Timmy the Topiary Turtle

Alicia W
by Alicia W
6 Materials
$20
1 Hour
Easy


I was at Lowe's yesterday, saw a wire hanging basket upside down and thought to myself, "That looks like a turtle shell"...
Along with a wire hanging basket, you'll need landscape fabric, chicken wire, four small pots, paddle wire, potting soil, and plants.
Begin by removing the hanging chain.
Remove the liner.
Place the basket upside down onto 2 pieces of landscape fabric.
Trace outer edge of basket and cut circle.
Lay the basket upside down onto a piece of chicken wire.
Cut the chicken wire the width of the basket.
(I laid the chicken wire onto a piece of landscape fabric so you could see the chicken wire)
Place the liner into the basket
Fill with potting soil.


Place the circle of landscape fabric over the potting soil.
Place the chicken wire over the landscape fabric.
Cut away the excess chicken wire leaving a 1" edge
Bend the edges of the chicken wire around the edge of the wire basket to secure the chicken wire.
To add the pots (feet) place all four pots onto the chicken wire to determine where they will be attached.
Using 2 long pieces of paddle wire, twist onto a section of chicken wire.
Thread the end of the long pieces through the hole in the pot.
Take each of the four pieces around the pot and twist onto the chicken wire to secure (as shown in the photo)
Turn the basket around so it's standing on the pots (feet).
To make the head, fold a piece of chicken wire into a tube.
Close one end by bending the chicken wire onto itself.
Place landscape fabric into the tube.
Fill with potting soil.
Close the end by bending the chicken wire onto itself.
Using paddle wire, attach the head onto the shell.
Using a scissors cut holes in the liner where you will be adding plants.
Carefully add one plant into each hole working around the basket.
For the head, cut holes into the chicken wire and then landscape fabric.
Carefully add a plant into each hole.
Water thoroughly. After a few weeks, your turtle's shell will be covered in color.


Suggested materials:
  • Wire hanging basket   (Lowe's)
  • Landscape fabric   (Lowe's)
  • Chicken wire   (Lowe's)
See all materials
Frequently asked questions
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  1 question
  • Caroleculver2016 Caroleculver2016 on Jul 16, 2020

    What kind of plant did you use for the head. Love this and will make it. Thanks

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2 of 21 comments
  • Nancy Nancy on Jul 16, 2020

     That is so adorable and would also be nice near a children's play area.

  • Trudy Trudy on Sep 02, 2020

    Very cute. So many possibilities, succulents, herbs and lettuces, flowers.

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