Cheap and Easy-to-Use Planters

 A Cheapskate’s Way to Use Things You Normally Throw Away

🌿 Garden Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | February 27, 2026

Being the cheapskate that I am, I try to repurpose as many things as possible instead of throwing them away.

I also like to use a lot of cement blocks in my garden area, and I hate not being able to use the holes. Small things like herbs and low-profile flowers do well, but larger plants with more extensive root systems tend to girdle inside and basically turn the holes into a six-inch nursery pot. On top of that, it’s a waste of soil to fill the holes if the blocks are stacked two or three high.

A great solution I’ve come across is using butter tubs. I’ve found that 45‑oz tubs, in particular, work perfectly. It isn’t a single brand—Country Crock, Smart Balance, and a few others work well. It’s the size and shape of the tub that make the difference. This size fits perfectly and works great as a container. Pop a few holes in the bottom, fill it up, drop it in, and you’re set.

The tub not only helps block some of the radiated heat—although I haven’t had much of an issue with that—but it also makes it easy to relocate the plant if it isn’t working out in that particular area.

Swapping out plants is very easy. Pop out the basil, drop in pansies. Move the tub around the block grid until you find the sweet spot. Believe it or not, gardening is strange enough at times that moving a plant five feet can make a big difference.

Moisture control is easier as well—you don’t have to fight the wicking effect of the cement.

By the way, I also reuse the coffee, creamer, and other oddball-sized containers throughout my garden. They may not fit in block holes, but they work great as stand‑alone planters.

If you don’t like the aesthetics, just paint them—a great little project for the kids. It gives them something to do, gets them involved, provides a little focus, and maybe a bit of pride when they look at the garden growing. A little whimsy is always welcome in any garden. 😉

Just a few of those little things that make sense to pass along.

Happy Gardening 🌱