Homemade Cement Planters

Cement planters are versatile planters compatible with every style from urban chic to country to old-world traditional. You can create a homemade cement planter, fashioning it to suit your landscape and garden design. Homemade cement planters can be created using molds of your choosing; these can be common household items such as bowls, boxes and buckets. Cement planters are durable and attractive, but if not handled properly, can crack or break.

Making the Mold

The mold for your planter consists of two objects of the same shape. One of the objects, though, is 2 inches smaller in width and length and 1 inch shorter in height than the other. The cement will be poured into the space created by the size difference, resulting in a shaped cement planter.

For example, if you use two boxes, one box may be six inches across in width and six inches across in length, and eight inches in height. Your second box would be four inches in width and length and seven inches in height.

Pouring the Cement

Spray the interior of your larger mold and the exterior of your smaller mold with cooking spray. This facilitates removal of the planter after it dries.

Pour a 1-inch depth of mixed cement into the larger box and set in the smaller box. Pour the mixed cement into the space between the smaller and larger box. The cement is now left to set up in the mold.

Allow 24 to 48 hours for the cement to dry. Turn the mold upside down and carefully remove the outer mold. Turn the planter upright and carefully remove the inner mold. Allow the planter to air dry for three days before adding soil and plants.

Adding Embellishment

Cement can be embellished as it sets up, that is, during the drying process. But if you have your cement in a mold, and you remove it before it dries, your planter will crumble.

You can create surface decorations by embellishing the inside of your larger mold. For example, you can glue small seashells to the interior of the larger mold. As the cement dries, the seashells will make impressions. When you remove the mold, you should see the imprinted design left by the seashells.

You can also add pigment to your cement for color or paint the planter once it's complete. If you paint it, use outdoor concrete paint to ensure adhesion.

Handling your Planters

Smaller homemade cement planters can be moved more easily once you've removed them from the molds. But even small cement planters are heavy, and once you added soil and plants, they're more difficult to move. Cement in planter form is also more susceptible to chipping and cracking because of the absence of expansion joints. If you create a large planter, set up your workspace as close as possible to its intended location.

References

• Napsnet.com
• Centsational Girl.com
• Decorative Concrete; Sunset Books; 2005

Resources

• Get Tips on Container Gardening