9 Garden Treasures You Should Buy at the Thrift Store

Looking for inexpensive and unique ways to display plants and flowers? You can find the best garden treasures for a song at the thrift store. Wait until you see the cool things you need to buy on your next bargain shopping adventure.

I love a good deal, don’t you?

Whether you are shopping at the local thrift store, flea market, garage, or estate sale, there are certain things you just can’t pass up for the garden.

Brand new quality garden containers can be very costly.

If you can find them while you are out thrifting, grab them when you can.

But did you know there are other cool and unique container vessels you should look out for that you may not have considered for the garden?

YES!

Here’s what you need to buy then next time you are out thrifting for the garden.

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9 Garden Treasures You Should Never Leave Behind at the Thrift Store

For me, thrifting is the thrill of the hunt to find something really cool for a bargain.

From garden decor to container vessels, there is much to be found at the flea market or thrift store.

Here’s what you should never leave behind.

Thrift Store Baskets

It doesn’t matter if they are large, small, or something in between.

Grab whatever baskets you can.

For decorating purposes, they make great planters if you add a plant dish underneath a container inside.

But did you know that you can also use those baskets outside in the garden?

YES!

I used them a lot last year while deadheading flowers and it was so convenient to have them right there!

I picked this tip up from Linda Vater and have not looked back.

But you can hang these baskets around your yard in the gardens and use them to collect weeds.

Isn’t that brilliant?

I found this picnic basket while thrifting in Vermont.

Doesn’t it look so pretty as a container vessel for my fresh cut hydrangeas?

Oh and if you ever have a problem with fresh cut hydrangeas wilting, HERE is a great trick!

I also like to use additional baskets for storing things, whether it’s for my home or garden.

At any rate, don’t pass up a good basket.

And if you don’t like the color?

You can bleach them to mute the color and wash it out a bit.

Seriously, you can’t go wrong with extra baskets.

Even the basket on a vintage stroller would make a great planter.

I found this one while thrifting in Vermont.

My husband wasn’t into it, but seriously, couldn’t you see this one all potted up?

Since I was so inspired from this find, I found another one that was much smaller and likely used as a doll carriage.

I flipped my thrift store find to make the prettiest planter on the porch.

Wait until you see how much character it adds to the front porch.

Vintage Crocks Make Great Garden Treasures

Crocks are another great buy when you are thrifting around.

I buy all different sizes too.

You can use them for decor.

And you can use them as a vessel for plants and flowers.

Sometimes I’ll drop a houseplant in them.

Or faux Christmas trees.

But I’ve also used them as a vase for my cut flowers.

Seriously the possibilities are endless.

Dough Bowls Are Great Thrift Store Finds!

Never pass up a good dough bowl.

There’s so much you can do with them.

From displaying them with faux greens and flowers to potpourri or maybe some candles, vintage wood dough bowls are a great find.

Don’t walk out of the thrift store without one.

My Favorite Garden Treasure – the Vintage Tool Box

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know how much I love my vintage toolbox that I found in Vermont for like $15.

I’ve styled it ten different ways to Sunday throughout the seasons.

And it’s sat on my dining room table for the last two years.

Now that we moved, it does not fit under my chandelier on my dining room table.

So I’ve got to figure out a new place for it.

But toolboxes make great planting vessels or just display things in.

I never met a toolbox I didn’t like, so make sure you snag it whenever you find one!

Metal Pails, Bins and Buckets

Old rusty or painted metal pails, bins and buckets make GREAT planter vessels.

I found this super cool maple sap bucket in Vermont and used it for my faux Christmas tree this year.

That red on the bucket was the perfect subtle complement for the holidays.

In the fall, I found this copper tub and it’s PERFECT for plantings!

I can’t wait to pot it up this spring and add it to my front porch.

In addition to those, egg crates also make great containers for plants. But I’ve also used them to store blankets, pillows, and other decor from around the home.

Whether you plant live or faux, old metal pails, bins, and buckets are a great thrift store find.

