Ideas for Using a Bathtub for a Flower Bed

Angled Planter

• To give your bathtub flower bed an unexpected look, set it at an angle. Place one end of the tub on top of bricks, cinderblocks or stacked wood planks, depending on the look you want to achieve. This is particularly effective if you are placing the bathtub in the midst of a garden or shrubbery, as only part of the tub will be visible, and the slightly angled flower bed will add an unconventional touch.

Water Gardening

• For an unexpected twist on a flower bed, use a bathtub to create a water garden. Fill the tub with water and place river stones or landscaping gravel on the bottom to give a touch of color to the garden. In the water, place lily pads with flowers for a fresh look. Hang flower boxes over the edge of the bathtub to create a border around the tub; the boxes can hide the sides of the tub. Add a large aquarium pump to the bathtub to circulate the water and prevent the formation of algae.

Refinished Sides

• To make an old bathtub look more appropriate in your garden, refinish the sides to give it a new look. Use a paint remover to expose the rustic metal beneath the tub's finish, for example, or paint the sides a bold color. For a more artistic look, glue shards of glass and ceramic tiles to the sides of the tub to create a mosaic. Choose a finish that suits the feeling of your garden and the exterior of your home so that the bathtub appears to be a natural design element.

Picket Fence Backdrop

• Instead of placing a bathtub flower bed out in the open, use a picket fence or a wooden lattice to act as a backdrop. Cut a section of white fencing or lattice that is at least 6 feet longer than the tub, and embed the base into the ground. Set the bathtub in front so that the white sides work with the white paint of the fence or lattice. Plant flowers that spill over the sides for a wild, natural look.