Rain Barrel Planter Renovation!

One of the first garden improvement projects I did after we bought our condo was to install a rain barrel that looks like a rock in my front yard. I figured (correctly) that if my rain barrel looks more like a lawn ornament I wouldn’t get the stink eye from my neighbors or my Homeowner’s Association.

But mostly I wanted something that looks nice since I have to look at it.

The only downside is that the rain barrel is one solid piece and almost impossible to clean when leaves and whatnot block the spigot from the inside of the rain barrel. After many years of service, the rain barrel started to leak. Instead of trying to repair it again, I decided to replace it with this exact decorative rain barrel planter that is easier to clean and winterize. (Disclosure: I am including affiliate links for your convenience.)

Save this unique rain barrel idea to your Pinterest boards for later! Share it with your friends!

It was easy to take the original dry stack rain barrel stand apart (well, as easy as tossing bricks around for a couple of hours can be) and make it into a custom rain barrel stand to fit the shape of the new rain barrel.

To keep the brick rain barrel stand from shifting with the dirt underneath it and falling over time, I laid the brick on this exact Brock Aver Base Panel over a layer of sand first and used paver edging like this kind to keep the rows of bricks in place.

 

To keep my worn and reclaimed bricks from flopping even further, I ended up using the paver edging with the wrong side out on the first layer of bricks. I used the no show side of the paver edging on the upper layers.

And since I was in the upgrading mood, I replaced the rain barrel diverter with this Oatey Mystic barrel diverter.  Eventually I added a couple of of these rain gutter screws to hold it in place. The diverter didn’t stay in my downspout like the box implied on its own. It needed a little help.

 I like that my rain barrel planter also gives me more room to grow plants!

The rain barrel bows out a little when it is to full which was one of the main complaints I read when I bought it but it wasn’t as awful as those reviews made it out to be. It is easily fixed by using the water in the rain barrel to water plants or something. Problem solved!

Looking for more rain barrels, watering, and landscaping ideas? Check out the following options – and more – below!

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How to Prevent Cabbage Worms and Garden Pests the Easy Way!

For the 2023 gardening season depending upon how it goes in 2022

One summer, my husband and I tried growing a cabbage from its stem. Once it grew a good set of roots, I planted it outside in our container garden. 

Where we learn just how much cabbage worms love cabbage. We vowed never to plant cabbage again. 

 

We were successful growing the cabbage and Romain lettuce. The celery failed us.

So what did I do? I decided to grow broccoli, kohlrabi, and bok choy thinking the seeds would be a better gardening investment because those fresh vegetables can be on the more expensive side in the grocery store.It was only after I got home that I learned I bought a bunch of seeds in the brassicas (cabbage) family.

We were right back where we started. Because not only do cabbage worms like to eat and destroy cabbage plants, they also like chowing down on broccoli, kohlrabi, and baby bok choy.

Fortunately there is an easy one and done way to prevent cabbage worms from wreaking havoc on your vegetables: use floating row covers. 

How to Use Floating Row Covers on Container Garden Flower Pots and Planters