Looking to start some little seedlings indoors but not really wanting to shell out your cold hard cash for containers? Never fear. Mavis’ 8 places to find free gardening containers suggestions are here! There really are so many awesome places to choose from when looking for free garden containers to plant seeds in.
I’ll also toss some free containers I get into my garden boxes so I can use less soil and yet not hurt my plants! Here are some great places to check if you, too, are on the hunt:
Here are 8 Places to Find Free Gardening Containers:
Home Depot or Lowes: Your big box plant retailers are the first place I’d recommend checking when trying to score some free containers. They go through mass quantities of plants and have to put those containers somewhere.
Ask someone working in the outdoor nursery if they have any containers to spare. I’ve often had them tell me to come back on a certain day and then I’ll return to a free container jackpot!
Craigslist: Always a great place to find all sorts of different containers that you could use for your garden. Just look in the “free” category when searching and you’ll be shocked what you find.
Of course, be careful you don’t meet in some dark alley to do an exchange and never go by yourself. And that’s my safety tip of the day.
Recycling Centers: Next time you take your recycling to the center, be sure to pop your head into the place where plastics are dumped. Or if you want some more durable containers to use, you could also check out the tin cans.
Sometimes there are larger tin cans that can make great garden containers, too. Always ask permission first, but since you are still recycling the container, just in a different way, I’ve never had them tell me no!
Dumpsters: Put on your ickiest clothes and get ready to do some dumpster diving!
Seriously though, I’d only check the ones that are next to large retailers or plant nurseries. Otherwise you’ll be looking for a needle in a haystack!
Food Services: Restaurants are bound to have containers they trash daily. And they’re more than happy to send their containers off to a good home. Plus, don’t forget all those take out containers.
Simply poke a couple of holes in to the bottom of the container, fill with soil and plant. Use the top of the container to catch any excess water.
Freecycle: This is another great place to score some free containers in your area, although it’s pretty hit and miss depending on when you search. Stuff goes lightening fast on that site!
Your Own Recycling: Many things that we recycle can be used as very nice plant containers if you think of them in new light.
Milk jugs, coffee tins and cans, egg shells and 2 liter bottles all work great as plant containers!
Bakeries: Imaging all the frosting that the bakers go through. Then imagine how many containers that frosting or the ingredients for that frosting came in. Next time you stop into your local bakery, ask if they have any used containers in the back they’re willing to part with.
More often than not they will be happy to have you take them.
Containers of all shapes and sizes are super useful when it comes to planting or filling up those larger garden boxes, and there’s certainly no need to pay for them when you can find them all over the city for free?
Where do you get your planting containers and do you pay for them? What are your favorite types to use?
Plant on,
~Mavis
Gardening books hold kind of a special place in my heart. I wouldn’t be the gardener I am today {or maybe not a gardener at all} if it weren’t for a few gardening books I picked up years ago.
After spending almost the entire winter of 2008/2009 reading up on gardening. I found some incredible reads that taught me so much and made me realize how much I didn’t know. So I’ve never stopped reading gardening books.
Here are just a few of my favorites, although if we’re being honest, narrowing this list down was hard!
My Favorite Garden Books:
- Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Planting
- The Complete Compost Gardening Guide
- Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre
- Sugar Snaps and Strawberries
- The Gardener’s A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food
- The Kitchen Gardener’s Handbook
Linda says
I’m blessed with the friendship of a 99 year old Polish lady who lived thru the depression and knows how to live frugally. Nothing goes to waste at Mary’s and she taught me to use empty paper milk containers to start my seedlings in. She cuts one long side of the carton off and uses that to write the name of the plants on and then fills the container with seed starting mix and plants here seeds in it. Living in the northeast where winters can be long and cold, Mary leaves holes in her garden in the fall so she can put her kitchen scraps in them throughout the winter then covers the filled hole with snow. No compost pile for Mary.
Keara says
Try using used toilet paper rolls for seed starters. Simple cut about 3/4 of inch evenly on one end and fold. Put in tray and fill with your starting soil. Add seeds plant as directed, use a mister or watering can you can control water flow so it does not soak and weaken cardboard bottoms. Use spatular or fork is tubes are soggy. My are usually so dry I tape them on the bottom sometimes and have cut some tubes in half if seeds grow in shallow soil.
