How to Make a Cute DIY Tire Swing Planter For Your Garden Gnomes

1. Wash the tire

First I washed the tire with Simple Green and a scrub brush.

2. Paint the tire

I laid out a sheet of plastic to paint on. Cardboard is good too- anything to keep you from having the wrong color lawn.

I sprayed around the exterior twice; then the interior, spraying more on the inside sides then the bottom, which would be filled with dirt; and the top, which would be hidden.

Once dry, I flipped it over, sprayed that side, and checked for missed spots. It took me 1 can of spray paint but might take you a bit more depending on the size of your tire.

I love the new summer colors Rustoleum puts out! This one is a blue called Satin Seaside.

3. Drill a hole in the top

Then, drill a hole in the top to hang it. We could've just tied the rope around the tire, but the paint will scrape off when it swings, so this worked best.

Seriously use a large drill bit and expect some smoke because you're burnin' rubber!

4. Add an eyebolt set

We had this eyebolt set already. It was rather long but free wins out.

Screw the eyebolt into the hole you drill with a nut on the inside to secure it.

5. Drill holes for drainage

I had hubby drill some drain holes in the bottom. More smoke!

6. Tie the rope to the tire and tree

I knew this gnome tire planter swing was going in Fairy Forest... in the gnome section of course!

Then it was a matter of getting that rope up in the tree. This was a little difficult but a ladder saved the day. Then tie the rope to the eyebolt.

7. Add landscaping fabric, gravel & dirt

Next a bit of pea gravel... but in hindsight, I should've put a little landscaping fabric in first. I'll do it next Spring when I add new flowers.

Then the dirt ....

8. Add flowers and a gnome

Got my flowers and planted them in the tire along with one of my gnomes.

That could've been enough but I had an idea...

9. Add a sign

I thought it would be cute to paint words on the tire but my tire was a low profile tire and too narrow. So I took a board and had hubby trim it a bit. Then I painted it to match the color I used on the tire. I made a stencil on my Cricut just because I don't have a steady painting hand.

I also sprayed the sign with clear spray paint to help it last longer.

Then he drilled holes in the sign to attach it to the tire.....

DIY tire swing planter

I love this new tire swing planter and think the "Hangin' with my Gnomies" wording is so darn cute!

I tried to include a complete supplies and tools list of anything you might need below. But all I actually purchased was the spray paint, rope, and flowers (which were marked down!). Everything else I had already so this was a cheap DIY.

It really adds to the whole look don't you think? I'm pretty sure the gnomes are impressed!