A Quick Weekend Project :: Repurposed Ladders

Believe me when I say it has been a VERY long time that I've wanted a pergola in my garden. I can't even pinpoint for how long I've seen visions of dappled shade from wooden rafters overhead. It was a dream that never came to fruition in my OLD garden. I'm happy to announce that we just finished having one built in the back yard of my NEW garden. I'll detail the process of building the pergola in another post. You needed to know about the pergola so I can tell you the next story.

During the build of the pergola (December 2014)

Under the pergola my ultimate plan is to create a multi-purpose area. We opted for a roof to keep it dry underneath. It's big enough for a seating area and a work area. Foremost, the idea is to have a gardening work area. I'm waiting right now ... I do a lot of waiting ... I know you do too ... most of us do when it comes to dreams. The plan includes having a work bench built for potting and projects. Then I'd like some open, stacked shelving where I can put my trays of seed starts and plant starts. Everything gets accomplished in stages around here. I'm good with that...continues to teach me patience. While I'm waiting for the next phase of my plans, I decided to improvise on the stacked shelving for the interim.

Clear polycarbonate roofing over the pergola

I've been holding on to an ancient wooden ladder for quite a long time. I knew I wanted to repurpose it for something in the garden, but wasn't sure what/how/where until we moved into this house. The previous owner left me his slightly shorter ancient wooden ladder. With two wooden ladders I'm ready to get busy. Do they even make wooden ladders anymore?

This is by no means an original idea. I've seen ladders painted and displayed in other situations. In the back of mind I imagined I would make a display for pretty potted plants using the ladders somewhere out in the garden. Clarity has struck ... you know, like an aha moment... when all those swirling thoughts come together and you can SEE IT. I will use the ladders under the pergola for my temporary stacked shelving. It's the perfect place and use for them.

My old wooden ladder is 6' tall.  I've had this ladder for over 36 years. It was the first ladder Mr. Meems and I ever bought together. I've puttied, caulked, painted, stenciled, drilled, papered, washed, nailed, leveled and scraped climbing this old wooden ladder. It was long ago replaced by a fancy metal one or two. The new life I'm giving it will be a bit of a memorial to the tasks accomplished up and down those steps. 

Here's how my weekend repurposed ladder project went down.

First, I scrubbed the ladders with a good cleanser and brush to be sure they were ready for paint. They've been resting idle for a long time. They dried in partial sun and overnight. In the meantime, I raided my ample supply of spray paints to determine which bright colors I'd use to transform them.

I had bought an extra can of Rustoleum Summer Squash with this project in mind a few months ago when I used it for some autumn decorating. After all this time it was still my first choice. It is a delicious golden yellow color that says 'smiling sunshine' when I look at it.

The second color for the shorter ladder was almost as easy to decide. I've been spray painting clay pots with Rustoleum Lagoon and I'm loving how it blends with green/chartreuse plants. I wanted something bright and quirky, but I also kept in mind colors that work with my garden/house. 

I gathered some old salvaged wooden planks of varying sizes out of my garage to place on and between the rungs of the ladders. I just had to paint one of them (again Rustoleum) Paprika. The others are already gray. (Rustoleum is getting some free advertising here. I do love their spray paint because it is primer and paint all in one.)

The posts under the yellow ladder are leftover pieces from the pergola that I painted Rustoleum Espresso. They make another layer for more trays.

Pergola is east-facing with lots of filtered morning sun.

I'm ready now to gather up the grow-trays of baby cuttings that are hiding out in the garden hither and yon. This protected area is going to be perfect for starting seeds, too.

Plants that need shade are placed toward the back. It is nice to have them all in one spot. There is a water spigot under the pergola which makes it easy to manage watering duties for whatever plants/seeds end up resting here.

I hope you are enjoying your gardens this season if you live in a warm climate like Florida.
Happy gardening, Meems

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All material © 2007-2014 by Meems for Hoe and Shovel Gardening Blog. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

How-to :: Succulent Planter in a Birdcage

It's been quite a while ago, but I used to keep the sweetest, tiniest, chirping finches in this white birdcage. Since then I have thought often about repurposing the cage for something useful again. When I saw the photo above (I think I found it on an FB gardening page), I was immediately inspired. Succulents are fun and unique plants that don't require much attention from the gardener.