I also use shallow tubs/bukets left in the ground and put taller ones inside for new planting or transplants. Either way composting inside the plant containers will save me steps and time thank you for sharing!
John Gibson says
I tried used toilet paper rolls and it works great
Caryl says
They are also good for cut worm prevention with tomatoes Cut them in half and use around base if tomatoe plant about an inch into aoil
Barbara says
Great idea there is always a good use fr everything
Heidi Radcliff says
Wonderful
E in Upstate NY says
Last time I checked, yes a few years ago, my local Home Depot had a locking dumpster for not only their empty plant containers, but also their iffy plants that they would not sell, not even marked down! An employee told me that if they were over heard talking about dumpster diving or seen doing it, it would be immediate job loss! From that point, I stopped shopped at their garden center. Don’t know if those rules still exist.
For extra pots, I’ve had success at local nurseries who also do landscaping. They aren’t allowed to reuse the pots. Any local restaurant has been an excellent source for plastic pots with handles. Even coffee grounds are available from the local coffee shops.
Yvette says
Food for thought….
When I worked for a huge company, we were doing upgrades to the office (construction, new office furniture, computers, etc.), and also had locking garbage bins. When I asked why we couldn’t allow employees to take the perfectly good office equipment/furniture (we’re talking 50-60 computers, desks, rolling chairs, couches, etc.), I was told it was some kind of tax thing, and that the company could actually get in huge trouble and/or fined for doing so.
It made me really sad, as most of those folks didn’t even have computers, and probably could have really used the furniture, as well.
Why, oh why do we live in a society where things are mandated to be thrown away, yet there is so much poverty and homelessness?
Varsha says
I know. It’s a sad thing.
Elaine W says
Yes this is true. The plants are not owned by Home Depot anymore. They are owned by the plant vendors and are not marked in inventory until sold. If you get a marked down one at Home Depot now it is because the vendor marked it down. This has been in effect at Home Depot since about 2005. I was a plant lady there for awhile and also worked for one of the vendors at a later time.
Raylene Hillhouse says
So wasteful. Plants, pots and perfectly fine ceramic planters….all trashed. Made me sick to my stomach.
Goinggreen says
Right.. I worked at an Amazon warehouse, part of the building was called damage land. We purposely destroyed all returned and opened items. Very disappointing
Laura Z says
You know those large clamshells you can buy baby greens in? Pull off the stickers, punch a few holds in the bottom, fill with potting soil, moisten the soil, and plant microgreens or mesclun seeds. Closing the lid turns your little box into a little greenhouse until your seeds sprout. Cut the greens with scissors and they’ll keep growing. Sunflower sprouts are delicious if you haven’t tried them.
Mavis Butterfield says
I forgot about those, great tip!
Nancy says
Tim Hortons in Canada is a great place to find free large white plastic pails. I drill holes in the sides and bottom of the pails, plant my tomatoes and hang them from the balcony. The tomato plants thrive and it saves space.
Hariatma says
How big of a hole do you drill in the sides?
Lee says
Loving your post- and the comments below. Here is a tip if you are planting carrots or deep rooted veg on shallow soil… polystyrene boxes (0ften used to transport fish, mushrooms etc.) can carefully have the bottoms cut out and stacked to the required height for whatever you are growing. fill the “bottomless boxes” up with dirt and or compost and sow your seeds in the stack. This will allow you to have soil/ potting mix just where you need it and raise the carrots above the carrot fly zone which is a bonus.
Fredericka Land says
how do you get the seeds for sunflower sprouts? I grow sunflowers, but I grow the big ones. Do I use those seeds?
Alison Grainger says
yes
Angel says
you can buy sunflower seeds in grocery stores, unsalted of course, if theyre salted soak in water for approx 20 min and then drain and sow, its that simple, I bought sunflower seeds for my bird, and this is what id give him, those he didnt eat, id throw in the garden,, love the surprises when they come out n bloom ! give it a shot!
Paulette Seymour says
Thanks for your advice. I am always looking out for used containers. Just last week I found a whole stack of all sizes in one of my neighbors bulk trash. I am never buying those again.
