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Build a planter
Hi
I'm thinking of building a failrly large planter, or maybe 2 or more smaller ones and would appreciate some feedback. It/they are for a recently tarmacced area on the front of my house, underneath a window - about 330cm wide. Looks nice and neat, but begging for a planter. I also have several logs from a couple of Leylandii that I cut down back in the autumn, easily long enough to do it in one. So, a) would those logs be a suitable material? How fast would they just rot? b) if suitable, does anyone know of any build guides? I picture lining it/them. Presumably it would need to be drainable - would it need say gravel in the base? Sorry if these are stupid questions, never done anything like this before, but have increasing amounts of time, combined with decreasing amounts of cash! Many Thanks JIP -- |
Quote:
twist as they dry further? You'd probably want to split them lengthwise otherwise you end up with quite thick walls to your planter. A different design you could think of is not a planter, but merely something to hide a collection of containers - ie make the planter, don't bother to line it, possibly you don't even need a base. Then stand a selection of whatever containers you can get hold of inside. Three advantages a) no contact between soil and logs - they'll rot less quickly (waterproofing never seem to be 100% successful) b) you can change containers through the year, remove a container whose plants have just finished flowering and replace it with one about to come into flower. c) easier to disassemble should you need to, for example to paint the window frame. |
Build a planter
On 12/02/2012 17:48, John Price wrote:
Hi I'm thinking of building a failrly large planter, or maybe 2 or more smaller ones and would appreciate some feedback. It/they are for a recently tarmacced area on the front of my house, underneath a window - about 330cm wide. Looks nice and neat, but begging for a planter. I also have several logs from a couple of Leylandii that I cut down back in the autumn, easily long enough to do it in one. So, a) would those logs be a suitable material? How fast would they just rot? b) if suitable, does anyone know of any build guides? I picture lining it/them. Presumably it would need to be drainable - would it need say gravel in the base? Sorry if these are stupid questions, never done anything like this before, but have increasing amounts of time, combined with decreasing amounts of cash! Many Thanks Not sure about a planter from cut logs. Many years ago I made a 2 x 2 x 0.3metre raised peat bed for some small ericaceous plants from 2 metre lengths of rough pine logs. Three 10 cm diameter logs were put on top of each other for the height. held in place with a smaller piece of log on the outside. The inside was lined with polythene to give some protection from the damp soil. I used no painted preservative and it lasted years, although the bark peeled off after 3 or 4 years and it started to look a bit tatty. Would that be considered "shabby chic" now?! As you have said, line your planter with something waterproof. As long as the soil level is not above it (or too far below for appearance sake!), you can get away with a cheap polythene liner. Remember it is UV light which damages polythene, not damp, so if it it covered it will last. Providing there are a few holes drilled in the base, I wouldn't bother with gravel (unless you intend the planter to be for alpine plants which will need very good drainage). How rough or otherwise you want the outside appearance to be is up to you, but if you saw the logs along their length for a smooth finish you will need some sort of preservative on that cut surface.. -- Jeff |
Build a planter
On Feb 12, 5:48*pm, "John Price" wrote:
Hi I'm thinking of building a failrly large planter, or maybe 2 or more smaller ones and would appreciate some feedback. It/they are for a recently tarmacced area on the front of my house, underneath a window - about 330cm wide. Looks nice and neat, but begging for a planter. I also have several logs from a couple of Leylandii that I cut down back in the autumn, easily long enough to do it in one. So, a) would those logs be a suitable material? How fast would they just rot? b) if suitable, does anyone know of any build guides? I picture lining it/them. Presumably it would need to be drainable - would it need say gravel in the base? Sorry if these are stupid questions, never done anything like this before, but have increasing amounts of time, combined with decreasing amounts of cash! Many Thanks JIP Leylandii is more rot proof than pine. As for more details, you forgot to tell us what design you were considering. NT |
Build a planter
NT wrote:
On Feb 12, 5:48*pm, "John Price" wrote: Hi I'm thinking of building a failrly large planter, or maybe 2 or more smaller ones and would appreciate some feedback. It/they are for a recently tarmacced area on the front of my house, underneath a window - about 330cm wide. Looks nice and neat, but begging for a planter. I also have several logs from a couple of Leylandii that I cut down back in the autumn, easily long enough to do it in one. So, a) would those logs be a suitable material? How fast would they just rot? b) if suitable, does anyone know of any build guides? I picture lining it/them. Presumably it would need to be drainable - would it need say gravel in the base? Sorry if these are stupid questions, never done anything like this before, but have increasing amounts of time, combined with decreasing amounts of cash! Many Thanks JIP Leylandii is more rot proof than pine. As for more details, you forgot to tell us what design you were considering. NT Didn't forget - I haven't got that far yet - just wanted some general ideas of feasability of the materials and pointers for any known guides. Since Leylandii seem to be relatively rot proof I'll start to look for designs in use and try to copy something. But I have been considering the weight - doing just one planter in the space may be impossible to move if needed, so I'll probably aim to do 2 or even 3 smaller ones. Thanks for the replies -- |
Build a planter
Jeff Layman wrote:
On 12/02/2012 17:48, John Price wrote: Hi I'm thinking of building a failrly large planter, or maybe 2 or more smaller ones and would appreciate some feedback. It/they are for a recently tarmacced area on the front of my house, underneath a window - about 330cm wide. Looks nice and neat, but begging for a planter. I also have several logs from a couple of Leylandii that I cut down back in the autumn, easily long enough to do it in one. So, a) would those logs be a suitable material? How fast would they just rot? b) if suitable, does anyone know of any build guides? I picture lining it/them. Presumably it would need to be drainable - would it need say gravel in the base? Sorry if these are stupid questions, never done anything like this before, but have increasing amounts of time, combined with decreasing amounts of cash! Many Thanks Not sure about a planter from cut logs. Many years ago I made a 2 x 2 x 0.3metre raised peat bed for some small ericaceous plants from 2 metre lengths of rough pine logs. Three 10 cm diameter logs were put on top of each other for the height. held in place with a smaller piece of log on the outside. The inside was lined with polythene to give some protection from the damp soil. I used no painted preservative and it lasted years, although the bark peeled off after 3 or 4 years and it started to look a bit tatty. Would that be considered "shabby chic" now?! As you have said, line your planter with something waterproof. As long as the soil level is not above it (or too far below for appearance sake!), you can get away with a cheap polythene liner. Remember it is UV light which damages polythene, not damp, so if it it covered it will last. Providing there are a few holes drilled in the base, I wouldn't bother with gravel (unless you intend the planter to be for alpine plants which will need very good drainage). How rough or otherwise you want the outside appearance to be is up to you, but if you saw the logs along their length for a smooth finish you will need some sort of preservative on that cut surface.. Thanks Jeff -- |
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