Light post planters can be expensive, but these resourceful gardeners came up with a clever idea for building their own that is so simple I wish I’d thought of it! This is an easy DIY project that you can do at home with only a handful of tools.
To make a planter for flowers to fit your light post, you will need:
Tools Needed:
- Hole saw and Drill: A drill fitted with a hole saw about 1/4″ larger than the diameter of your light pole. If the planter doesn’t have drainage holes, you’ll need to drill holes several additional (less than 1/2″ diameter) to allow it to drain.
- Screwdriver: To remove the globe of your light fixture. It probably takes a Phillips-head screwdriver, but check your light to be sure.
Materials Needed:
- Container: A plastic flower planter (any size, shape, or design you like). You could also recycle a wooden barrel for this project.
- Potting Soil: A light container planting mix will work best.
- Flowers: Get creative! The sample planter has a mix of brightly colored summer annuals, with a red mandevilla vine to twine up the pole. If you use annuals, you can change them with the seasons and even tuck in greenery for the holidays.
How to Make a Light Post Planter
Here’s how to go about making a planter for the light post in your yard:
- Step 1: Remove globe. Make sure your light is turned off. Take off the glass globe and any other accessories from your light pole, to enable the pot to slip easily down over it.
- Step 2: Cut hole. Turn the planter upside down, and brace it against something sturdy. Using the hole saw, cut a hole in the center of the bottom of your planter.
- Step 3: Drill drainage holes. If your planter doesn’t have drainage holes, I’d suggest adding some. That way, there will be less water collecting around (and possibly rusting) your light pole.
- Step 4: Fit the planter. Gently slide the planter down over the pole. Hollow out the soil a little underneath it if needed, to get it level and sturdy. Don’t do much digging – you don’t want to disturb the buried wiring.
- Step 5: Fill and plant. Finish off your project by filling the container with potting soil and planting your pretty flowers. For more help on this step, see our article on: Flower Containers for Beginners.
What If My Light Post Doesn’t Come Apart?
If you can’t take your light post apart, simply cut out the entire bottom of the flower pot, slide it over the pole, and bury it about an inch deep in the surrounding soil to keep the potting soil from spilling out the bottom.
