How to Start Growing Strawberries on a Tire

There are two ways you can recycle old tires to grow strawberry plants. If you have an old tire you want to put back to work and you like fruit, you may want to try either of these suggestions on how to start growing strawberries on a tire.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Strawberry plants
• Old tire
• Rich growing potting soil, compost or loam
• Sharp knife or box cutters

1. The simplest way to start growing strawberries on a tire is to cut your tire in half. The half doughnut will work as a planter. Punch holes in the bottom part of the tire-container (what was the side of the tire) so water can drain.

2. A second way to start growing strawberries in a tire would be to stand the tire upright and cut off the top quarter. Then cut open holes to function like pockets randomly, at least four inches apart down the front, back and sides of the tire stopping at the widest diameter of the tire where the circle starts to curve inward toward the bottom. (Soil will spill out of the holes if you try adding holes lower.) Pocket holes should be about 3 1/2" wide and high so you can slot in plants. This tire strawberry-garden will need support to stay upright, or should be leaned securely against a wall.

3. Fill your circular half-tire planter or upright tire planter with good, rich gardening soil, plant in your strawberries about 6" apart or slip a plant into each hole-pocket and water them in carefully. You can add strawberry plants every 6" to fill the top of the upright tire as well as the ones in the pockets that go down the sides.

4. Place your strawberry tires in full sun and keep them moist but not wet.

5. To make the half tire even more decorative, place a bigger pot in the hole at the center of the tire and plant more strawberries to cascade over the pot down to the tire, plant flowering trailing plants to do the same, or use the bigger pot for herbs, a trailing tomato plant or maybe some colorful peppers.

Tips & Warnings

• There is some concern currently being voiced about the possibility of trace chemicals involved in the construction of tires. It is being investigated concerning the shredded tires being used for children's play areas. But it seems unlikely that there is enough leaching to be concerned about (if it is proven to be a problem at all in the first place) when using tires as planters.

Resources

• Landscape design and gardening ideas

[georgelarson]

on 7/5/2009 Very creative way to grow strawberries. Thanks.

[tachic]

on 7/5/2009 I never thought strawberries would grow on a tire!

[sabrinacareer]

on 7/4/2009 This is a very creative idea to grow strawberries! I love it.