Container Gardening Complete

Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 32 5/24/17 10:55 AM
Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete
Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 33 5/24/17 1:58 PM

32 chapter 1

Concrete. Though concrete is very durable and

weather-proof, it’s also extremely heavy, making

big concrete planters practically immovable.

The cost varies greatly, based on the size of the

container and the design, but concrete is generally

considered to be fairly inexpensive. Over time,

concrete pots develop a nice patina. Concrete

is a great insulator and will protect roots from

extreme temperatures.

Hypertufa. An excellent alternative to

concrete, this durable, frost-proof material is

far lighter than concrete but with a similar

appearance. Hypertufa is made by combining

Portland cement (a specific type of cement used to

make concrete and stucco), peat moss, and perlite

(a natural volcanic glass that’s heated until it

expands into smooth particles), and it’s very easy

to make. See the project described later in the text

to build a hypertufa planter of your own.

Concrete is extremely durable, but it’s also

extremely heavy. Large concrete planters like these

urns are meant to stay put.

Hypertufa is a great replacement for heavy concrete.

It’s a fraction of the weight of concrete and is easy to

make yourself.

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MATERIALS NEEDED

1x6 cedar planks,

8 ft. long (9)

1¼ in. exterior decking

screws (1 box)

6d finishing nails

(1 small box)

TOOLS NEEDED

Miter saw

Straightedges

4 hand screw clamps

2 long bar clamps

Tape measure

Pencil

Circular saw

Speed square

Framing square

Drill with driver bits

and twist bits

Eye protection

Work gloves

Cedar is a wonderful rot-resistant wood. It’s also lightweight and very

easy to work with. This cedar planter box, designed by my friend Ron Sims,

looks great on a patio or deck, and it can be made in an afternoon. It’s one

of the more complex projects in this book, but as long as you have the right

tools and a little ambition, you’ll be able to make this beautiful planter.

One of my favorite things about cedar is that it’s typically sold in boards

that have a rough texture on one side and a smooth texture on the other

side. This means you can opt for a more rustic feel by putting the rough-

textured side on the exterior, or choose a more sleek look by having the

smooth side on the outside. For this demonstration, we made the box with

the smooth side on its exterior.

CEDAR

PLANTER

BOX

Continued

33

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