One of the aspects of your home that people notice when they drive by, and the first thing that you see when you come home, is your landscape. You can have the most well-manicured lawn in the neighborhood, but you might want to add a pop of color to add some uniqueness to the look of your yard. A great way to achieve this is to use old storage containers for flowerpots on your porch. The process is simple and this guide explains the steps needed.

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

• an old storage container
• 1-3 plants, in appropriate sizes for the container
• a pair of gardening gloves
• a bag of potting soil
• an electric drill with extended drill bit
• filler, such as plastic water bottles (if your container is deep)

Note: Your drill kit may have come with an extended bit. If not, one can be purchased inexpensively at your local hardware store.

Step 2: Drill the Holes

Turn the storage container upside down and set it on a flat surface such as a garage floor or a sidewalk. Put the extended bit into the drill and drill the holes in the bottom of the container. Based on how big your container is, you will need 6-8 drain holes evenly spaced; or a drain hole at about every five inches. Make sure there is a hole in each corner and several towards the middle of the container.

Step 3: Add Potting Soil

Turn the container right side up again. If it is deep, fill it with lightweight filler, such as empty plastic bottles, to lessen the amount of potting soil needed. Put on your garden gloves and add the potting soil to the container, pouring soil around your filler material if applicable. Stop adding the soil about a quarter of the way from the top of the container in order to leave room for the plants.

Step 4: Insert the Plants

Dig shallow areas in the potting soil for each plant with your hands. Set each plant in its place and use leftover potting soil to make sure that the roots of the plants are completely covered by about 2 inches of soil.

Step 5: Place the Pot Where You Want It

Your planter is now ready and can be placed wherever you desire. Set the lid of the old storage container upside down in the spot that you choose. Then place the planter on top of it so that excess water is contained and the soil can soak it back up as needed.

Expect this project to take only a few minutes. Create as many of these planters as you like to dress up your porch in a unique fashion without having to purchase flowerpots. Ask your landscaper for more ideas on dressing up your porch to enhance your landscape or check out websites like http://www.lawnscapeshydroseed.com.