Oak barrels may no longer be abundant like they once were, but second-hand barrels can still be obtained. Oak Barrels are an ideal option for a long-lasting, large-capacity recycled planter.
Instead of making your sherry or curing hams in them, these barrels can easily be transformed into attractive oak planters at a fraction of the cost of buying commercially available planters – all you need is some basic tools and no prior experience to create your oak planters – providing a fun garden project while saving both time and money! Here is all the information you need to know about oak barrel planters, check it out!
Oak Barrel Planters: How to Build One?
- Measure the height by stretching a tape measure vertically around the barrel’s circumference and from the top to the bottom rim edge, representing its total height.
- Divide the height by two to determine its centerpoint equidistant from both ends of the barrel. For instance, if its total height is 36 inches, its midpoint will be 16 inches from either end since 32 divided by two equals 16.
- Mark the halfway point on each stave forming your barrel and use a flexible ruler to connect these marks into an uninterrupted circle around its midpoint.
- At any convenient point and directly along your line, drill a hole large enough to accommodate an electric jigsaw blade – for this, a 1/3-inch drill bit should suffice.
- Slice through the barrel using a jigsaw by carefully following its circumference with careful precision, being sure to follow any marked lines as you do so.
- Place both half-barrels on a firm surface with the open ends facing upwards. Drill three or four half-inch-wide holes into their ends so water can drain freely from your planter – and make sure these are evenly spaced across each barrel end.
- Flip over both half-barrels and use coarse sandpaper to smooth the cut edges free from slivers. Apply wood preservative liberally across both halves, covering every cut area as well as freshly trimmed areas; allow time for drying as per manufacturer recommendations.
When Using Oak Barrels as Garden Planters, There are some Things to Keep in Mind.
Oak Barrels make excellent garden planters; here are a few key points you should remember when selecting one for use as garden planters. We’ve listed our top watch-out points when purchasing Oak Barrel planters below.
Durability and long-term performance in outdoor conditions
One key consideration when searching for an Oak Barrel Planter for your garden is whether it will withstand outdoor conditions for years. A sturdy oak barrel planter will prevent internal rot from breaking down over time; hardwood barrels make this easy. Oak Tubs, we ensure these barrels and planters meet these high-quality standards to give you something that will become an enduring feature of your outdoor space.
Drainage is essential to the health of plants
An important consideration when purchasing Oak Barrel Garden Planters is whether they come equipped with drainage holes. Your plants and the oak barrel should benefit from having drainage available; otherwise, the chances of internal rot increase significantly.
Oak Tubs provides wooden barrels tailored specifically to the customer’s needs, allowing them to add drainage holes (include a note with your order so we can do this) to protect them from future damage or rot!
The wooden barrels for sale come fully cut-to-order, so they are made just how you like them! Drainage holes should be drilled either in the base of a planter or between its bottom two bands on either side. Drilling through this wall in hot weather creates an underground reservoir for plants to drink from (add stones to assist drainage before filling with soil).
The Right Barrel Size for Plant Compatibility
Be wary when selecting an Oak Barrel planter to fit particular plants! This mistake often surprises people because larger containers tend to hold onto more moisture in the soil. To avoid issues, select plants appropriate to the size and depth of your planter; larger barrels require deeper-rooted plants with deeper roots to absorb any extra liquid and avoid damaging both your planters and their contents. Luckily, there are various-sized planters suitable for various species and sizes of plants, so this won’t ever be an issue with us!