How to Turn an Old Firepit into a Sumptuous Summer Planter

Before throwing away any container-like object I always ask myself, “could this be a planter?” At our last house, we inherited a rusty old firepit left behind by previous tenants. It was destined for the trash, but I recognized its potential. In this post, I’ll share some general tips for repurposing any receptacle into a functional planter, using my firepit planter as a prime example.

Since I positioned my firepit planter in full sun and filled it with plants that bloomed from June through August, this post will double as summer planting inspiration for anyone who needs it! 

I hope no one feels betrayed by this confession, but for about a year I lived in a house with an actual backyard. Granted, most of it was paved over, so I still gardened a lot in containers. This is where we found the firepit and why I had enough space for such a large container. However, its transformation hinged on basic principles that can be applied to “found planters” of any size.

Planters are all around you

Obtaining pots is step one for an aspiring container gardener, and there are a number of places to look for affordable ones. Nevertheless, the costs of containers adds up fast! 

If you’re on a strict budget, take a good look around. Check the closets, the underused kitchen cabinets, the parking lot or garage, the sidewalk. Pretty much any container made of a sturdy material that has or could have drainage holes is a contender. Examples I’ve seen include colanders, tin cans, empty candle jars, baskets, wooden crates, and old kettle barbecues. 

Drainage is key

No matter what you’re transforming, it must have drainage. That means enough holes in the bottom of the container to allow water to drain out freely when you water. Without drainage, the potting mix will become waterlogged and the plants will rot and die. 

One of the reasons why a firepit works so well is that it already has holes on the bottom. But you can also make holes if need be, provided you have the right tool. If drilling into a brittle material such as ceramic or glass, pick up a glass and tile drill bit at the hardware store.

Once you have your holes sorted, lifting your container off the ground can further improve drainage. Again, it’s as if this firepit was destined for planterhood with its little legs. You can also use bricks, wood blocks, or those cute terracotta pot feet they sell at the garden center. 

Alternatively, if you’re on a balcony and your downstairs neighbors don’t appreciate being dripped on, you can use saucers under your pots to gather excess water, allowing it to evaporate. For plants that truly hate wet feet like tulips or Mediterranean herbs, simply tip the excess water from the saucers into your watering can for future use.

Lining matters, too

Some containers may come with a little too much drainage. Like a colander or sieve, my firepit planter was composed of a circular mesh drum, which would have allowed all the soil to spill out during watering. It needed some sort of lining.

Luckily, I had a stack of wooly packing blankets sitting in the garage from our recent move. I cut a strip to the right dimensions, lining just the interior drum and not the bottom. Using flexible wire, I “sewed” the blanket onto the metal mesh until it was relatively secure. Filling the firepit with potting soil kept it firmly in place.

Not only did the blanket keep the soil in, but it dried out between watering thanks to the mesh walls, almost like terracotta. This worked out great for the sun and drainage-loving plants I picked to fill my firepit planter.

You may also need to line your planter if it is a material prone to rot, such as wood or wicker. In that case, use something waterproof like a plastic bag to line the interior. Just be sure to poke holes in it for– one more time all together– DRAINAGE! 

Summer thrillers, fillers, and spillers

Even if you’ve just started container gardening, you may have already come across the concept of “thrillers, fillers, and spillers.” Cliché though it may be, this design rule really helps when you’re choosing plants for a large container (like a firepit planter!) and feeling overwhelmed by all the options.

Basically, you want a “thriller” for height and impact, “spillers” to flow over and soften the edges of the container, and “fillers” to, well, fill in the rest. 

Depending on the size and shape of your container, you can apply this rule in different configurations. For my circular firepit planter, I opted for a concentric approach with the thriller right in the center.

Also, your thriller, fillers, and spillers will be roommates. Therefore, they should all enjoy similar light and water requirements and soil type. Since my firepit was going in full sun with excellent drainage, I chose only plants with those preferences.

For my summer thriller, I opted for foxglove. Displaying tall spires of tubular blooms all summer long that come in a huge array of colors, they were a solid thriller choice. Two warnings: 1) they are toxic, so wash your hands after touching and don’t let your pets eat it and 2) they are biennials, meaning they flower in year two of growth, so confirm at the nursery that you’re buying a two-year-old plant if you want blooms that season.

A couple of gorgeous full-sun summer spillers include ornamental oregano and helianthemum nummularium. They are both tough, trailing plants that added handsome foliage and subtle color to my firepit planter.

To fill in the rest, I used hot lips salvia (which turned out to give the foxglove a run for its thriller status), dianthus, and a frothy pink diascia.

My firepit planter before and after

At its peak in June and July, my firepit planter exuded summer joy as the centerpiece of my backyard patio. As you can see, I committed to a range of pink hues, which I personally loved. When it comes to color, I support following your heart. Choose colors that make you happy!

When the time came that fall to move out of our old house and back into a balcony apartment, I left my beautiful firepit planter behind (with the salvia still thriving) to confuse or delight the next tenant. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever turned into a planter? I would love to hear about your project in the comments!