Learn how to “grow” flowers from metal wall art to plant a little whimsy with flower garden stakes! An easy DIY and way to add instant blooms and a whimsical addition to your garden.
Happy Thursday! It’s peak gardening season here in North Carolina and I have a fun DIY to help you “grow” flowers!
These flower garden stakes add a little whimsy in the garden! I “planted” them for some instant flowers, in front of the Limelight hydrangeas that won’t bloom until early to mid-July.
Note: If you’re looking for an easy-to-grow, low maintenance shrub for your garden that will provide you with beautiful cut and dried flowers too, see my public service announcement: Plant a Limelight Hydrangea…or Five.
I started with these metal flowers I found at Hobby Lobby. All the wall decor was 50% off the day I was there.
This post contains affiliate links. For more information see my disclosure policy.
In addition to metal flowers, here are the supplies I used:
Rebar (3/8 inch diameter) available in assorted lengths
Metal Conduit (1/2 inch diameter) about 4 – 6 inches per flower
Drill
Sheet metal screws
Clear spray sealer, optional
To make the metal flowers into garden stakes, we used rebar that we already had. If you’re not familiar with rebar, it’s used for concrete reinforcement and commonly used for stakes in the garden. You can find it with the building supplies near the concrete at the home improvement store. It comes in various lengths and in 3/8-inch and 1/2-inch diameter widths. Rebar will acquire a rusty patina over time which I prefer. :)
We purchased a 5 foot length of 1/2 inch metal conduit for $2.68, found in the electrical department at Lowe’s. You’ll only need a foot or less for two stakes so you’ll have some leftover for another project. You’ll also need a tube or pipe cutter which my hubby already had. A tube cutter is easy and safe for anyone to use, rotating the cutter and scoring the pipe until it breaks, about 6 rotations for the conduit.
Next, drill a hole for a screw to fit, about a half an inch of down from one end of your cut piece of conduit. Tip: A piece of tape on your conduit will help prevent your drill bit from slipping on the metal surface while drilling.
Add your screws to your cut pieces of conduit. The screws will serve as a “stop” to hold the conduit on the end of your rebar garden stake.
Now you’re ready to glue your conduit to your flowers. I used E6000 for a permanent, waterproof bond.
E6000 will bond to metal, glass, fiberglass, wood, ceramics, masonry and concrete, as well as many plastics. It will not break down or become brittle with temperature extremes. You can find it at the craft store or home improvement store.
Add plenty of adhesive so you have good contact to bond the round surface of the conduit to the flat surface of the metal flower. I used a piece of tape to hold the conduit in place and prevent it from rolling until it was set. E6000 begins setting in approximately 10 minutes with a full cure time between 24 and 72 hours, depending on the temperature and humidity.
I waited a day and half before “planting” my flowers to make sure the adhesive was cured and the conduit would hold.
Your metal flowers may fade or acquire a rusty patina over time. To protect the finish of the flower, you can give them a couple of coats clear spray sealer, matte or gloss, whatever you prefer.
This flower garden stake with solar light below, is one I’ve had for about 5 years that I found at HomeGoods.
I hadn’t realized how sad it was looking until I photographed it recently.
I decided it needed a makeover, so I picked up some spray paint at Lowe’s to give it a refresh and similar look to the galvanized finish the other flowers had. I found Rust-Oleum Universal All Surface Flat Antique Nickel and gave it a couple of light coats.
When dry, I did some dry brushing and light pouncing of my brush using some brown acrylic craft paint I had, so it blended with the other flowers.
I allowed it to dry and gave it a couple of coats of clear matte spray sealer.
If you’re looking for more DIYs and craft projects for gardening season you might like:
Blooming Door Knob Hose Guards
Fun and functional, protecting the flowers in the garden beds from being crushed from the weight of the hose, while adding a little whimsy and serving as garden art!
A fun DIY and way to upcycle your broken dishes or thrift store finds with a trash-to-treasure craft and create one-of-a-kind flower pots for your garden or for gifts!
Find the easy steps to make a sugar scrub that’s fragrant and pretty too. Ready to gift or use in just five minutes!
DIY Hand Stamped Garden Markers
Create hand stamped garden markers for plant identification or to add a little garden humor or whimsy.
You’re invited for a garden stroll and see what’s in bloom around the Potting Shed, HERE.
I’m joining my blogging friends for a Creative Craft Blog Hop today. A special “thank you” to our host, Andrea of Design Morsels, for organizing this hop!
You’ll find more creative craft projects at the links below:
How to Make a Patriotic Door Wreath from Dollar Tree
A Simple Outdoor Lantern Change
How I Made a Very Starry Patriotic Wreath
How to Paint a Flower Pot with Ceramic Paint
DIY Patriotic Pizza Pan Door Hanger
As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you purchase anything through an affiliate link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Thank you for your visit, sharing with:
Another great DIY!! Thank you Mary!!
