16 Mason Jar Garden Decor Ideas You Can DIY This Weekend

You know those mason jars collecting dust in your pantry? The ones you keep meaning to use for something but never quite get around to? I’ve got a cupboard full of them too. Here’s the thing: mason jars might be the most versatile material for garden decor.

They’re cheap, they look charming, and you can transform them into something beautiful in about ten minutes. With a weekend ahead of you, you could make several of these projects and have your garden looking completely different by Sunday night.

In this post, I’ll walk you through sixteen mason jar garden decor ideas that are easy enough to tackle this weekend.

1. Hanging Herb Garden

Fresh herbs right outside your kitchen door. Mason jars hung on a wooden board or fence become a living wall of culinary herbs.

How this idea works:

1. Step 1: Attach hose clamps or mason jar huggers to a reclaimed wood board.
2. Step 2: Screw the board to a sunny fence or wall near the kitchen.
3. Step 3: Fill jars with herbs like basil, mint, and chives, with drainage holes drilled in the lids.
4. Step 4: Water carefully and harvest right from the jars.

2. Mason Jar Lanterns

Soft, flickering light for evening garden parties. Mason jars with candles inside create a warm glow along paths and tables.

How this idea works:

1. Step 1: Clean jars and remove any labels.
2. Step 2: Place a tea light or small pillar candle inside each jar.
3. Step 3: Hang them from tree branches using wire or twine, or line them along a path.
4. Step 4: Add a bit of sand or pebbles in the bottom to hold the candle steady.

3. Self-Watering Planter

Smart and low-maintenance, a self-watering mason jar keeps plants hydrated for days. Perfect for busy weekends away.

How this idea works:

1. Step 1: Fill a jar with water and cut a length of cotton rope long enough to reach from the water to the soil.
2. Step 2: Place a smaller pot with drainage holes and soil on top of the jar, with the rope threaded through the bottom into the water.
3. Step 3: Plant your herb or flower in the top pot.
4. Step 4: The rope wicks water up to the soil as needed.

4. Mason Jar Bird Feeder

Bring birds to your garden with a simple feeder. A jar attached to a wooden base becomes a charming spot for feathered visitors.

How this idea works:

1. Step 1: Drill a hole in a wooden circle or small board for the jar lid to screw into.
2. Step 2: Attach the lid securely to the wood, then screw the jar into it.
3. Step 3: Fill the jar with birdseed and mount the wood on a post or hang from a tree.
4. Step 4: Add a small perch below the jar opening.

5. Mason Jar Watering Can

A jar becomes a cute watering can for small plants. Perfect for indoor and patio container gardens.

How this idea works:

1. Step 1: Drill several small holes in a mason jar lid.
2. Step 2: Fill the jar with water and screw the lid on tightly.
3. Step 3: Tip and water your plants gently through the holes.
4. Step 4: Decorate the jar with paint or twine if desired.

6. Painted Mason Jar Planters

Add color to your garden with painted jars. A coat of outdoor paint transforms plain jars into colorful accents.

How this idea works:

1. Step 1: Clean jars thoroughly and apply outdoor spray paint or acrylic paint with a brush.
2. Step 2: Let dry completely, then add a second coat if needed.
3. Step 3: Seal with a clear outdoor sealer to protect from weather.
4. Step 4: Plant with flowers or succulents that complement the color.

7. Mason Jar Herb Keeper

Fresh herbs last longer in water. Fill a jar with water and place cut herbs inside for a kitchen windowsill garden.

How this idea works:

1. Step 1: Fill a clean mason jar with cool water.
2. Step 2: Place freshly cut herb stems in the water, like basil, parsley, or mint.
3. Step 3: Change the water every few days to keep herbs fresh.
4. Step 4: Place on a sunny kitchen windowsill for easy access while cooking.

8. Mason Jar Garden Markers

Keep track of what’s planted where. Mason jar lids become cute, reusable plant markers for vegetable gardens.

