Galvanized planters gone wild!

September 17, 2009


It all started because I needed a place to plant my little ‘Bloodspot’ mangave, which I picked up at Bob Barth’s Oracle Gorge Nursery sale.
No, it really started when I moved the blue pots off the upper patio into the raised beds below (yes, the raised beds are below the upper patio; my back yard slopes steeply away from the house), and I needed something to define the edge of the patio but not block the view down to the pool.
Well, it really started way before that, when I went crazy for using galvanized stock tanks as planters and ponds and placed them throughout my former garden and now my new garden.
What did I expect? Nature took its course, and now I’ve got baby tanks—twins, in fact—in the garden.

They are cute though.
These baby stock tanks are actually galvanized wash tubs I found at Callahan’s General Store. They’re much cheaper than stock tanks, and they have the shorter stature I was looking for. Unfortunately, the tubs are made of thinner metal than stock tanks, so with holes punched in the bottom for drainage, I don’t expect they’ll last as long as a true stock tank before they begin to rust out. But they’ll last a while, and they make charming containers for my growing succulent and cactus collection.

I planted up two, one on each side of the steps from the upper patio to the pool. Some of the plants will eventually get too large for the container, and some are cold-tender and will require covering in the winter—or they may croak if we have a hard winter. But I’m hoping these easy little planters will prove to be a low-maintenance way to add some sparkle and shine to the patio.
I know someone will ask: the blue-green pot feet came from Barton Springs Nursery, as did many of the succulents. BSN’s 4″ pots are very reasonably priced at $1.99 each.
All material © 2006-2009 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

0 responses to “Galvanized planters gone wild!”

  1. Lisa at Greenbow says:

    You are right these little planters are cute. I so like the small plants in them too. Such good color combos. So much interest in such a small space.
    Thanks, Lisa. I’m glad you like it. —Pam

  2. Imagine how they will glow in the moonlight! Just love them. Add more blue stones. They really finish the container creations off nicely.
    I need to find some more. These glass “stones” were leftovers from an earlier project. —Pam

  3. Caroline says:

    Love it! I need to visit Callahan’s this weekend.
    It’s a fun place to poke around in. But call before you go; I think they’re closed on Sundays. —Pam

  4. You really can’t have too many galvanized planters. They look great. I need to find a farm supply store around here, those are such a versatile size. The blue glass in the mulch sets off the plants perfectly.
    I hope you can find a farm supply store nearby, MMD. Stock tanks are just too fun. But maybe your region has something that works just as well and is uniquely Chicago or Illinois? —Pam

  5. rebecca says:

    More stock tanks you are a lady after my own heart! I actually began using the smaller size “washtubs” while in London. My neighbors thought I was mad for dragging home these replicas of wash days gone by. I was living with my family in a rental home and could not “plant” anything but I was in the middle of the holy grail of gardening….ENGLAND!.. how could I not plant something!?! The great thing is that everyone loved them when I finished them. When we left to return to the States, they were the perfect thank you gifts to my “across the pond” neighbors and easy to deliver because they had handles and where ready to go. I was told later that the people that we were renting from liked the idea so much that they replaced the two I “gifted” when they moved back into the house. This fall we are bringing them back in our garden here in Katy. We are now ready to finish off our garden following a full face lift that began in May. The garden is ready for her bling! Yours is looking stunning! Again keep posting you are always an inspiration!
    Rebecca
    Great anecdote about your washtub garden, Rebecca. Have fun adding bling to your new garden in Texas! —Pam

  6. Nancy Bond says:

    Your planters are beautiful, Pam — what a great idea!
    Thanks, Nancy. I’m really enjoying the “babies.” 😉 —Pam

  7. Diana says:

    I saw them both on your GBBD post, and didn’t remember them being there two weeks ago! You’ve been making the shopping rounds — a good thing to do this time of year, especially succulent planters.
    Oh, I’ve been doing too much of the shopping rounds, Diana. It’s a tempting time of year now that the heat has gone and we can plant again. —Pam

  8. Red Studio says:

    Such beautiful succulents! Those galvanized containers are to die for. Thank you for the inspiring post.
    My pleasure, Red Studio. —Pam

