Turn Your Wicker Basket Into a Hypertufa Concrete Garden Basket

1 Material
$20
1 Day
Easy

I sometimes collect baskets to put pots in my garden. Unfortunately they do not last but one season because wicker rots out in the weather. I do not know why I did not do this sooner but here is my solution for any of those $1 wicker baskets you find at garage/yard sales- Dip them in hypertufa (or concrete) and turn them into garden planters and baskets. There are steps to follow and you need to find baskets that will soak up water to make this work. I did 3 baskets and now I am going to hunt garage sales for more! Creating. Inspiring. Gardening without the rules! You can read and see more over at my blog where I have other concrete and hypertufa garden projects!

This is the basket painted with Rustoleum 2x spray paint Expresso

You will need a wicker basket that absorbs water- not twigs or plastic - to soak before dipping

Dip the basket in your mix and coat it (but sticks and twig handles do not hold the mix). You can read a bit more on my blog.

This basket has a hole because the bottom was rotted and I put my finger through it while moving it. I still drilled large holes for drainage after basket cured

I had to chip away the concrete/hypertufa off the twig part because it did not stick.

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The Garden Frog with C Renee
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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Frequently asked questions
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3 of 17 questions
  • Judy Jacobson Judy Jacobson on Sep 12, 2019

    I think when I try this, I will use a very light fabric or gauze to wrap around the handle and maybe even the base of the basket. It will keep the woven shape of the basket so that you can still see the weave. The cement will stick to it then and actually I think it would look even better. Any thoughts?

  • Faith Faith on Feb 05, 2020

    I will try it and didn't see the answer, can you paint it after it's done? Plus why can't you make more holes to begin with instead of drilling after? Have to look for things I need before I start. thanks

  • Do u have a pucture of the finished basket with the wooden handle?

    Did you use hypertufa on 1st basket and concrete on second?

Comments
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  • Carey Carey on Apr 19, 2019

    I had never before heard of Hypertufa, but using Portland cement is an excellent idea and one that I think that I will try!

  • Tina Gooding Tina Gooding on Jun 09, 2019

    Lovely idea will be trying this thank you

    • RJM RJM on Aug 03, 2020

      our garden club did this as a project. They rotted after awhile. I would buy a plastic liner to put in basket . Problem solved.

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