How to Use Wine Barrels As Planters

Last Updated: May 12, 2022

Growing plants in wine barrels is an easy and low-maintenance gardening method. If you have a green thumb but limited garden space, wine barrels are the perfect way to grow flowers, herbs or vegetables. Just a single barrel of plump, juicy tomatoes, crispy greens and crunchy Bell peppers will provide you with delicious just-picked summertime salads. Readily available at garden centers or home building supply outlets, wine barrels are an inexpensive and long-lasting way to have fresh plants at your doorstep. You can create dazzling barrel gardens that will showcase your horticultural talents by following the steps below.

Steps

1
Place your wine barrel upside down on a sturdy work surface and drill 7-1” holes in the bottom of the barrel. If you don’t have an electric drill, inquire at the local hardware store or lumberyard about handyman services. For a nominal fee, some establishments will perform small jobs such as drilling or sawing, especially if you purchased the item from them.
2
Cut a piece of landscape cloth slightly larger than the inside diameter of the barrel and place it on the bottom, making sure it completely covers the surface. It is not necessary to line the sides of the barrel with the cloth. Empty the entire bag of stones into the barrel and spread them evenly over the cloth.

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3
Fill the barrel with the growing mix, leaving the top 2” free. Add ½ cup of Osmocote and with your trowel, mix it thoroughly into the soil.
4
Before planting, make an arrangement by placing your plants in the most suitable spot in the container. Check the labels for height and width potential of mature plants. But bear in mind, a plant growing in confined quarters doesn’t have the freedom to stretch its roots the way it could if it were planted in open ground. If you are satisfied with how your design appears, remove plants from their pots and insert in soil.
5
Water your freshly planted barrel until you see water flow freely from the bottom. Moist soil on the top doesn’t mean that the entire container has received the water it needs in order to become a thriving, healthy and productive garden.

Community Q&A

Question

Why should I use landscape cloth, and where do I get it?

Community Answer

You use landscape cloth to keep soil from coming out of the holes. It's sold at garden centers and multi-product stores with garden centers.
Question

Shouldn't there be a cover of some kind over the barrel to protect the plants from birds and other animals?

Community Answer

Use chicken wire, either (a) directly on the soil, (b) stretched over the top of the planter, or (c) in a dome shape over the top of the planter. To make a dome, cut a circle of chicken wire about with a radius of about 1.5x the radius of the planter top, then cut out a small pizza-slice shaped piece. tie the edges of where the slice was cut out together and the circle will make a dome. The dome is more easily removed as the plants grow, but uses more wire.

Warnings

Wear gloves and safety glasses when drilling the holes to avoid splinters or small wood chips from entering your eyes.

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Fully planted barrels are quite heavy and difficult to move. To avoid physical injury, place the empty barrel in a permanent location and plant on site.

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