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.
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:
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.
Ladder Boot Instructions
Garden Ladder Ideas
Eye-popping colour is always good!
Ladders are a great way to show off collections:
This one is in my garden:
This next one has an orange and yellow theme:
Ladders are excellent for showing off collections:
See how they placed the flowering annuals along the ladder? Very pretty!
I took this photo many years ago in the blazing hot sun:
Here’s another look at my blue ladder:
This little step ladder looks sweet:
Clever idea: use each step for a letter to form a word:
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~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛
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Jeannie Andrews says
May 28, 2017 at 7:21 pmHi, Empress Melissa, I have been gifted with some broken sidewalk and old bricks from a neighbor’s garden remodel. I am wanting to make paths or a “landing” for my Garden Shed. How do you move these heavy pieces of concrete around to attain the beauty of a garden walk? I have the idea of the walk, but not the know-how to get the job done. Any ideas for me?
Thanks, Jeannie
Melissa J. Will says
May 29, 2017 at 10:17 amHi Jeannie, I use a handcart, also known as a hand trolly or dolly. Just about anything I want to move can be shimmied onto it (by sliding) and then it’s easy to move heavy stuff around. I use it for large flower pots, wood, stepping stones, everything. Here’s one:
Also, when moving stones etc, it helps if the ground is covered in sand. This makes the heavy stones slide when you push them. Hope this helps.
Cher says
July 18, 2016 at 6:16 pmRe: Growing strawberries, last year I bought and split the growing location of strawberry plants. Some I planted in an old well that’s full of soil. They’re growing and spreading nicely. The others I planted in an actual terra cotta strawberry jar with varying pockets. The plants grew nicely through the summer but I wasn’t sure how I was going to overwinter the plants not in the ground. Knowing my beautiful jar wouldn’t last through a New England winter of freeze/thaw I placed the jar in the cold garage. I tried to water the plants when the weather wouldn’t cause freezing in the garage that could cause the planter to crumble or break. Fast forward to spring, the plants didn’t make it. I noticed the wheelbarrow strawberry planter and may try that. I would like to know how strawberry plants could be grown in a strawberry jar and overwintered without fear of destroying my jar or bringing them in the house for special treatment. Any ideas @empressofdirt?! Thanks
Melissa J. Will says
July 18, 2016 at 8:50 pmHi Cher, It’s tricky if your strawberry jar is ceramic or clay. I have overwintered some fairly fragile, large potted plants within the garden by wrapping them in scraps of thick foam (from a foam mattress) and then wrapping the whole thing in a plastic tarp (to keep the foam from getting musty). You will want to water deeply before the frost sets in and, you have to keep checking on it in the cold spring months. Give the plants air and sun and water during warmer spells and cover them up during colder times. Another option is surrounding the pot in straw. It’s the same process as growing veggies in cold frames during the winter except you have the extra precaution of having to insulate the pot. Let me know if you try it and please forgive me if it doesn’t work!
Darcy Starr says
March 27, 2016 at 8:30 pmI am SO glad I opened this page of yours!! I have about 10 bird houses I am wanting to hang but want them in a safe area from cats, raccoons etc. AND I also have two old half ladders the neighbors were getting rid of that I snagged!! I now know what do to with both! Thank you so very much ??
ALice Andrews says
October 21, 2014 at 11:21 pmThanks Some really good ideas!
Kristen says
October 21, 2014 at 9:26 pmThese are beautiful!! Love the first one especially. But this is a great idea, and I will be looking for a ladder in the coming months.
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Stephanie says
October 21, 2014 at 12:12 pmgreat round up. Who would have thought there were so many ways to use a ladder?! I also use mine at craft shows as a display shelf. I have to keep hiding the ladder because my dear hubby keeps trying to toss it out (not safe – sheesh!)
Melissa J. Will says
October 21, 2014 at 8:25 pmIt’s true, some people do not realize they are holding treasures in their hands!
[email protected] says
October 21, 2014 at 10:07 amThanks for the pub, Melissa! Great collection!