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Step 5Other Design Options
1. Green Wall: The green wall option is terrific if you live in a very rainy area or simply prefer the look of it. This is also a great way to create shading in your yard.
i. Order extra barrels from the onset, 4 or 6 in total. Also buy extra plants.
ii. When setting your first barrel, the one under the downspout, make sure it is the most elevated of the barrels by creating a higher foundation. Each subsequent barrel should be a bit lower than the one just up the line (you can still stack them two high).
iii. Attach a short length of hose from the top overflow fitting of the first set of barrels to the lower overflow fitting of the next set (allows for transfer of water). Do the same down the line and then attach a hose to the overflow fitting of the last barrel to direct any additional overflow away from barrels.
iv. You may wrap each barrel individually in wire or all together. Then just plant your flowers!
2. Wood: The wood wrapped barrel is super easy and a great way to reuse old pieces of wood you have around the yard:
i. Find or buy wood pieces between 2 and 3 inches wide and about an inch thick. They don't have to be the same length as long as they are all long enough to reach the top of your barrels; an uneven edge can look really beautiful. Get enough to go all the way around your barrels. Leave gaps for fixtures (these you can fill in with shorter lengths of wood later on).
ii. You'll also want to buy a length of thin steel cable long enough to wrap around a barrel 5 or 6 times. Place the lengths of wood around the barrel and carefully (probably with a little help from someone) loop the cable around and through the wood pieces to secure them and also to make an interesting weave pattern around the barrels.
iii. Attach the ends of the cable using a small steel crimp or clamp. Add planters on top of the barrel to create a flowery top.
3. Stone: The stone gabion look is very attractive. This design also lets you rest assured that your barrel will never fall over (though each barrel filled with water weighs 400 lbs):
i. Just as with the plant surrounded barrel, you'll need wire mesh to go around your barrels in order to fill them with stone. Choose wire that will hold the size stones you plan to use and that looks nice, too, since it will be exposed.
ii. Wrap the mesh at a distance from your barrel that leaves enough room for the stones but not so much that your layer of stone is too thick.
iii. Carefully begin dropping stones into the gap until they come all the way up the barrels, being careful not to hit fixtures. Add planters on top of the barrel if desired.
i. Order extra barrels from the onset, 4 or 6 in total. Also buy extra plants.
ii. When setting your first barrel, the one under the downspout, make sure it is the most elevated of the barrels by creating a higher foundation. Each subsequent barrel should be a bit lower than the one just up the line (you can still stack them two high).
iii. Attach a short length of hose from the top overflow fitting of the first set of barrels to the lower overflow fitting of the next set (allows for transfer of water). Do the same down the line and then attach a hose to the overflow fitting of the last barrel to direct any additional overflow away from barrels.
iv. You may wrap each barrel individually in wire or all together. Then just plant your flowers!
2. Wood: The wood wrapped barrel is super easy and a great way to reuse old pieces of wood you have around the yard:
i. Find or buy wood pieces between 2 and 3 inches wide and about an inch thick. They don't have to be the same length as long as they are all long enough to reach the top of your barrels; an uneven edge can look really beautiful. Get enough to go all the way around your barrels. Leave gaps for fixtures (these you can fill in with shorter lengths of wood later on).
ii. You'll also want to buy a length of thin steel cable long enough to wrap around a barrel 5 or 6 times. Place the lengths of wood around the barrel and carefully (probably with a little help from someone) loop the cable around and through the wood pieces to secure them and also to make an interesting weave pattern around the barrels.
iii. Attach the ends of the cable using a small steel crimp or clamp. Add planters on top of the barrel to create a flowery top.
3. Stone: The stone gabion look is very attractive. This design also lets you rest assured that your barrel will never fall over (though each barrel filled with water weighs 400 lbs):
i. Just as with the plant surrounded barrel, you'll need wire mesh to go around your barrels in order to fill them with stone. Choose wire that will hold the size stones you plan to use and that looks nice, too, since it will be exposed.
ii. Wrap the mesh at a distance from your barrel that leaves enough room for the stones but not so much that your layer of stone is too thick.
iii. Carefully begin dropping stones into the gap until they come all the way up the barrels, being careful not to hit fixtures. Add planters on top of the barrel if desired.
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