How to make a cone-shaped hanging basket

You will need

1 50cm x 100cm aluminium sheet per cone
1.5m of thin galvanised wire
Felt pen and string
Metal cutters and a small bradawl
50cm x 100cm piece of bubble wrap
Ivy and ferns to plant

Do it: all year round

Takes just: an afternoon

Project categories

Overview

A contemporary twist on the hanging basket, these striking aluminium cones make a real statement, yet their chic looks belie the amazing simplicity of their construction. The aluminium sheets come in a variety of textured finishes and are easy to cut and bend, so a whole clutch of cone hanging baskets can be made in under an hour.

How to do it

Cut a piece of string to the length you would like your cone to be, and tie the pen to one end. Stretch the string from one corner of the metal and draw an arc from one edge to the other.

Cut along the line using the metal cutters. The protective covering of the plastic film should be left in place until you've finished. Roll the metal into a cone so that the edges overlap by 1cm.

Use your bradawl to make three evenly spaced holes along the join of the cone, piercing through both edges of the overlapping sheet. This is much easier than it sounds, as aluminium is a soft metal.

Secure the cone with short lengths of galvanised wire, making sure that the ends of the wire are left facing inwards.

Make four evenly-spaced holes around the top of the cone. Thread generous lengths of wire through and twist to secure. Form a hook with the other ends.

Before planting up the cone, line it with a layer of bubble wrap. This will act as insulation to stop plant roots baking if you hang the metal cones in direct sunlight.