If you’re a gardener looking to maximize your harvest with minimal space and budget, then this clever strawberry-growing hack using Dollar General laundry baskets is a total game-changer. It’s cost-effective, space-saving, beginner-friendly, and it produces an abundance of juicy strawberries in no time.
Whether you’re a backyard gardener, an apartment dweller with a small balcony, or just someone who wants to try growing their own fruit without breaking the bank, this DIY strawberry tower method will blow your mind. Let’s dive into this easy, rewarding project that can be completed in under an hour—with supplies from your local Dollar Store and maybe a few tools you already have at home.
🧺 What You’ll Need:
From the Dollar Store (or similar discount retailer):
- 1-2 tall plastic laundry baskets with lots of holes on the sides
- 1 large plastic trash bag per basket (heavy-duty works best)
- Zip ties (optional but helpful)
- A few strawberry plants or bare root strawberries (number depends on basket size)
Other supplies:
- Good-quality potting soil (with compost if possible)
- A 2-inch PVC pipe or similar tube, about the height of the basket
- Drill or something sharp to poke holes in the pipe
- Scissors or a sharp knife (a steak knife works great)
- Garden gloves (optional, but recommended)
🍓 Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Prep the Basket
Start with your laundry basket. The ones with holes on all sides work best—this will serve as the framework for your vertical strawberry planter. Most Dollar General or Dollar Tree stores carry baskets like these for just a few bucks.
Make sure the basket is clean and intact, with no cracks or broken areas. You want it sturdy enough to hold soil and plants without warping.
2. Line with a Trash Bag
Next, take a heavy-duty trash bag and line the inside of the basket. This liner holds the soil in place while allowing you to create pockets for planting.
Push the trash bag all the way down into the basket and smooth it against the sides. The bag should cover the entire interior, including the bottom. You can secure it with a few zip ties at the top rim if it seems to be slipping down.
3. Insert the Watering Pipe
Before adding soil, prep your watering system. Take your PVC pipe or any sturdy tube (even an old wrapping paper tube can work in a pinch—just know it won’t last as long) and drill or poke small holes randomly all around the lower two-thirds. This will allow water to disperse evenly throughout the planter.
Place the pipe vertically in the center of the basket so it stands straight. When you water through the top of the pipe, moisture will slowly spread downward, reaching all levels of the plants without drowning them or missing the roots.
Pro tip: Cap the bottom of the pipe with a piece of cloth or mesh and a rubber band to stop soil from getting inside and clogging it up.
4. Add Soil
Now begin filling the basket with potting soil. As you go, make sure the watering pipe stays centered. You’ll want to pack the soil gently but firmly, layer by layer, stopping every few inches to check the alignment.
You can use a mix of potting soil and compost for extra nutrients, or even add a slow-release fertilizer if you want to boost strawberry production.
5. Cut Planting Holes
Here’s where the magic happens. Using scissors or a steak knife, cut small X-shaped slits into the trash bag liner, starting from the bottom row of holes on the outside of the basket.
Each hole will become a little pocket where you insert a strawberry plant. Carefully pull a bit of soil forward through the hole, and place the plant in so that the crown (where the leaves meet the roots) sits just above the plastic edge. Gently firm the soil around it.
Work your way up the basket, planting every few holes in a staggered pattern. Be sure to skip holes here and there to avoid overcrowding—strawberries like a little space to breathe and spread. This also helps prevent disease and ensures better airflow.
You can plant more at the very top of the basket, where there’s open soil. That top layer will be ideal for cascading varieties or even a few herbs or companion flowers like nasturtiums or marigolds.
6. Trim the Excess
Once all your plants are in, trim off the extra plastic bag hanging over the edge of the basket. Be careful not to cut too close to the soil line. A clean, flush edge looks neater and helps water from spilling over the sides.
đź’§ Watering and Maintenance Tips
- Watering through the pipe makes life so much easier. Just pour water into the top of the pipe slowly, and let it trickle down. Check soil moisture with your finger or a moisture meter to make sure the lower plants are getting enough water.
- Mulching the top of the soil with straw or pine needles helps retain moisture and keep weeds down.
- Water every 1-2 days depending on your climate. Strawberries like moist (but not soggy!) soil.
- Fertilize every few weeks with a diluted liquid feed or compost tea for best results.
🌿 Extra Tips for Strawberry Success
- Choose everbearing or day-neutral strawberry varieties if you want a longer harvest season. These types will produce berries continuously throughout spring and summer.
- Keep an eye out for pests like slugs or aphids. A sprinkle of crushed eggshells can deter slugs, while a blast of water or neem oil helps control aphids.
- Rotate your tower every few days if it’s not in full sun to make sure all sides get equal light exposure.
- Consider adding wheels to the bottom of the basket if you want to move it around your deck, porch, or patio for ideal sunlight.
🏡 Why This Hack Works So Well
What makes this Dollar General hack so brilliant isn’t just that it’s cheap—it’s also super space-efficient. Traditional strawberry beds can take up a lot of garden space and require bending and weeding. But this vertical basket method allows you to grow upward instead of outward, meaning you can harvest strawberries while standing up and save tons of room in your garden or on your balcony.
It’s also perfect for renters or people who don’t want to dig into their yard. Since it’s portable and self-contained, it’s ideal for patios, balconies, driveways, or even sunny indoor spaces near a window.
🍓 The Sweet Rewards
Within just a few weeks, your little Dollar Store strawberry tower will start to flourish. As the plants settle into their new home, you’ll see lush green leaves, delicate white flowers, and eventually—you guessed it—bright red, juicy strawberries ready for picking.
There’s nothing quite like stepping outside and plucking a sun-warmed berry straight from your DIY planter. It’s satisfying, delicious, and surprisingly easy.
🌟 Final Thoughts
Gardening doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. With a little creativity and some savvy dollar-store shopping, you can grow your own fresh produce, even in tight spaces.
This Dollar General strawberry basket hack is proof that great things can come from humble materials. It’s fun, rewarding, and a great weekend project to do solo or with the family.
So next time you’re at the Dollar Store, grab a couple of laundry baskets and a bag of soil—your future strawberry harvest is just around the corner!
