The all-wood wheelbarrow pictured above features a raw wood finish which gives it a very natural and rustic appeal, allowing it to blend in nicely with the variety of plants and flowers placed in and around it.
A wheelbarrow is a functional tool that can be used to transport various items on short distances. It usually has one wheel at the front is designed to be propelled by one person using the handles at the opposite end of its singular wheel. Modern wheelbarrows are usually made from metal & a rubber tire or plastic, but older wheel barrows are usually all-wood. Some wheelbarrow designs also combines different materials, but they are generally operated in the same way and are around the same size.
Despite its very functional use, there comes a time that a wheelbarrow would deteriorate and loose its primary function to haul items. Just like any tool, eventually, your wheelbarrow would get rusty, deformed or its wheels would break. Instead of disposing your wheelbarrow, however, there are various things you can do with your old wheelbarrow to transform and re-purpose it. Using an old wheelbarrow as a garden planter can give it new life and add a unique focal point in your garden. It doesn’t matter how dilapidated your old wheelbarrow is as that can simply add to its charm. With a few simple steps and tools, your old wheelbarrow can be given a new life & become the star of your backyard.
Those who have kept their old wheelbarrows would definitely get excited with this idea, but those who don’t can easily source them on junkyards, thrift shops or flea markets for a very low price. Rust and deformity should not discourage you to use old wheelbarrows as such details simply add to its charm and rustic appeal. Below are some excellent examples of wheelbarrows which were transformed into wheelbarrow planters. You will see a variety of wheelbarrow planter ideas including a variety of styles, materials and area of application which might inspire you when creating your own.
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Wooden Wheelbarrow Planter
See these wooden wheelbarrow planters at – Wayfair
See this wood wheelbarrow planter at – Wayfair
Old Wheelbarrow Garden Planter
Small Wheelbarrow Planter
This this metal garden decor at – Wayfair
Ornamental Wheelbarrow Planters
Get more information about this novelty garden planter cart at – Amazon
Rustic Wheelbarrow Planter
How to Make a Wheelbarrow Planter for Your Garden
For those interested in creating their own wheelbarrow planter in their garden, here are some easy steps you can follow to make yours:
Gather appropriate tools for the project – you would need the following items: Power Drill, 3/4″ drill bit (or larger if you prefer), wire mesh, potting mix or garden soil, scissors, plant seeds/seedlings/plants, mulch (depending on the type of plant you are using)
Source your wheelbarrow – a defunct wheelbarrow from your garage, or those bought or salvaged from junkyards can be used for this purpose. Determine the look you want to achieve to help you decide the type of wheelbarrow to use. Wood wheelbarrows often have an open back portion (near the handles) so you have to board it up first to be able to use it.
Create drainage holes – flip over your wheelbarrow and create holes for water drainage. A 3/4″ hole is an ideal size and would allow excess water to drip out to keep your plants alive.
Add wire mesh – a fine wire mesh should be attached to the bottom of the wheel barrow to cover the holes made for drainage to keep the soil from spilling out of the drainage holes. Make sure the size of the wire mesh would still allow water to pass through, but is fine enough to keep your soil in place.
Select a location – before filling your wheelbarrow, it is better to decide where to put it and place it there as it would be difficult to haul it once it is filled. Find the perfect spot in your garden, front yard or backyard and compose it according to the look you want to achieve with your wheelbarrow planter.
Fill it with soil or potting mix – depending on your preference and the type of plants you intend to plant in your wheelbarrow, you can fill your wheelbarrow until around 1″ from the top with your soil mixture or potting mix of choice. Always keep in mind to consider the type of plant you will be planting to determine the perfect mixture and keep your plants healthy.
Aside from filling it with soil, an alternative method would be placing existing plant pots inside the wheelbarrow. This method is less messy and definitely faster. This is also ideal if you have existing potted plants you want to use
Start Planting – you can start planting your flowers, vegetables or even succulents on your wheelbarrow planter, making sure to use the appropriate planting technique needed. There are so many plant varieties you can choose from depending on your preference.
Add mulch – add the appropriate layer of mulch according to the plant you have placed in your planter to keep the moisture in.
Aside from this, you can also paint your wheelbarrow prior to filling it with soil if you want to achieve a specific look or adhere to a specific color scheme. You can also add other decorative materials on the surface of the wheelbarrow planter – the possibilities are endless and your only boundary is your imagination. Whether you’re adding a rustic charm to your garden or a more modern touch, both can be achieved by giving new life to an old wheelbarrow.
Make a Rustic Wheelbarrow DIY Project
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Attribution #1 – beautiful-wheelbarrow-planter-with-flowers
nationgardenclubs from Flickr (Creative Commons License)
Attribution #2 – antique-wheelbarrow-planter
mikecogh from Flickr (Creative Commons License)
Attribution #3 – decorative-wheelbarrow-planter-with-bird-design
graeme from Flickr (Creative Commons License)
Attribution #4 – old-wood-wheelbarrow-planter
sangre-la from Flickr (Creative Commons License)
Attribution #5 – tranform-an-old-wheelbarrow-in-to-a-flower-planter
nationgardenclubs from Flickr (Creative Commons License)
Attribution #6 – wheelbarrow-planter-with-pink-flowers
niftyniall from Flickr (Creative Commons License)
Attribution #7 – wooden wheelbarrow turned in to planter
muffintoptn from Flickr (Creative Commons License)
Attribution #8 – metal wheelbarrow for garden planter
mikecogh from Flickr (Creative Commons License)
Attribution #9 – garden-wheelbarrow-filled-with-flowers
nationgardenclubs from Flickr (Creative Commons License)[/expand]
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