with one of the cut off legs and she used the iron new sew powder to do it. Added packing peanuts to the bottom, soil (which she packed down firmly and then added petunias. Set the “planter” on the ground against a post and folia. It lasted all season, looked great. Because the jeans a cotton it was easy to keep watered. I’ve always thought she was a little crazy, but then I think most creative people are operating in a different place at least part of the time. I want to give this a try.

Love reading your blog. Always interesting.
- Shelley Levis - March 8, 2014 at 8:02 am - Reply →
  Thanks! The plant pockets are more for ‘wall art’ to add small annuals and herbs to.. a trailing ivy would work too.
Linda - March 8, 2014 at 5:48 pm - Reply →
Well, I’ve got some old jeans left over from another project.
Best wishes, Linda Pinning to Garden
Amy - May 8, 2014 at 1:15 pm - Reply →
How many seasons could you guess that denim would last before rotting?
- Shelley Levis - May 12, 2014 at 6:40 pm - Reply →
  Hi Amy, I think you would get about 2 seasons out of it, just give it a good rinse with a hose at the end of the season, dry and store until next year.