An old tire vertical garden is a wall-mounted planter made by fixing painted tires to a fence or balcony wall and filling them with plants — free to build, dramatic to look at, and a brilliant fix when you have no floor space to spare.
In the video, a grandmother does exactly that: she takes tires headed for the dump and turns them into a lush green wall that stops people mid-scroll. It's proof that the best garden ideas often cost nothing but a Saturday afternoon.
The clip is short and in German, but there's nothing to translate — every move is on camera. Watch the hands, copy the steps, and you'll have your own tire wall by the weekend.
Trash to green wall
Watch the tire wall come together
How do you make a vertical garden from old tires?
You clean and paint the tires, mount them securely to a sturdy wall or fence, add drainage, fill them with soil and plant them up. Each tire becomes a deep pocket that holds surprisingly generous plants. The key is a solid fixing — tires plus wet soil get heavy, so screw into studs or a strong frame, never flimsy cladding. The video walks through the mounting so you can copy the safe way to do it.
What do you need to build one?
Less than you'd guess. Tires are usually free from a local garage that pays to dispose of them, so your only real spend is fixings and a bit of paint.
- Old tires: free from most garages or tire shops
- Exterior paint + primer: so color grips the rubber
- Strong screws and brackets: rated for the loaded weight
- Potting soil and drainage material for each tire
- Hardy trailing plants, herbs or flowers to fill the wall
What should you plant in a tire wall?
Go for plants that trail or stay compact: trailing flowers spill over the rubber and hide it, while herbs and leafy greens thrive in the deep pockets. Mix textures and colors so the wall reads as one lush display rather than separate tires. Because it's vertical, you get a full garden's worth of plants in the footprint of a doormat — perfect for balconies. Hungry for more reuse projects? The homemade garden decorations guide has plenty.
Is it safe to grow plants in tires?
For flowers and ornamentals, a painted, sealed tire is a well-established, safe planter. If you'd rather be extra cautious with edibles, add a plastic liner inside each tire before filling it with soil. Either way, sealing the rubber with primer and paint keeps everything tidy and long-lasting.
Frequently asked questions about tire vertical gardens
Where can I get old tires for free?
Local garages and tire shops usually pay to dispose of used tires, so most are happy to give them away free. Just ask at the counter.
How do I attach tires to a wall safely?
Screw into wall studs or a solid timber frame using brackets rated for the weight of a soil-filled tire. Never fix heavy tires to thin cladding or trellis alone.
What paint sticks to rubber tires?
Use a primer made for glossy or flexible surfaces first, then exterior paint on top. The primer is what makes the color grip and last outdoors.
Do tire planters need drainage?
Yes. Drill or cut drainage holes at the base of each tire so water can escape, otherwise roots sit in water and rot.