How this idea works:

1. Step 1: Collect mason jar lids and write plant names on them with a permanent marker or paint pen.
2. Step 2: Attach the lids to wooden stakes with glue or small nails.
3. Step 3: Stick them in the garden at the base of corresponding plants.
4. Step 4: Reuse them next season by painting over the names.

9. Fairy Garden Jar

A tiny world inside a jar. Create a miniature fairy garden with small plants, moss, and tiny accessories.

How this idea works:

1. Step 1: Fill the bottom of a wide-mouth jar with small pebbles for drainage.
2. Step 2: Add a layer of activated charcoal, then potting soil.
3. Step 3: Plant tiny succulents or ferns and add moss, miniature fairy figures, and small rocks.
4. Step 4: Place in bright, indirect light and mist occasionally.

10. Hanging Mason Jar Votives

Floating lights for evening ambiance. Hang jars from a pergola or tree branches with tea lights inside.

How this idea works:

1. Step 1: Wrap sturdy wire around the neck of each jar, creating a hanging loop.
2. Step 2: Add a tea light or small LED candle inside each jar.
3. Step 3: Hang them at varying heights from a pergola, tree branch, or shepherd’s hook.
4. Step 4: Light them at dusk for a magical glow.

11. Mason Jar Soap Dispenser

Pretty and practical for outdoor kitchens or potting benches. A jar becomes a dispenser for hand soap or liquid fertilizer.

How this idea works:

1. Step 1: Buy a mason jar pump lid from a craft store or online.
2. Step 2: Fill the jar with liquid soap or diluted fertilizer.
3. Step 3: Screw on the pump lid and place it near an outdoor sink or potting bench.
4. Step 4: Label the jar with a chalkboard sticker if using for fertilizer.

12. Mason Jar Terrarium

A self-contained ecosystem in a jar. Perfect for small spaces and low-light areas of the garden or patio.

How this idea works:

1. Step 1: Layer small pebbles, activated charcoal, and potting soil in a clean jar.
2. Step 2: Plant small moisture-loving plants like ferns or moss.
3. Step 3: Mist the inside lightly and put the lid on.
4. Step 4: Place in indirect light and open occasionally for air circulation.

13. Mason Jar String Lights

Combine jars with fairy lights for a magical effect. Drill holes in the lids and thread string lights through.

How this idea works:

1. Step 1: Drill a small hole in each mason jar lid, just big enough for a single bulb.
2. Step 2: Thread a string of fairy lights through the holes, one bulb per jar.
3. Step 3: Screw the jars onto the lids, encasing each bulb.
4. Step 4: Hang the string of jars along a fence, railing, or pergola.

14. Rustic Mason Jar Centerpiece

A simple centerpiece for outdoor dining. Fill a jar with garden flowers and tie twine around the neck.

How this idea works:

1. Step 1: Cut a mix of flowers and greenery from your garden.
2. Step 2: Arrange them in a clean mason jar filled with water.
3. Step 3: Tie natural twine or burlap ribbon around the jar’s neck.
4. Step 4: Place on an outdoor dining table as a simple centerpiece.

15. Mason Jar Seed Starters

Start your garden in style. Mason jars make perfect mini greenhouses for seedlings.

How this idea works:

1. Step 1: Fill jars with seed-starting mix and plant seeds according to package directions.
2. Step 2: Water gently and place in a sunny spot.
3. Step 3: Once seedlings are big enough, transplant them to the garden.
4. Step 4: Clean and reuse the jars for the next season.

16. Etched Mason Jar Votives

Frosted glass adds elegance to simple jars. Etching cream creates a permanent design that glows beautifully with candles inside.

How this idea works:

1. Step 1: Clean jars and apply vinyl stencils or stickers in your desired pattern.
2. Step 2: Apply etching cream according to package directions, then rinse.
3. Step 3: Remove stencils to reveal the frosted design.
4. Step 4: Place tea lights inside and use them as garden decor.