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29 Rusty Garden Junk Art Ideas

May 23, 2019 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

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Love rusty garden art? These ideas come from home gardens where the gardeners are clearly on Team Rust.

Also see these wonderful garden art critters made from rusty tools.


Rust in the Garden

Definition of Rust

rust
noun

  1. a reddish- or yellowish-brown flaky coating of iron oxide that is formed on iron or steel by oxidation, especially in the presence of moisture.
  2. synonyms: corrosion, oxidation

What is it about oxidized iron that makes it look so perfect in the garden?

I’m sure garden art started many years ago by circumstance. Long before there were landfills and we could send unwanted or too-far-gone items “away”, they were stashed in the yard, left to deteriorate over time.

But, of course, there have always been creative people with artistic impulses, and it would be rather irresistible not to turn that old metal bed frame and a bunch of rusted tools into some fabulous creature or ornamental statue for vines to grab onto. If it’s going to be there anyways, might as well make it spectacular.

Today, most metal garden junk is welded (something I wish I could do), but no matter how you make it or get it, it’s clear the love of rust lives on.

I’ve gathered some favorites from my garden and garden tours.

Want to buy some? I get lots of emails asking where to buy these items. If I know a source, I always list it by the image. Otherwise, it’s just something I saw on a garden tour and do not know the source.

Related: 28 Charming Recycled Garden Junk Ideas



Rusty Garden Art Ideas

1Classic Garden Orb


2Woodpecker

Rusty shelf, birdhouse, hardware, and tool box at the The Rusty Garden Art Gallery empressofdirt.net.

Here’s a different rusty woodpecker on Amazon:



3Metal Bee Skep

This one is in my garden. The bee is from a golf ball craft project.

Rusty ornamental bee skep at the The Rusty Garden Art Gallery empressofdirt.net.

You can find the instructions here:
DIY Golf Ball Garden Buggies.



4Rusty Flower

Rusty garden art flower.

Related: Make Your Own Garden Art Flowers



5Bike Parking

Related: Garden Art With Wheels



6Rusty Welcome Sign

Not a great pic, but it’s a sweet piece.

Rusty welcome sign hanging from garden shed.

Related: Funny, Sweet, and Sarcastic Garden Signs



7Rusty Mermaid

Rusty mermaid as garden art.

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8Rusty Fish

I love this fish. He’s perfect over the dry pond. the garden art cattails are sweet too.

Rusty garden art fish.


9 Rusty Wheel

Rusty old wheel as garden art.


10Rusty Stoves, Heaters, Fireplaces

Rusty antique stove in the garden
Rusty fireplace on patio

11Bed Time

Yes, brass does not rust, but it does get a good patina over time.

Rusty Garden Art Gallery including orbs, kettles, bee skep, and decorative birds
Rusty Garden Art Gallery including orbs, kettles, bee skep, and decorative birds

Related: How to Turn a Bed Frame into a Garden Bed

12Shovel Bird

Rusty shelf, birdhouse, hardware, and tool box at the The Rusty Garden Art Gallery empressofdirt.net.

Related: Tool Garden Art Gallery



13Rusty Shelf, Birdhouse, and Hardware

This display of rustic items was on a garden tour I attended several years ago. Love the hardware and tool box!

Rusty shelf, birdhouse, hardware, and tool box at the The Rusty Garden Art Gallery empressofdirt.net.

Related: Gallery of Birdhouse Ideas



14Rusty Garden Bells

Rusty garden art bells at the The Rusty Garden Art Gallery empressofdirt.net.

I remember a version of these being popular for front doors years ago. This one is on a garden stake.



15Bike Gear Trellis



16Rusty Garden Birds

A new garden art piece that has rusty very nicely indeed.

Rusty garden art birds at the The Rusty Garden Art Gallery empressofdirt.net.

See Rusty Garden Art on Amazon



17Licence Plates and Old Tools

This is a scene from the same garden where I saw a fun ‘Hairy Potter’ potting bench, where Harry was apparently a mad scientist. It’s one of my favorite junk gardens ever. The artist is off-the-charts creative.

Rusty licence plates and old garden tools at the The Rusty Garden Art Gallery empressofdirt.net.

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Question Time!

Are you on Team Rust or Team Paint?

I love a rusty patina, but I do paint when the lifespan of the item is in jeopardy. I painted this coal burner and use it as a waterfall by my little garden pond.

Rusty old coal burner at the The Rusty Garden Art Gallery empressofdirt.net.

18Rusty Garden Bird

Another contemporary garden art bird. I’d love to display one in a barbwire nest.

Rusty garden bird at the The Rusty Garden Art Gallery empressofdirt.net.


19Rusty Old Copper Kettle

This kettle has been in my family for years. If you love old watering cans, also see Watering Can Garden Art.

Rusty Garden Art Gallery including orbs, kettles, bee skep, and decorative birds at empressofdirt.net.

Spilling Watering Can Garden Art Tutorial



20Rusty Garden Orb

This one was also on a garden tour. I love the simplicity of it.

Rusty garden orb at the The Rusty Garden Art Gallery empressofdirt.net.

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21Rusty Old Tools

Trust me when I say you will probably never see a larger display of old tools!

Rusty tools on shed wall at the The Rusty Garden Art Gallery empressofdirt.net.

There must be 2000 tools on this shed wall.

Rusty tools on shed wall at the The Rusty Garden Art Gallery empressofdirt.net.


22Metal Garden Art Dog

Metal guard dog at the The Rusty Garden Art Gallery empressofdirt.net.

This crazy looking guy is outside a junk/antique shop called McRatterson’s Collectables and Antiques at Kinmore, Ontario. The whole garden has some very clever junk ideas.



23Garden Junk Pipe Men

These are made from old tin / metal pipes. They’re super simple but so cute.

Rusty pipe men at the The Rusty Garden Art Gallery empressofdirt.net.


24Welded Tool Art

These are so fun. I love the creative minds that see old tools and metal junk and see what they can be transformed into.

Rusty metal tools made into cute creatures at the The Rusty Garden Art Gallery empressofdirt.net.

You can see more details here:
 Garden Art Made From Old Tools

25Vintage Wheel Garden Bench

Rusty Garden Art Gallery including orbs, kettles, bee skep, and decorative birds

26Rusty Knight

Rusty Garden Art Gallery including orbs, kettles, bee skep, and decorative birds

27Rusty Urn

Rusty Garden Art Gallery including orbs, kettles, bee skep, and decorative birds

Plant Ideas: This one is packed with plants including some bulbs (the green leaves), flowers (supertunias or similar), and ivy to spill over the sides. I also see some purple leaves (Tradescantia pallida, perhaps) for contrasting colors.

Related: A Spring to Fall Container Vegetable Garden Plan

28Rusty Sap Buckets

These are in my garden:

Rusty sap buckets

29Rusty Pinecone

I really love this one. It fits my obsession with spirals in nature.

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into the world of rust in the garden.

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛

Next

Various arbors, trellises, and obelisks in home gardens.
30 Arbor, Trellis, & Obelisk Ideas for Home Gardens
14 Creative and Functional Potting Bench Ideas
12 Simple Winter Garden Art Ideas
See More >>
Rusty garden art orb in flower garden.
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Melissa J. Will - Empress of DirtWelcome!
I’m Melissa J. Will
a.k.a. the Empress of Dirt
(Ontario, Canada).
Join me as I share creative + frugal home & garden ideas with a dash of humor.
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