How to Build a Flower Planter

Overview

Planters add growing space and aesthetic appeal to your home. A simple planter can be made from ready-mix cement. Fill planters with flowers, small trees, shrubs, or vegetables. Add concrete planters to the center of a flower garden as a focal point or add to a deck, porch, or patio as accent pieces. Making planters is time intensive but not terribly hard.

Step 1

Dump bags of sand into a hill. Moisten the sand so that it sticks together, as if you were going to build a sand castle. Dig a hole in the sand that is 2 inches wider in diameter than the trash can you are using. Press the sand tightly around the trash can. Push the trash can into the sand and twist to smooth the sides. Twist slowly as you lift to remove the trash can.

Step 2

Mix the cement according to the directions on the package, stir with a trowel. Coat the dowel with a thing layer of oil. Pour a layer into the bottom of the hole and insert the dowel into the center.

Step 3

Coat the tube with oil on the outside. Place the plastic tube firmly into the layer of concrete. The tube should be 2 to 3 inches smaller in diameter than the trash can you use for a mold. Pour concrete around the plastic tube. Tamper the concrete using the plastic tube.

Step 4

Remove the plastic tube and the dowel once the concrete has begun to set. Ready-made concrete takes 15 to 20 minutes to begin to set.

Step 5

Leave the planter in the sand for three to four days to cure. Remove it from the sand and rinse with water to remove excess sand.