I have an old wooden wire spool that I would like to use in the garden. I am trying to come up with some creative ways to use it. One idea I had was to cut it in half down the middle, flip it on its side, and use the middle part as a planter. I know there are many ways this spool could be used creatively, what ideas do you have? What would you do?
Here is the spool:
How tall is it? If it's about table height, you can do what some pals of mine did with a similar cable spool. They cleaned it up, stained the wood a dark charcoal-brown color, then had a big round stone top made (I think it was basalt) at a local stone yard (the kind of place that specializes in big slabs for kitchen counters). They now use it for a dining table on their terrace. I think the table is about 60" in diameter. It probably wasn't cheap, but it sure looks good.
The spool is 30 inches tall and about the same wide.
Well. I put goats on mine but that is certainly not conducive to growing anything but fertalizer :)
Ginger
Have you posted this on the yard art forum? There are some really creative people over there.
Of course "table" is the first thing that comes to minds, but maybe you could put it upright so you can appreciate the roundness of the spool. Then if you can anchor it, you could train a vine up it or put hooks in it and hang pots off of it. You could also put chickenwire on it with soil behind it and grown sedum there.
I would pile soil on it and make a succulent garden.
Does is have a hole in the center? You could put a pole in it and put artwork up there - or a hanger and hang pots off it - or run a vine up the length.
Oh... VERY good. I know mine have holes in the center because I have to plug them to keep goats from breaking their legs......
You could use it in the position it is in as a planter to add height in a garden. Cut a hole in the center of the top surface slightly smaller than the diameter of the spool itself (and in a standard size to put a deep pot in). Then cut smaller holes (again, standard pot size) around the perimeter of the top surfice (so the lip of the pot used would keep the pot from falling through). Plant something tall and eye catching in the center section, and then trailing greens and annuals in the pots around the edge. I have to use stands to add height and color in certain areas of my yard that the tree roots make it impossible to plant in the ground. That would be a much cooler way to get the height and color in a hard to plant area!
I have used the spools for composting and have placed them on their sides and placed the compost filler in them. After a month or so I rolled them ovef my garden space and used the composted material for top dressing on the garden.
I like the idea of cutting it down the middle, would make 2 cool planters.
But I had one years ago, we used it as a table down by the creek. It lasted a few years then it rotted, because we did not think to treat it. The wood they are made of will not last long unless treated. I wish I still had mine, would be great for my pot getto. Sunny on top shade on bottom.
