Introduction: Vertical Garden With Reinforced Pouches

This Instructable is for a DIY vertical garden using an Ikea waste basket as the base. Adding woven plastic to felt pouches strengthens and adds a water-resistant capacity.

These instructions are for one pouch, but in the pictures I made two. Make even more than that!!

Step 1: Accumulate Materials

You'll need:

  • Plastic bags
  • Ikea Variera trash basket
  • Heavy duty felt
  • Iron
  • Parchment paper
  • Scissors
  • Grommets
  • Hammer
  • Zip ties
  • Needle
  • Twine
  • Potting soil
  • Plants

Step 2: Disassemble Waste Basket

With scissors,

  • Remove and discard side wings from the waste basket
  • Remove and discard base

Step 3: Weave Plastic Strips

Woven plastic bags give strength and water resistance to the pouches.

  • Cut plastic bag into strips
  • Arrange strips into tight woven pattern

Step 4: Heat Plastic

With iron on low setting,

  • Heat plastic between two sheets of parchment paper
  • Once cooled, trim rough edges off plastic squares

Step 5: Make the Felt Pouch

Make the initial felt pouch

  • Cut felt into the a rectangle roughly 8.5 by 7.5 inches
  • Fold felt in half, leaving roughly 1 inch at the top and pin in place
  • Using twine, sew along the two sides

Step 6: Add Plastic Reinforcement

Position the plastic over the front (shorter) edge of the pouch

  • Using twine, attach the plastic to the felt pouch at the top two corners
  • Wrap underneath the pouch and knot to the back stitches

Step 7: Add Grommets

Along the top of the pouch,

  • Place the grommet base and tool on the right side of felt where you wish to create the holes
  • Pound down in one fell swoop (watch your fingers!) and puncture felt with tools
  • Repeat on left side

Step 8: Attach Pouches to Base

Using two zip ties

  • Loop zip tie through the right grommet to the Ikea base
  • Repeat on the top left side A

Step 9: Add Plants!

In the pouch,

  • Place potting soil
  • Remove plants from pots and secure in the pouch, making sure the plants are turned forward

And display!

  • You can remove adhesive on the back to attach to wall, or hang
  • Make multiples to create a full wall garden