How can I upcycle old rubber garden clogs into planters?

Kathy Pereira
by Kathy Pereira

I have a pair of old rubber garden clogs that I'd like to make into wall planters. Need ideas on how to do this. Do I need to create drainage holes? Mount the shoes to something first? Ideas please! These belonged to my Dad that had passed away so they will be special to me.

  4 answers
  • Em Em on Jul 12, 2019

    You could get two small planters that fit inside. Plant in them. Since they are rubber they will catch the water when it drains thru the planter. I would drill a hole in each and mount them on the wall with L Hooks or cup hooks so they can easily be remove to wash and clean out where the dirt and water has sifted into them. Easy peasy to lift out the planter to do so and to remove from wall any time you want to.

  • William William on Jul 12, 2019

    You can plant air plants

    https://www.hometalk.com/search/posts?filter=air%20plant


    Succulents would be nice.

    https://www.hometalk.com/search/posts?filter=succulent%20wall

  • Kelli L. Milligan Kelli L. Milligan on Jul 12, 2019

    Sounds really nice. If you are going to use inside dont poke holes in shoes. Use a small pot or several rocks in bottom for drainage. If outside go ahead and poke a few holes .

    As far as mounting, not sure what they look like or where you are wanting to mount to advise.

  • Lynn Sorrell Lynn Sorrell on Jul 12, 2019

    I miss my dad too....... instead of hanging them and possibly ruining them since they are so important just fill with soil and plant them, then place them on table or shelf with heel end up on small piece of driftwood so they are at slight angle, when you water take to sink water then return to your table or shelf.put them on nice second hand glass plate from goodwill so the soil moisture doesn't ruin table or shelf. I don't think you even need drainage just do not overwater dryer is better anyway. If you really want to hang them up------------heat a 16penny nail really well & use it to melt a few drainage holes across toe area just above sole of rubber clogs, using a big thick 16 penny nail this will create drainage hole but not large enuf that you will loose soil thru the holes(do not breathe the smoke/fumes if any); use 2 more 16 penny nails with washer on them so they do not go all the way thru clogs and place in middle of heel area then pound thru clog attaching to a piece of 2x8 board; you'll need to decide how long you want the board(2 shoes next to each other-board sidesways? long ways up & down?staggered up & down on board etc..; you could then hang board or if it's really long stand up leaning against wall; place a part of a paper towel or coffee filter piece down into toe area of clogs then fill with soil plant with some nice flowers or trailing succulents maybe in his favorite color. you could also try to drill a hole into clog heel then use stainless stell bolts and washer to attach to board. rubber will be tough to drill thru-you'll need to freeze the clogs getting soaked first or buy hollow drill bits for rubber drilling harder rubber only; easier way---- maybe after you drive 16 penny nail thru heel area remove nail then you could push a thin stainless steel bolt in place of large nail don't forget washers as I suggested--Online info. on drilling soft rubber "Freeze it! I had a job quite a while ago making printing press rollers, and the only thing that worked (because the rubber was fairly soft...about 30 Shore A) was to freeze the dang things and grind them to size. Once the stuff was hard it would work ok.

    I don't know how hard your rubber is though, but freezing it will make it harder."