How to Design an Outdoor Planter: Basic Gardening Tips on a Budget
Outdoor planters are both functional for growing plants and a decorative addition to your yard or deck. You could purchase a pre-made planter from your local garden supply store, or you could make your own planter box out of concrete and stones. Homemade planter boxes save money and let you create a box the right size for what you want to grow and still fit the space you have. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Plastic tarp
- 10-lb. bag playground sand
- Shovel
- Stones
- 5-lb. bag quick set concrete
- 5-gallon bucket
- Rubber gloves
- Cooking spray
- Two dowel rods
- Garden hose
Instructions
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Place a plastic tarp down on a flat work surface. The tarp makes it easy to clean up when the box is complete. Empty a 10-lb. bag of playground sand on the center of the tarp. Add more sand for larger planters and less sand for smaller planters. Mound the sand into a 12-inch tall mound.
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Ddraw the shape you want the finished planter box to be in the sand with your fingers. Once you are happy with the shape and size, use a small shovel to dig the shape out of the sand. Dig down to 2-inch from the base of the sand mound to create a sand mold. Smooth the walls of the sand with your hands.
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3
Add stones in different shapes and sizes to the walls of the sand mold. Press them into the sand deep enough to make them stick. However, make sure they stick out some so that they will adhere to the concrete, when it is added. If desired, replace the stones with pieces of broken pottery, glass beads or ceramic tiles.
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Pour a 5-lb. bag of quick set concrete into a 5-gallon bucket. Add water to the concrete according to manufacturer's instructions. Mix the concrete. You want a pudding consistency. Adjust the water content, as needed.
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Transfer the concrete to the sand mold with your hands. Press the concrete to the walls and base of the mold. Make the walls 1/2- to 3/4-inches thick. Use rubber gloves to protect yourself from concrete burns.
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Coat the ends of two 1/2- to 1-inch thick dowel rods with cooking spray. Insert the dowel rods into the concrete bottom to create drainage holes. Press the rods through the concrete and sand, until they reach the work surface. Leave the rods in place while the concrete dries.
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Leave the concrete to dry for up to 72 hours, or until completely set. Remove the dowel rods from the planter. Remove the planter from the sand. Spray the outside of the planter box with a garden hose to wash away the sand.
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Tips & Warnings
Depending on the consistency of the sand when you pour it out of the bag, you may need to add additional water. Check the sand first by forming a ball with it in your hands. If it holds its shape, it is fine. If it falls apart, water to the sand and mix it together until it is the right consistency.
To clean up the sand, pull the corners of the tarp together and lift it up. Either discard the tarp and sand or recycle the sand and pour it into a sandbox.
If you get concrete on your skin, wash it away immediately.
References
- Photo Credit Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
