Looking to start some little seedlings indoors but not really wanting to shell out your cold hard cash for containers? Never fear. Mavis’ freebie 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:
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
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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!
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?
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.
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.
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
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 🙂
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.