I had no idea how to duplicate the inspiration piece, but I thought I'd give it a try recently. This is what I decided would likely work. If you'd like to do it also this is how.





Birdcage
Small pebbles
Sphagnum moss
Potting soil
Perlite (optional)
Succulents
Dowel (optional)
Decorative rocks (optional)

You may not need to paint your cage. I did. I painted my white birdcage Espresso Brown. The cage also has a hanger and a stand. All were painted with spray-paint ~  Rust-oleum primer and paint. I chose this deep brown for the cage so it would blend into the background and allow the green plants to be the focus. After it was painted I let the paint 'set-up or cure' for a couple of days before I began transforming it to a planter. Curing time for paint helps delay deterioration.

Now that it's painted and cured let's get creative. 

Place very small rocks in the bottom tray for drainage. I used about an inch of small pea gravel. This makes the cage heavy so be sure your stand (or hanger) and bottom will hold the weight.

Soak sphagnum moss in water. Wetting it thoroughly helps to make it easily moldable and it stays in place until the next step. I put the moss in a bucket of water and let it drink up the water thoroughly.

Mold the drenched moss using small quantities at a time (squeeze out excess water as you go) to the sides of the cage about 4" or so in height. My cage came with plastic inserts that slide in and out on all four sides. I put those in place to help hold the moss in. When I was ready to plant I removed them. You can better see the plastic slides two photos down.

Mix your favorite potting soil with about one part Perlite. Perlite is optional. See all those white specks? That's Perlite. My favorite potting soil is made with some Perlite in it. I added more Perlite because I had some on hand. Perlite will aerate the soil and help with drainage. Succulents need good drainage.

Soak the soil in a bucket. I find the soil easier to work with if it is already wet for this situation. Also, if the soil is already wet you won't have to run water over the plants and risk movement of any of these components once it is finished.

Pack the wet soil inside of the exterior wall you made with the sphagnum moss. I used the open door to the cage to stick my hand through. It was awkward and slow, but it is the only way to get your hand inside.

I didn't purchase any new plants for this project. I used my newly rooted succulents and a few small pieces of various types I had left over from other projects. 

Plant the inside of the cage with as many succulents as you think fit and look appropriate considering height and mature size. I put in varying sizes/shapes and then added some small decorative pebbles to fill in empty spaces.

Plant the outside of the cage. I used a small dowel to poke a hole between the small wire openings.  A pencil or large screw driver could also work ~ you just need something to penetrate the moss and make a way for the stem to slip into the soil without damaging the roots. I gently inserted each rooted cutting through the opening made with the dowel. I used rooted pieces without soil attached or I knocked off the soil.  There isn't room to fit soil and roots through the narrow wire. I did my best to tighten the interior (wet) soil around each insert to secure it. I placed one hand inside the cage and gently packed the interior dirt around each piece while holding the plant with the other hand outside the cage. I also attached a small Tillandsia to one of the exterior scrolls (without dirt) just for fun.

I won't add water for a couple of weeks or more since my soil was already soaking wet. I'll add more succulents later if I need more to fill it out. I'm kinda waiting to see how these initial pieces take off first.

The newly planted birdcage and stand has found a home on the outside deck in partial sunlight.  This spot never gets midday sunlight but it does receive lots of filtered light and morning light.

I feel pretty confident about the interior plants. They will likely take root and adjust to their new environment eventually. The true test will be the exterior inserts.  If the outside pieces actually root and take hold my copy of the inspiration piece might be successful.

The whole project took me about an hour including painting. It didn't cost me anything at the time because I happened to have all the supplies already on hand. I like that.

Obviously, my planter has some growing up to do before it reaches the amazing beauty status of its inspiration piece. Good thing I'm a patient gardener.

Where's the most unusual place you've planted succulents or other plants? The possibilities are endless when plants are given the proper conditions. I'd like to make a succulent wreath some day ... it's on my list.

All material © 2007-2014 by Meems for Hoe and Shovel Gardening Blog. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

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