How to Make a Mossy Boot Planter

Are you looking for a unique way to spruce up your garden? This Leprechaun-approved mossy boot planter is the perfect solution! It’s easy to make, and with a few simple materials, you can create a beautiful and natural-looking planter that will add character and rustic charm to your outdoor space.

Formed out of moss and chicken wire, the planter makes a great conversation piece.

I love using chicken wire to make natural planters. It’s a great medium to create a basic form that doesn’t overpower the moss lining. If you don’t have chicken wire or you’re not keen to work with it, you can adapt this Leprechaun shoe tutorial to make something similar.

So, grab your gardening gloves and let’s get started! Oh, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram. And don’t forget to subscribe so you’ll never miss a post!

What you need

For this project, you’ll need a little bit of morning magic 😉 and:

• chicken wire,
• wire cutters,
• craft moss,
• loose coconut fibres,
• plastic bags,
• twine,
• scrap wood,
• gloves,
• boot cutting guide

You’ll also need a suitable plant. I added Lily Turf inside my boot. Her official big Latin name is Liriope muscari, “blonde”. This beautiful and unusual cultivar thrives in both sun and shade. In early Spring, she produces pale silvery, blonde leaves lasting about two months. As the weather warms up, her leaves turn a deep green. She’s drought-tolerant, too, making her an excellent choice for the mossy boot planter.

How to make a mossy boot planter

Working with chicken wire can be a bit tricky, but it doesn’t have to be! Always wear gloves. Not only do they protect your hands from sharp edges, but it also helps you get a better grip while you bend the wire into shape. To make the mossy boot planter, you can either watch the video or scroll down a teeny bit for the step-by-step instructions.

Forming the boot leg

Start by cutting a piece of wire that’s 86.5 cm long x  40.5 cm wide (34″ x 16″). The measurements don’t have to be precise. I guestimated them. You’re welcome to use this rough boot-cutting plan as a general guideline.

Flatten the wire and add a layer of moss over the chicken wire, followed by the loose coconut fibres.

Trim a black plastic bag and place it over the coconut fibres. The bag will go inside the mossy boot and keep all the layers together.

Fold the short sides of the “boot leg” inwards to meet in the middle.

Fold the bottom long edge over.

Roll the mossy, coconut-fibred chicken wire into a tube that overlaps and tapers towards the bottom. Secure the overlap with wire.

Making the boot toe

The boot toe is made in a similar fashion. Cut a 20.5 cm x 24 cm (8″ x 9.5″) piece of chicken wire . On one long end, cut away a flat V-shape.

Add a layer of moss, then coconut fibre and finish off with a plastic bag trimmed to size. Fold the two short sides over a little to secure all the layers.

Bend the mossy chicken wire toe, so it forms an arch.

Joining the leg and toe

Place the V-Shaped cutaway bit against the boot tube and secure it with wire.

Shape the boot toe. I cut a slit in the front to make it easier to fold over itself.

You should end up with something like this.

Making a bootsole

Place the mossy boot on scrap wood and trace around the bottom to make a sole.

Cut the sole out using a jigsaw and paint to protect the wood. If you have a shoe sole floating around, you can use that instead. The wooden sole will rot over time, but it’s all I had. Drill a few holes in the heel of the sole and stuff the toe with a scrunched-up plastic bag.

The plastic bag pads up the boot toe to keep its form. Use a staple gun or nails to attach the sole to the mossy boot planter.

Honestly, this was the most challenging part of making the mossy boot planter. That staple gun and I have never been the best of friends.

Adding laces

To finish off, I added twine laces. Use a large yarn needle to sew the laces in place. You can also poke eyelets with a skewer and thread the laces through if you don’t have a large enough needle.

Pop a pot plant inside, and you’re all done.

I grouped my mossy boot planter with a small gaura

and a mistletoe cactus.

They all have similar watering needs, and while the guara prefers full sun, she’s not opposed to some light shade.

Don’t you love how the contrasting textures play off against each other?

Caring for the mossy boot planter

To ensure that your mossy boot planter looks good for years to come, place her in a protected spot that doesn’t get too much direct sunlight. Moss tends to fade over time. If you find that yours looks a little dreary, this tutorial will show you how to recolor and “revive” moss.

When it comes to watering, most decorative mosses have dye and/or chemicals added to keep them looking lush and vibrant. So avoid drenching the whole boot unless you don’t mind slimy green water stains all over. I use a watering can with a thin spout to water mine. Other than that, preserved craft moss doesn’t need any special attention, and your homemade boot planter should give you many years of joy .

If you like the idea of making a mossy boot planter, don’t forget to pin it for later.

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Want some more moss craft projects? Here are a few of our favorite tutorials.

 

Oh, and if you’re looking for some of the things we used, we’ve got you covered. Disclosure: Clicking on the links below means we may receive a commission from Amazon. But don’t worry, it won’t come out of your pocket, and it helps us make more amazing crafts to share with you 😉

And if you prefer to buy rather than DIY, these beauties may appeal.

And as always, wishing you a wonderful, crafty week filled with lots of love. Thank you for popping in for a visit.