It’s the time of year when most people start putting together their gardens and floral arrangements. Whether you plant flowers, vegetables or herbs, it’s important to have containers that match your decor and personality. It’s also important for you to label each of your plants so that you know how to properly care for them. Luckily, chalkboard paint is an easy solution to add both personality and practicality to simple plant pots. Here’s how to make your own chalkboard planters.

DIY Chalkboard Planter Supplies:

plain plant potssandpaper (optional)painter’s tapechalkboard paintsponge brushsoil and seedschalk

Step 1: Prep pots.

Start by gathering all your supplies. Then you will need to make sure your pot or pots are ready to be painted. If you have a regular terra cotta pot, it should be pretty much ready to go. Just wipe it off with a damp cloth to clean it. But if you’re using a pot made with other materials you might need to lightly sand the area to be painted. At this stage, you can also customize the pot in other ways by painting a base coat or adding other artistic elements.

Step 2: Tape painted area.

Then you will need to decide what part of your planter you want to cover with chalkboard paint. Use painter’s tape to separate that area from the rest.

Step 3: Paint.

When your tape is secured where you want it, use a sponge brush to apply a thick layer of chalkboard paint to the area. Let it dry and add another coat if necessary. You might even have to paint three coats if the paint isn’t completely opaque after two.

Step 4: Add plants.

Once the paint is completely dry, remove the tape and your planter should be mostly completed. Then just add some soil and seeds or transplant some flowers or herbs into the pot.

Step 5: Label.

For each of your chalkboard pots, make sure to use a piece of chalk to properly label them so you know which is which. Put them in a sunny corner of your home or yard and then have fun maintaining your new chalkboard garden!