I love this idea! Thanks Mary for always giving us great pics and instructions for our DIY projects.
Your adorable flower stakes looks like the perfect addition to your blooming garden, Mary! What a lovely idea and great way to enhance the area!
That was fun, never thought to convert to outdoor garden! What I love most is your brown dusting, I love rust in the garden! Gh windows arrived, been up since 4 thinking about my greenhouse patios, my last playground to come. Now if only I could get Scott to want to build it as much as I need it! 102 degrees on Monday, don’t see much of a garden productivity on the horizon… Great idea, I will be scouting hgs with fresh eyes 😊
Love this idea. Thanks for sharing.
I love your metal flower stakes Mary, how smart you are to make them! I have some metal flowers but they came on stakes so all I have to do is stick them in the soil…the more blooms the better, right? They look adorable! All your garden crafts are so cute and creative, I especially love the mosaic pots, I have to try that some time. I love to go to HG and just wander and see what inspires!
Jenna
Your photos are outstanding and I love the metal flowers. Do you have a good source for these? I might be scared about drilling into a metal pole that I would accidentally drill my hand, but I love the way they turned out. Thanks for being in the hop.
I love decorating my yard too and I absolutely LOVE these! I think I might have to make some for my garden. Plus, you don’t have to water these ;) Thank you so much for sharing and wonderful crafting with you
Wow, Mary–you really elevated the look of your clearance flowers! I love whimsical accents in the garden and these are fabulous! Happy Memorial Day weekend! Blessings, Cecilia @My Thrift Store Addiction
What a clever and fun DIY. Can’t talk now though I am off to Hobby Lobby and Home Depot.
Thanks.
Mary, your garden flowers are beautiful and the perfect addition to your flower bed! This is my favorite time of year when I can get outside and play in the dirt. Wishing you a blessed day!
I like these! I have seen glass flower stakes made, but not ones with a metal tube like these. I’ve pinned it!
What a great idea Mary. Thanks for the idea and great instructions. They look so cute where you placed them. I like the hose guards too! Have a wonderful day. Clara❤️
These are brilliant Mary! Thank you for showing how to mount these; I’ll definitely make use of this in our own garden.
Mary, I love your flower stakes! This is such a clever idea for a little garden whimsy. I just need to get my brain in motion to pursue DIY’ing once again. Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend ❤️🇺🇸💙
our lives are DIY but every want readymade nowadays. :(
What a smart girl your are! They are just absolutely perfect for your garden, a ” Mary original” for sure! 😉 Have the best holiday weekend, enjoy the water for me! ♥️
Mary, These are so cute and a great addition to your beautiful garden! I ended up clicking all over the place to check out all of the other wonderful garden crafts! Our backyard is about to be turned into a giant mud pile, as we are getting an additional garage, a swimming pool, and most important….a dedicated patio for a pretty table for me to style tablescapes! I guess I won’t be doing many of these projects this summer, but I will be saving several of them for this fall when I get my yard and garden back! I love the doorknob hose guards in particular!! Happy boating!
I really like this idea, Mary. I have one lime light by a fence. I think I could hang a trio of the spray painted flowers on the fence above the hydrangea. It would still give some eye appeal to the area while waiting for the plant to bloom. Thanks for the inspiration.
RR
Golly, I’m just struggling to get my plants planted, and seeds. Now we have yucky weather again, so I should force myself downstairs to CREATE! Great ideas here, Mary
Very Cute !!
Have a super weekend !! My daughter is getting married !!
Paula
In.
Your blooming metal stakes look so pretty, Mary, and your re-do of your old one looks beautiful. Thanks for your tutorial! Happy gardening!
P. S. My mini limelights seem to be doing well. I was worried with that artic blast that we had in February.
Mary I love these DIY flowers. They look wonderful in your garden. Great job!
Another great tutorial! Love all the details you give in each beautiful photograph!
Happy Memorial Day Weekend!
Mary, how clever to create stakes for your metal flowers! I love the look of “garden junk”, so I agree that the rebar and the flowers look better with a rusty patina. I’m going to be on the lookout for metal flowers! Hydrangeas are my favorite, so now I’m off to check out your post on how to grow limelight hydrangeas :) It’s always a pleasure to hop with you!
Mary, what a cute way to had art to the garden. I love that you showed exactly how to make this DIY project. I learned about some new tools. Enjoy tour summer flowers.
Mary, it is always a treat to visit your blog. I love your lovely flower garden stakes. What a great DIY project! Your photography is absolutely beautiful! I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
What a great idea . Thanks for the idea and great instructions. They look so cute where you placed them. I like the hose guards too! Have a wonderful day.
I cannot imagine all the pretties in your garden of how they dance in the sunlight and moonlight too!! Love those garden flowers that forever bloom. What a grand idea Mary!