How to find and use quaint garden and flower carts

Take a trip to the past and take a nostalgic look at vintage Flower carts in the garden.  These gardeners have captured all the the charm of a farmer’s country market with these winsome flower carts,  filled with flowers or just holding the pots!

A flower cart in the garden is ideal for seasonal decoration and planting. They are real show offs!  Rustic or Victorian, wooden or metal, flower carts can be a place to set newly bought flowers until you’re ready to plant.  They can be a flower vendor shape, a farm wagon  or wheelbarrow shape and can fit in any style garden.

Flower cart festival!

Debbie McMurry’s summer themed flower cart.  She says , “I love anything old and gardening. I’m always looking for vintage garden treasures to add to my collections..”

Debbie’s flower wagon has a metal frame and sturdy wooden construction.  Portable, it can easily be moved around the garden and decorated for Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter!  Debbie includes garden signs, and galvanized and terracotta containers.

Jennifer Haut found and restored this old flower-filled wagon

Jennifer Haut says, “My husband and son found the wheels and all the running gear for this wagon in the woods. He then used barn wood to make the sides and a seat to make it come back to life. Love old wagons!! Yes those are tomatoes!

We have a machine shop, and when we get in steel, they send it in old army ammo surplus boxes and I use those to plant my veggies and herbs in. I like the fact that nothing goes to waste.

It’s a great way to display your pots of seasonal flowers or a pile of pumpkins in the fall, too.”

DIY Flower Carts

Can’t find a flower cart?  Make one!

Lynne Mann’s inspirational flower cart, garden cart. Her husband,  Tom made it for her after buying the wheel at a flea market, Lynne tells us.

Nell  Stelzer tells how she ‘got’ her heart’s desire, a beautiful wooden flower cart.  Nell says, “There is one item that I had to have when I first found Flea Market Gardening! It was a wooden wheelbarrow, filled with flowers, posted by Lynne Mann, shown above.

Nell’s flower cart, ready to fill!

Nell tells us, “I showed Lynne’s design to my father in law, who loves making anything from old barn wood, discarded wood or pallets. He had it finished in about a week, even with a wooden wheel that rolls.”

Nell loves her flower cart now!

My ‘after’ picture.It is loaded with flowers . I love Flea Market Gardening  for this and several other ideas !! Thanks FMG friends for sharing!!

And the idea spread! Debbie Miller also struck gold!  She says, “Here is my wooden wheelbarrow made by my Dad, who also made my sister, Nell’s wooden wheelbarrow. We love his wood working!!

Debbie Miller shows a different view and the wheel construction of her wooden garden cart

Vintage 50s garden carts

Radio garden cart from the 50s

In 1957, Radio Flyer, maker of the classic little red wagon introduced a line of garden carts to help out with lawn care in the nation’s fast-growing suburbs. This revolutionary design made it easier to carry a larger load in a smaller area — its heavy steel construction and baked enamel finish also added to its durability.  They can be found occasionally for about $75.

Debbie McMurry’s Radio garden cart, circa 1950

Debbie McMurry, “My vintage garden cart with Bella. I love anything old and gardening. I’m always looking for vintage garden treasures to add to my collections.”

Melody West’s rusty rustic garden cart is in the pink and we’re loving those rusty ‘accessories!’

Betty Heffner’s quaint ‘flower’ cart grows vegetables!

Betty Heffner says, “Container gardening  is growing on me. Most people I know think  this old garden cart is junk, but I’m glad I’ve kept it through the years. I like it all much better now that I don’t have to use it for it original intended purposes.”

Kathleen Vedder shows how a wrought iron serving cart can be used in the garden.

Melynn Layton’s large rustic flower cart is stunning!

Melynn’s cart is filled with impatiens and petunias and straw fills in the gaps.

An Autumn decorated flower cart posted for us by Serendipity Refined, perfect for displaying flowers in the garden.

Finding flower carts for the garden

Flower carts are rare enough to be a challenge to find!  The best place to find a new cart is a nursery or garden center that stocks decorative ironwork. Flea Markets and antique stores can be places to find true vintage flower carts, farm wagons, and vintage utility garden carts.  Yard sales would, as usual, be the place to find bargains!

Flower carts are highly coveted and desirable amongst Flea Market Gardeners and can be a real investment.  If found at a Flea Market or yard sale, it’s best to know the location of the nearest ATM!

The advantage is that they can be changed with the seasons, used as a ‘raised bed, or used to hold flowers ready to be planted. The rewards are stunning and versatile in the garden and in that way, a unique flower cart can become a joy forever!

Cool flower carts from Amazon:

Buckboard Style Rustic Garden Wagon

Buckboard Style Rustic Fir Wood Home Garden Decor Wagon

Price: $95.56

Oakland Living Flower Garden Wagon

Oakland Living Flower Garden Wagon, Black

Price: $162.00

Large ‘Deer Park’ Steel Flower Cart

Deer Park TC104 Steel Flower Cart, Large

Price: $259.00