I can't wait for you to complete this project!
I’m excited to finally share my favorite summer DIY project with you. It has been such a busy summer around here. We moved to Apollo Beach at the end of April and we really wanted this new home to be a great place for outdoor entertaining. When I spotted some half whiskey barrels at the hardware store, I knew right away that’s what I would use as the base for my DIY planters with a pole for string lights.
Grab your materials
half whiskey barrel 8′ x 4″ x 4″ wood post wood stain paint brush 4 large L brackets 1 1/2 inch screws 1/8 inch drill bit #6 Screw Hooks
Step One: Drill holes into the bottom of barrel for drainage. Step Two: Attach a #6 Screw Hook to the top of the post.
Step 1 & 2
Step Three: Place the barrel where you plan to keep it. Once it is filled with soil and plants, it will be difficult to move. Center bottom of post in barrel. It will be useful to have a second pair of hands to hold the post in place. Use L brackets and screws to attach the post to the inside of the barrel. I considered using concrete to secure the post but decided that the large brackets and weight of the soil and plants would be more than enough to hold the planters in place.
Step 3
Step Four: Once the post is secure, you can use a paint brush to apply stain to the post. You can skip this step but I think the stain better matches the aged appearance of the whiskey barrel. I chose an oak color for the stain and really like how it turned out.
Step 4
Step Five: Once the stain has dried, add soil and plants to the barrel. We chose inexpensive annuals which gave us beautiful blooms all summer long. Be sure to generously water your new plants.
Step 5