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Container Gardening: A DIY Planter on Wheels

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DIY ProjectsIssue 28 — Minimalism Around the World

Container Gardening: A DIY Planter on Wheels

June 28, 2017

A container garden on wheels is something every outdoor space deserves. When our new Gardenista book was in the brainstorming phase and we came up with an idea for 10 DIY projects to create an instant room on a tiny balcony, deck, or patio, guess which was our editors’ favorite?

The DIY container garden on wheels won hands down. Here are step-by-step instructions to make your own (and don’t forget to scroll down to see what the finish DIY outdoor room looks like in our book.)

Photography by Matthew Williams for Gardenista.

Container Garden on Wheels

Who doesn&#8\2\17;t love a planter on wheels? Our rolling container garden is an easy DIY project you can make in under an hour (plus the time it takes for the paint to dry).
Above: Who doesn’t love a planter on wheels? Our rolling container garden is an easy DIY project you can make in under an hour (plus the time it takes for the paint to dry).

What You Need:

We spread out a painter&#8\2\17;s drop cloth as a work surface.
Above: We spread out a painter’s drop cloth as a work surface.

Materials

  • A 36-by-12-inch cedar planter (ours came from Chelsea Garden Center)
  • Exterior paint in a high-gloss finish
  • Paint roller, brush, and tray
  • Power drill
  • Four 3-inch swivel casters
  • 16 wood screws
  • River rocks
  • Potting soil
  • Plants of your choice

Paint the Planter Box

We painted the exterior of the planter with two coats of high-gloss paint, allowing the first coat to dry fully before applying the second. (We used Farrow & Ball&#8\2\17;s Purbeck Stone, a neutral color to create a subtle backdrop for green foliage.)
Above: We painted the exterior of the planter with two coats of high-gloss paint, allowing the first coat to dry fully before applying the second. (We used Farrow & Ball’s Purbeck Stone, a neutral color to create a subtle backdrop for green foliage.)

Drill Holes for Wheels

To attach the casters, we predrilled four holes on each underside corner of the box for the wood screws. (If the planter box doesn&#8\2\17;t already have drainage holes, drill a few.)
Above: To attach the casters, we predrilled four holes on each underside corner of the box for the wood screws. (If the planter box doesn’t already have drainage holes, drill a few.)
We used a drill bit the same size as the screws and attached the casters using wood screws.
Above: We used a drill bit the same size as the screws and attached the casters using wood screws.

Soil and Rocks

We lined the bottom of the container garden with a 3-inch layer of river rocks for drainage and fill the rest of the planter with potting soil.
Above: We lined the bottom of the container garden with a 3-inch layer of river rocks for drainage and fill the rest of the planter with potting soil.

Add Plants

We added three plants with different shapes and textures of foliage.
Above: We added three plants with different shapes and textures of foliage.

Instant Outdoor Room

Our \10 DIY projects, including the container box on wheels, add up to one outdoor room. For the rest, see Gardenista: The Definitive Guide to Outdoor Spaces.
Above: Our 10 DIY projects, including the container box on wheels, add up to one outdoor room. For the rest, see Gardenista: The Definitive Guide to Outdoor Spaces.

N.B.: See more irresistible container gardens at:

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