How to Refinish Wooden Plant Boxes and Holders

How to Sand Stain and Poly Wood Planters

Wooden plant boxes and holders should have some sort of finish applied to them to protect the wood. Each time you water your plants you are adding more moisture. The moisture absorbs into unfinished wood and will eventually mold and rot it. Soil holds moisture so really the wood never has a chance to be dry. Refinishing your wooden plant boxes and holders will make the wood water resistant. It will also give them a decorative look.

To begin empty remove all soil from each plant box or holder you will be refinishing. Use a shop vac to suck off any remaining soil that sticks to the wood. Do not wash the dirt off with a wet cloth. You don't need them perfectly clean because they're going to be sanded. You also need to have the boxes as dry as possible and you don't want to add any extra moisture. Once the planters are free of soil it's actually a good idea to let them set in a warm dry area over night. This gives the wood a little time to dry. This is important because you don't want there to be moisture trapped in the wood sealed in by your new finish.

Once the wooden plant holders and boxes are all dry it's time to begin refinishing them. Get an electric handheld sander ready with rough grit sand paper. Go over the entire planter or box thoroughly. Do the inside and bottom of the box or planter too. Once you have finishing sanding them with the rough grit switch to fine grit and go over them again.

Use the shop vac again to remove all of the dust created from sanding. It will also come in handy to clean up the mess made from sanding. Use a soft cloth and wipe each box or planter down. This removes any missed dust which could flaw your new finish.

To give the planters beauty and color apply stain. Stain comes in various shades and colors. Choose to do your planters all the same or vary the colors doing some oak, some walnut, and some cherry. Use a clean dry cloth to apply the stain. Rub it on in a circular motion then quickly wipe it back off to avoid dark spots.

Once you have finished staining you can immediately go on to the next step which is to apply polyurethane. The poly will protect the wood and make it water resistant. The wood itself will not be able to absorb moisture because the poly seals and coats it. Polyurethane also gives the wood a gorgeous shine. Your planters and boxes will be not only protected but also beautiful.

Use a large foam paint brush to apply the poly. Give each box or planter four or five coats for maximum protection. Wait at least 20 minutes between coats so that each has time enough to dry before the next is applied.

Let the final coat of poly dry twentfour hours before placing any soil in the wooden plant boxes and holders. Once that twentfour hours has passed fill them up and add your seeds or plants. They will last for years to come and will add a little decorative touch to your garden area or home.

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Raised Bed Preparation Tips for Optimum Success

Are you thinking of implementing raised beds in your garden? We have, for several years. I'm somewhat physically limited. Those raised beds make it possible for me to enjoy my favorite pastime without injury. Along the way, I've learned a few things about raised bed gardening that have made the process more productive and more enjoyable.

Location is vital

Planning a raised bed garden is no different than planning a conventional one in some respects. One big difference is that it's a lot harder to move a raised bed garden. You have to remove all the dirt, move the bed and prepare the ground underneath it every time. Therefore, placement is important.

If you're planting vegetables, your beds should receive at least 6 hours of sun per day. You'll also want your beds placed on high ground, for proper drainage. Knowing what you're planting helps too. Some vegetables require more shade than others. So, consider all factors before placing your beds. You don't want to move them.

Bed building

There are several ways to build garden beds. I've actually written a guide with some pictures to demonstrate the easiest method. As for the size, you'll want to be sure you can reach your plants while gardening. I've found the ideal width to be 4 feet. The length, is not as important. However, I do suggest you use a length that comes ready cut to save time, lumber and labor. You can usually find 12 inch wide boards in 8, 10 and 12 foot lengths. The 12 inch height is perfect for raised beds. If you'd like them taller, simply make them two boards high.

Preparing the ground

The first time we used raised beds, we made the mistake of putting plastic under them, to block weeds. We had a yard full of them. The beds did OK, but not spectacularly. Then, at the end of the season, all the tomatoes came down with a fungus. Plastic does not allow water to drain. So, what is the best method?

The best thing to do, when placing raised beds, is to remove a layer of sod where the bed will be placed. Then, dig and loosen the soil to a depth of about a foot. This allows for drainage. It also allows deep rooted plants to spread their roots naturally.

Enhancing raised beds

Once your raised beds are in place, you may want to enhance them. For instance, if you plan to plant lettuce, there will be times when you'll need a shade cover. You might want to add posts to the corners of the bed to secure a cover to. If your raised beds will contain vining plants, you could add some permanent trellis.

Soil tips

We've found that the best fertilizer by far is our own compost. However, when filling garden beds, we use a planter's mix from our local garden supply/greenhouse. A perfect raised bed planter's mix contains half soil, half compost. The soil quality will vary, depending on the greenhouse. When shopping for garden bed soil, look for loose, dark dirt that balls slightly, then crumbles. If it holds a ball permanently, it likely contains too much clay. If it doesn't ball at all, it doesn't have enough.

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