Amy says
Also egglands best brand has a fold over plastic egg carton great instant seedling greenhouse just make sure you put a hole in each one for drainage, cut the top lid and put it underneath to catch excess water
Helen in Meridian says
Mavis, did you get your $10/$10 coupon in the email from Kohls? They sent me a reminder today to print it and use it before the 30th. It says Happy Birthday.
Mavis Butterfield says
No, but maybe my mom did, I’ll have to ask if she got hers. And HAPPY BIRTHDAY back at your HELEN!!
Rebecca Anne says
Mavis, I look forward to hearing from you every day in my email! Thank you for being such an inspiration! I’m SO glad I found your site! I love YOUR love of gardening, crafting, reading, and bakeries! I love your simplicity! Keep life basic so you can enjoy it more! Wear timeless clothes, cook realistic meals, and live within your means! Dote on your husband! I love that you consistently inspire and challenge your readers! You get out there and grow your own food, (& do a fine job of it) and yet you accept the seasons where convenience foods are what’s best for your family. You inspire me to work hard, find ways I can create and then take time to read and relax too! I sent my sister a link to your site, and she said, no wonder you stay so inspired! I’m excited for your move, and I hope you enjoy your new home and new gardens THOROUGHLY!! We are almost finished building a new home, and my seeds have already arrived from Botanical Interests, and I’m super excited to garden (with my kids), cook, walk, eat bakery treats, read, and sew my way through this year! Thank you, Mavis for being such an inspiration! Rebecca Anne
Mavis Butterfield says
WOW! Thank you so much for all your kind words! 🙂
Maureen Van Ness says
Toilet Paper tubes! Stand them in smaller containers, pack in the potting soil, plant seeds, then as is and the paper will decay. Easy transplanting without plant stress. And we all buy toilet paper, right?
Idea from One Magic Square by Lolo Houbein. Great book!
Nanci C. says
I’m totally going to try the toilet paper tubes! Egg cartons work great too
Marianne says
I did this for my Brussels sprouts seeds but now am worried about crowding the roots. I plan to grow them in the tube for 5 weeks until I can plant them in the ground. Anyone have any suggestions?
Vy says
A friend told me this trick once. A lot of the authentic asian grocery stores get their produce delivered in wooden crates, dozens a week. If you go the day before trash day, there are stacks of them. Ask inside and they will most likely give them away free. Then line them with weed fabric, staple it in and fill it with dirt. I did this 8 years ago, I got 20 of them and a truck load of dirt. I am still using them today and the grand total was about $5 per box, hundreds of lbs of produce! I’ll take pictures one day and send them in 🙂
Meredith says
Thanks for such a great tip! I love in an area where there are quite a few Asian markets. I will certainly give this a try!
Torry says
I am a teacher and I once asked for, and received, the little milk cartons that are served with the school lunches. They are really easy to use!
Teri I says
I posted a note on the fridge at work asking everyone to rinse out their yogurt containers and leave them on the counter for me. I toss them in my lunchbag and take home 6-10 every day. Wash ’em up, poke a hole in the bottom and plant my little seeds. Stackable and super easy to store – and you can reuse many many times.
Dorothy A Smith says
I’ve gotten a variety of sizes and shapes containers as well as flats at my local cemetary. This is esp. true in May as everyone plants for Memorial Day. I used a lot of them to split perrenials for a charity garage sale.
Gracie says
I reuse my K-cups. They are perfect for starts and fit nicely on my window.
Patricia Wright says
What a good idea I’m going to try that
Sandy says
I often find pots in the trash cans at the cemetery. I take them home and give them a good washing. I can usually find a variety of sizes.
Kathy says
I would recommend that when you get used containers to wash them out good with bleach. You never no what may have died in that container. I worked at a nursery for 19 years. It’s playing it safe. All you do is dip it in water. And bleach.
Cindy says
Bleach is corrosive. Vinegar is a natural antibacterial.
Deborah DeRosa says
That was an excellent bit of advice. always use a bit of bleach.
Sue says
Landscaping companies also will have lots of containers that they will give away.
Susan says
The side of the street. When people are cleaning out they throw out the old plants or containers.
