Recycling Flower Arranging Hack: From Plant Tray to Flower Grid

by Mary @ Home is Where the Boat Is

4 Materials

30 Minutes

Easy

I have a Flower Arranging Hack and recycling tip to share, a Garden Center Plant Tray repurposed as a Flower Grid! The plastic grid is more substantial than chicken wire for supporting stems and a great alternative to wet floral foam for arranging flowers!

recycling flower arranging hack from plant tray to flower grid

I always seem to have empty plant trays and plastic pots to return for recycling.

I transported pots of pansies home from the garden center using this tray. I walked by it several times, when I had a light bulb moment. . .the plastic grid designed for plant drainage would be perfect for flower arranging!

I used my hubby’s wire cutters (also referred to as diagonal cutting or side cutting pliers) to snip through the plastic tray holding the round pot ring with the grid.

This particular plant tray/pot holder was 5 1/2 inches in diameter and fit inside my urn.

Endless Summer Hydrangeas are still pushing blooms with our warm fall temperatures, while older blooms have faded to a soft green. I added some vibrant red coleus growing in a summer container and some abelia snipped from the shrubs. Leaves from a sweetgum tree are showing the first signs of fall color and I cut some branches to add to the arrangement.

I started with the foliage first, adding the leaves and the red coleus to establish a framework for the arrangement. Next, I added the hydrangeas, then the abelia. Last, I added some burgundy foliage from the loropetalum shrubs.

Here’s another benefit of this plant tray flower grid that I discovered, you can lift the ring and remove the arrangement to change the water without disturbing the design!