Oil Can Planter

Whimsical Garden Art DIY and Craft Tutorial

There are junk piles, and then there are treasure hoards; this rusty oil can is from the latter, scrounged from the bush where it's lain for decades, just getting more patina and rust.

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Back in the day, these oil cans were made from some pretty good steel; this is a good thing, because even with that the rust has almost eaten through in a couple of spots.

No matter; with a bit of ingenuity and a grinding wheel, this tin can will soon be a planter fit for succulents.

Cutting a rectangular hole in the oil can

I decided to cut this one like a sardine can, and roll up the piece so it could either be hooked onto a nail to be a piece of wall art filled with plants, or to sit on a table to display it. 

My orders were followed exactly by the help, unlike other projects where I assumed my instructions were clear.

Either way, it will take a while for the succulents, here some tiny Sedum and a few Sempervivum, to root in enough so they don't fall out if it's hung up, so I'll enjoy it as a table decoration for a bit.

Carefully rolling the flap...

Ignore the mouse nest - I guess I took his home, without realizing it.

Until the opening is ready for planting

Just to show what it might look like, here it is planted and standing up - I'll leave it horizontal for a while to let the plants get established.

And planted with succulents!

Here's the same planter in May, 2016.  I don't care at all what happens to them over the winter, and this one was left to survive or not.  I had to replant a few bare spots, but it looks amazingly good, yes?

Oil Can Planter, May 2016

So the moral of the story is; even if it looks like a piece of junk, don't discard it right away - let the ideas flow.  You never know what your mind will come up with.


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