12 Creative and Rustic Garden Art Ladder Ideas

Old wood ladders are wonderful in the garden. Have a look at these ideas for turning ladders into functional garden art. Use them as trellis, planters, herb growing, and decor.

For more, also see garden art project ideas.

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Ladders As Vertical Garden Art

Wobbly, old wooden ladders have lots of reuses both in the home and the garden.

Here you’ll see them used outdoors as stands for plants and decor, adding vertical interest to the garden the same way arbors, trellis, and obeslisks do.

If you ever see one in the garbage, snap it up! Their value is starting to be recognized and resellers are asking a little too much for them these days.

Whether you paint them or leave them plain, wooden ladders make a quirky, fun garden art accent.

This one is in my garden:

Related: How to Build a Decorative Garden Ladder

Tips for Long-Lasting Wood Ladders

Old-fashioned household ladders made from wood are not durable in outdoor conditions.

To make a ladder last for years outdoors all year-round, consider painting it with exterior latex paint and adding rain boots!

This will prevent rotting due to exposure to the damp soil, rain, and snow.

Want your ladder to last longer?
Ladder Boot Instructions

Garden Ladder Ideas

1Turquoise Blue

Eye-popping color is always good!

30 Arbor, Trellis, & Obelisk Ideas for Home Gardens

2Display a Collection

Ladders are a great way to show off collections:

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3Unfinished Painter’s Ladder

This one is in my garden:

4Colorful Containers

This next one has an orange and yellow theme:

25 Planter Ideas for Porches and Front Gardens

5Ladder With Shelves

Ladders are excellent for showing off collections:

6Flowerful Ladder

See how they placed the flowering annuals along the ladder? Very pretty!

22 Creative Wagon Planter Ideas + Whiskey Barrels and Wheels

7Repeated Pots

I took this photo many years ago in the blazing hot sun:

8Empress of Dirt Blue Ladder

Here’s another look at my blue ladder:

Tour My Garden Year By Year

9Step Ladder

This little step ladder looks sweet:

10Garden Sign Ladder

Clever idea: use each step for a letter to form a word:

60 Garden Sign Ideas—Funny, Sweet, & Practical

11Black Ladder

The pink flowers really stand out with the black garden ladder in this next garden.

12Angel Ladder

This backyard was filled with quirky and rustic garden art. I love the rusty angel with the aged patina of the wood.

13Clematis Ladder

This ladder was in my old garden next to the first clematis vine I ever planted. I didn’t intend to keep it there but came to love how the two looked together.

Clematis 101: Easy Guide for Beginners

14Classic Red Painted Ladder

You can’t go wrong by picking a color to use throughout the garden. Here a heritage red looks just right.

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~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