Snookie says
I use empty tomato, orange juice, vodka bottles for planters. Hacksaw the height you like, punch holes in bottom. Very unique conversation containers . The roots are visible because they are clear containers.
Charmaine says
hah! my answer ? … because there’s just too many greedy people & governments . Pitiful
JENNY G says
I use old mushroom or strawberry containers, I also cut the tops off plastic pop bottles and use them, I make good use of Kitchen roll and toilet roll holders for my beans and peas, plastic coffee cups come in handy as well, and never forget to save the seeds off my plants, I get a never ending supply of free plants as well as the pots to put them in. And by the way don’t forget to use your egg boxes as well as the egg shells.
ron elmore says
how many people drink bottled water. try the trash bins at your local park. i have 4 in a 1 mile radius.
Sandi says
Love this
Very interesting infoThx
Dianne says
If you care for loved ones cemetery plots, there are often pots tossed off to the side or back of the cemetary
Evie says
I have been trying to get a vegetable and fruit garden going for the past couple of years. Hard to get started due to work. However I do have a green thumb with houseplants. Any suggestions on the best and easy way to create a raised garden? Also, which vegetables/fruits that grow well in groups of duo’s and trio’s?
James C Hendrickson says
Don’t forget about estate sales! Every time I go to an estate sale and I look in the basement or the garage, there are almost always flowerpots there. You can get them cheap.
Elaine says
Garage sales are a great place too….often people will have pots in a ‘freebie’ bin and they are only too glad to have someone take them! Also paper towel rolls are good too, like the toilet paper rolls, and you can get more sections out of the longer roll.
Elaine says
Another place to check out is at garage sales. Quite often they can have a freebie pile and I see lots of pots sitting there for people to take. They are glad to get rid of them, and gardeners are glad to get them!
Julia M. says
I’m so glad someone else searches for “free” stuff. I have reused the paper egg cartons as seed starters, Amazon boxes, coffee cans, empty creamer canisters, milk jugs..basically anything. I keep the Bonnie planters and reuse them for my next batch of whatever-I-feel-like planting.
Julia M. says
And, I have even reused empty toilet paper rolls as seed starters that can then just be put right in the soil. It’s goof for the environment and is the perfect size for just about any seed. (Same for empty paper towel rolls.) Reduce, reuse, recycle folks. Not only is it good for the environment. It’s sustainable and good for the soil.
Anne Juurma says
Join your local Buy Nothing group for all kinds of free stuff. Also a great place to get rid of things you no longer need. This is a Facebook based group in your local neighborhood.
Kate says
I live in Germany, where sorting rubbish is a national pastime. There is a big Waldfriedhof – literally, Forest Cementery near my place, which is a beautiful place to go for a walk. At nearly every crossing you see a wire container meant for throwing out all the plastic containers in which the flowers planted on the graves have been brought in. You could equip a good-sized nursery with all the pots lying around there.
Mitzi says
,I use used paper coffee cups to start my seeds. Also, landscaper businesses always have pots from trees and flowers which they are usually more than happy to get rid of.
Deborah DeRosa says
My eyes are tired from everyone’s postings. To me, gardeners are the most intelligent, compassionate, nature-loving, respectable people I’ve ever met. All are anxious to talk about their successes as well as their failures, but they know how to learn from failures. Live this short, wonderful life and grow beauty that you can share with others. I think you are all awesome and find gardening as precious and exciting as me.
Cheryl Gantt says
I love your post on the recycling and I’ve been doing that, on a much smaller scale. I just planted my very first vegetable garden and I went through my storage room and I found old 5 gallon buckets. Old cat litter boxes, an old spin mop bucket my husband broke, drawers out of the fridge we got rid of cause it died. I will be looking at dumpsters in the area. I never thought of that and will hit Walmart, Lowe’s and home Depot. I have a farmers market close by too.
Sandy Hoar says
I work in a clinic. Many days we receive deliveries in styrofoam boxes, all sizes and thicknesses. As we know these never break down. You can easily put holes in the bottom if you use a heated screw driver or ice pick. (One local Freecycler asked for a couple to use as an outdoor shelter for feral cats.)