Fence planters can enhance an existing privacy fence in several ways, including increasing privacy even more, hiding an ugly fence, taking advantage of vertical space for growing food or flowers, making outdoor living areas feel cozier, increasing your yard’s visual appeal, and adding foliage for a more natural setting.

There are lots of fence planter options that are affordable and easy to install, so this is one backyard improvement project that pretty much any homeowner can do on their own. Below are 12 ideas for planters you can install yourself, most of which can be a simple afternoon or weekend project.

12 DIY Fence Planter Ideas for Privacy Fences

As you go through this list of ideas, there are a couple of general things to keep in mind. First off, always consider the weight of objects when hanging them. If you are hanging any type of planter on your fence, make sure your fence and what you use to mount them can hold the weight of the planter, particularly after it is filled with soil that will weigh even more each time you water your plants. Also, if the items you are using as planters do not have drainage holes, make sure to add holes to ensure proper drainage once you have plants in them.

1. Hanging Cloth Planters

Cloth planters with multiple pockets are lightweight and easy to hang on almost any type of fence. Most hanging cloth planters have grommets already built in, which means you can use hooks, screws, rope, or zip ties to easily mount them to your fence. Since these are often shallow, they are usually best for leafy greens, smaller herbs, or other small plants. However, there are some that are large enough to grow peppers and tomatoes in, so you do have options if you would like to grow larger plants.

This is a great way to take advantage of vertical space to expand your food garden. Hanging cloth planters are easy to find and generally affordable, but you can also use a hanging shoe organizer if you happen to have one on hand that you no longer need for its original purpose.

2. Hanging Baskets on Hooks

Another easy option is to hang hanging baskets from hooks or brackets mounted to your fence. Make sure the brackets you choose are strong enough to hold the weight of your baskets, as well as the soil and plants that will be in them once you have them planted. This is a great way to add color to your yard with flowering plants or to grow food plants that do well in hanging baskets, such as strawberries.

3. Wood Pallet Planters

Wood pallets can often be found free or for a low cost from stores that want to get rid of them after receiving them with deliveries. They are easy to transform into planters where you can grow succulents, colorful blooms, or food plants. You can lean them against the fence or mount them to it. If you have small children or pets who frequent the area, mounting your pallet planter to the fence is the safer option.

You can paint your pallets to add more color to your outdoor living areas or leave them unpainted for a more natural look. If you plan to grow food plants in this type of DIY planter, be sure to find pallets that are not made from treated wood.

4. Shelves

Another way to add space for plants on your fence is to install shelves. By installing shelves with sturdy brackets, you can create a versatile space where you can use a variety of pots that you can switch out at will or intersperse with knickknacks and garden art.

5. Metal Cans and Glass Jars

From metal coffee cans to glass pasta jars, there are lots of food containers that can be repurposed as fence planters. So, start collecting pickle jars, jelly jars, the cans your vegetables come in, and anything else that looks sturdy and about the right size. You can fashion wire hangers to hang your jars from hooks on your fence, or you can use metal straps from the hardware store to mount cans or jars to the fence.

You can add drainage holes to the metal cans, so these will be more versatile than glass jars, but glass jars look nice and can still be used. You just need to use them for succulents or keep an eye on the soil to make sure it does not get too soggy for whatever you are growing. You can paint the cans or jars in vibrant hues to add more color to your yard, or you can paint them neutral tones to allow them to fade into the fence and let your plants have the limelight.

6. Gutters

If you have some old gutters laying around and have been trying to find a way to use them and keep them out of the landfill, turn them into fence planters. You can mount them directly to the fence and can use them for a variety of plants, such as strawberries, leafy greens, succulents, or annuals with colorful blooms. If you do not happen to have old gutters handy, this is an inexpensive planter option even when purchased new at your nearest home improvement store.

7. PVC Pipes

If you are able to cut large PVC pipes in half lengthwise, you can use these the same way you would use gutters. Attach them to the fence directly to create fence planters for herbs, lettuces, or colorful annuals. You can paint the pipes to match your décor and can cut them into different lengths to add to the visual interest. Alternatively, you can cut PVC pipes into shorter planters, attach them with twine or rope and create hanging planters to hang on your fence.

8. Wall-Mounted Grid with Planters

If you prefer a uniform look and have the budget for a more expensive option, you might want to consider installing a grid system for fence planters. Purchasing a pre-made or custom system allows you to create a wall of planters for growing food, succulents, or flowers with a clean, consistent look.

9. Mounted Planters with Automatic Irrigation

There is a variety of planters available that are designed to be mounted on flat surfaces. Find a style that fits your needs and mount them directly on your fence. Mount matching planters in straight lines for a more modern look, or choose planters in different sizes and colors for a more eclectic look.

If you do not mind watering by hand, you can stop here and fill your planters with soil and plants. If you are just a little handy and would appreciate the convenience of an automatic irrigation system, install a simple drip irrigation line that waters each planter on the fence.

10. Vertical Planters with Irrigation

If you go beyond simple shelves, pallets, or boxes to create vertical planters like those pictured above, you either need to be fairly handy or will need to hire a contractor for this one. Handy homeowners can take this on as a do-it-yourself project, but you might feel more comfortable with professionals installing your system with this type of planter.

Choosing to cover part or all of your fence with vertical planters like these will enhance privacy and add significantly more nature to your yard. This is a great way to creatively expand your food garden, but you can also grow a succulent or fern wall in these planters.

If you choose a larger installation like this, installing integrated irrigation is key, so plan this into your build.

11. Container Garden

A container garden placed along the bottom of your fence is a good option for folks who do not want to mount planters on their fence and for those who do not have fences that are good candidates for mounting or hanging planters. Placing large pots along the fence allows you to add color and texture to your garden while enhancing privacy. Pots can also be moved and easily replanted, which makes them a versatile option for fence planters.

12. Repurposed Belongings

Almost anything that can hold soil can be a planter. You can screw boots to your fence, add hooks to hang old handbags, or mount baskets you are not using and transform them all into planters. This can work well for folks who prefer an eclectic look and for those who like to find new uses for old things to keep them out of the landfill.