So don’t pass those up!

Vintage Tins

I love pretty vintage cans.

They look so pretty displayed on their own. And even better with some plants or flowers in them!

Sometimes I display them in my kitchen to hide things I want accessible but don’t want on the counter too.

Vintage Watering Cans, Jugs and Milk Bottles

Those old metal watering cans are the best, aren’t they? I love how they look among plants and flowers.

Or even by themselves as part of my decor.

And the fact that you can use them to water plants is a huge plus for me too!

So be sure to add these garden treasures to the list too!

Old Wood Crates and Trunks

From large to small, vintage wood crates are the best, aren’t they?

I love to use them for faux greens and florals.

But if you find the larger crates and trunks, they can even be used as a plant stand, side or coffee table.

Vintage Dishes and Tea Sets

There are so many different ways you can use dishes and tea sets. The possibilities are endless.

For the garden, I’ve potted up teapots and teacups.

They make cute gifts!

But think outside the box and use them as garden decor. I’ve seen some cute container gardens with pretty blue transferware.

So don’t walk out of the thrift store or antique mall without picking some up first!

More About Finding Garden Treasures at the Thrift Store

Do you love to hunt for garden deals at the thrift store too? What do you love to shop for? I would love to know more in the comments below.

And don’t miss joining my Gardening DIY and Decorating Community on Facebook for more chatter. And follow along there and on Instagram as well. There are behind-the-scenes daily things that I share on Instagram that don’t make it to the blog. Would love to see you there too!

If you prefer to binge-watch Bricks ’n Blooms on TV, we go more in-depth with tours and posts on my YouTube channel. Would love to hang out with you there!

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Wait Until You See How My Friends Are Using Their Thrifted Finds!

My good friend Kim from Shiplap and Shells lives in the pacific northwest and found some unique items while thrifting for vintage on the west coast.

Wait until you see what she found and how she’s using them with her flowers!

And my good friend Jennifer from Cottage on Bunker Hill thrifts in New England and found some great finds for her kitchen!

Wait until you see how she’s using them!

Garden Supplies I Use

I’m often asked about the garden supplies and tools that I use most. From pruners to deer repellents, here are some of my favorites in no particular order.

• I like to use a good-quality garden soil, compost, and perlite when planting.
• I have used this deer repellent with great success. But now, I’m all about this deer repellent that is systemic instead of topical. This means the plant takes it in as opposed to it just smelling bad.
• Hands down this is my favorite hand-weeding tool. You can use to get underneath roots, loosen soil, and it cuts down on the weeding time because you work much faster.
• But I also love this long, stand-up weeding tool to really get around roses from afar.
• I like to use THIS ORGANIC FERTILIZER for roses because the blooms are more prolific and it’s organic.
• You’ll need a sharp set of pruners when working with plants and flowers. I buy a few so I can stash them around.
• Where pest and disease problems are concerned, I generally use this insecticidal soap or neem oil to help control infestations depending on the issue.
• This is my favorite set-and-forget slow-release fertilizer for houseplants, annuals, and container gardens.
• Whenever I stake my peonies or other plants, I generally use these grow through garden supports because they work really well and keep the blooms upright.

Want to See More Thrift Store Finds?

I’ve been sharing lots of cool items I found for our new home and garden.

Come thrift with me!

• 7 Fun Finds from the Thrift Store Near Me
• Prettiest Thrift Flip Idea for the Front Porch
• How to Decorate on a Budget with Thrift Store Finds
• How to Plant a Fall Garden in a Flea Market Find
• Thrift Unique Decorating Ideas
• My Thrift Store Vintage Finds for the Garden

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Enjoy a beautiful day! xo

About Me

Want to learn more about me?

I’m a master gardener who’s been gardening and growing things for over 25 years. With a deep passion for gardening, I enjoy helping others find their inner green thumb with all things plants and flowers, as well as find ways to bring the outdoors inside their homes too.

Get the inside scoop about my background as a master gardener, education, and experience, as well as why I started blogging.

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