Forum home› Garden design
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Planter rescue mission

rosehenderson90rosehenderson90 Posts: 83
edited June 2020 in Garden design
 Hi folks, 

I found some old drawers dumped on the street. 

They looked like crates from the side as they are deep and square(ish).

They ard made from wood, and have been painted white at some point.

I've rescued them, and was thinking I could make them into planters. 

I know I'll need to sand them right back to strip the paint off, and ideally paint with some outdoor paint. 

Does anyone have experience in trying out something similar? Keen to know if i'd need ro treat the wood somehow before putting outdoor paint on.

Sorry if this is in the wrong place or not quite right for the forum. 

Thanks! 

Rose

Posts

  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    I wouldn't bother sanding or stripping.. just use a paint scraper to take off any flaking paint.. then paint over the inside, outside, and bottom in outdoor paint.  Drill some reasonable size holes in the bottom.  Probably best to have them up on some sort of feet.. a few bricks or something.  Does depend on weight of soil and strength of bottom wood panel.  Even legs made from scrap wood.  You could make the drawers sit at various heights.  Something to deter slugs and snails from hiding under them.  Line the entire inside with plastic (old compost bags, old shower curtains, etc.).. use a pencil to poke through the pre-drilled drainage holes.  Fill with a light weight potting compost.  
    Utah, USA.
  • rosehenderson90rosehenderson90 Posts: 83
    Hi @Blue Onion

    That's excellent thank you!

    That simplifies things enormously. 

    Those a sound like great ideas. I will have a go  :)

    Best, 

    Rose
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    @rosehenderson90 -I'd agree - they should be fine for a while, depending on what wood they're made from. Lining them is key.  :)
    You can also use some outdoor varnish on them to help them last a bit longer.
    If you have any battens or other bits of timber, or even door/drawer knobs, you can attach them to the bottom to keep them off the ground.
    If you have paved areas for siting them, you could attach castors instead so that you can move them around.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • rosehenderson90rosehenderson90 Posts: 83
    Hi @Fairygirl,

    Brilliant thank you! They have quite a few knobs attached to them, so i could use those. That's a nice way to repurpose them too :)

    At the moment they will be on stones, but castors could be an idea for the future. 

    Thanks for your help!

    Rose
Sign In or Register to comment.