Wooden half-barrels make sturdy planters.
Old whiskey barrels are useful for many purposes once their life of storing whiskey or wine is over. The strong oak staves last for decades, usually longer than the steel rings that hold them together. If you want to use the barrels as an attractive planter, the job is not hard and the planter will last for years. Using such a large container is good for folks who don't have garden space but still enjoy growing a few vegetables or herbs outside their back door. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Cut the barrel in half. Measure from the top edge to the bottom edge and mark the middle point between the two by dividing the height in half. Do this several times around the barrel. Connect all the marks to make a solid line around the barrel. Use a handsaw or any saw appropriate for cutting wood.
2. Screw the lid from the barrel to the body of the barrel on the top half. This will form the bottom when it you flip the barrel over.
3. Drill four or five holes through the bottoms of the barrel halves, using a 3/4-inch drill bit. The holes will allow drainage for excess water that might accumulate.
4. Cut two pieces of window screen to fit the bottom of each barrel half. This will prevent the soil from washing out during heavy rains.
5. Drop in a 6-inch layer of packing peanuts if you don't need the depth of the planter for the type of plants you are using. Most herbs, lettuces and small vegetables need only about 8 to 10 inches of soil. Larger plants such as tomatoes or potatoes will need the extra depth, so skip the packing-peanut layer.
6. Mix up a lightweight potting soil by using equal parts of perlite, peat moss and humus or well-rotted compost. Put everything in a wheelbarrow and mix it together with a shovel. Add water to the wheelbarrow until you dampen the peat moss and the mixture is wet.
7. Fill the half-barrels with the potting soil, leaving 1 inch at the top for watering.
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