  9. Eric Hegwer says:

    Nicely done – I’ve got an old galvanized 3′ round that I use for beer at parties, but am thinking it might be time to dive into succulents..
    And give up your beer tub? Hmm. Maybe you need to buy another one so you can enjoy a beer while admiring your succulent container. 🙂 —Pam

  10. Susie says:

    Love the new planters, especially with the blue irridescent pebbles scattered thru.
    Thanks, Susie. —Pam

  11. Charlotte says:

    Love the plants with the stones to complement them!
    Thanks, Charlotte. Blue glass goes so nicely with blue-green succulents, I think. —Pam

  12. Victoria says:

    I love them! They are so subtle, with the right amount of blue stones and the blue-green feet. You have got such a good eye, Pam.
    Thanks, Victoria! I’m glad you like them. —Pam

  13. Gail says:

    Baby stock plants for your baby garden! Before long, your garden won’t be a baby garden~~gail
    I know, Gail. I think it’s moving into toddlerhood after a year of planting and tweaking and growing. —Pam

  14. I love it! Nice shape…I have a few round ones like these but I really like the ovals. So glad that I “know” someone who is as addicted to stock tanks as I am!
    Me too, Loree. We need a Facebook fan page for stock tanks in the garden! —Pam

  15. Amy Emerick says:

    Very pretty and I bet they shine. I love that idea of the stock tanks. In the second photo, your succulents pick up some of the colors in your rug. It looks very pretty!
    That worked out serendipitously, Amy, although I find myself drawn to the same colors whether picking out rugs or plants. —Pam

  16. Lola says:

    Love those baby tanks.
    Thanks, Lola. —Pam

  17. Love this idea! Man, I’ve gotta get to work! Thank you so much for the inspiration.
    Thanks, Linda. But you already have such a great container garden collection. Forget the work and kick back and enjoy this lovely weather we’re having. 🙂 —Pam

  18. I thought galvanized planters only went wild over spring break…;-)
    Oh no. In Texas, stock tanks (and gardeners too) go wild in the fall, when we have our second spring. But you already know this, Susan, right? 😉 —Pam

  19. Mary Delle says:

    The succulents and the containers are perfect. A lovely stage for the variety of plants and rocks you put in them.
    Thanks so much, Mary Delle. —Pam

  20. Jean says:

    Very cute! I’ve got one of them as well but haven’t potted it out yet. I’m a little worried that they’ll only last a season what with the kind of rain we get. But you never know and we gardeners are always optimistic!
    I wonder if you polyurethaned the drainage holes if it would last longer, Jean? Might be worth a shot. —Pam

  21. Beautiful, Pam… like you said, I guess it was only a matter of time before you saw baby galvanized planters appearing within your garden! 🙂
    Those stock tanks really get around, Kim. —Pam

  22. Suzanne says:

    Love the silver and blue and blue green all together! Beautiful color combination. I am already addicted to the stock tank idea, although I haven’t yet been able to put it into effect. Since I rent, most of my plants are in containers. Although my landlord graciously agreed that I could plant whatever trees and shrubs and plants I wanted, since there were so little when I first leased it. I absolutely had to have that assurance before I moved in. 🙂 Here in the Fort Worth area Marshall Grain has lots of galvanized tanks and containers of all sizes. They are also online, and carry numerous organic gardening items. They have great potting soil and compost, under the Nature’s Guide label. As usual, Pam, love the idea and the photos! The stock tank pond is gorgeous and serene as well.
    Thanks for your comment, Suzanne. It’s good that you have a ready source of stock tanks when you’re able to put your planter ideas into action. There is no shortage of stock tanks in Texas, is there? 😉 —Pam

  23. Oh, that is so cute! I want one or two, ha! Look at what you do to me.~~Dee
    These little washtubs are a very manageable size, Dee. I bet you have room for one or two on your deck. 😉 —Pam

  24. Lori says:

    I love your stock tank planters. All of your recent projects have been really inspiring to me. I plan to rip apart the garden yet again this winter to make it more drought-tolerant, and your planting choices & containers are giving me some ideas. I do have one question, though: where are you finding all of the different kinds of rocks & decorative gravel that you use as mulch?
    Plans to rip apart the garden “yet again”? I love it! You sound like me, Lori. Regarding the gravel mulch, I found the ‘Texas Black’ for the stock-tank planter at Daniel Stone. The blue glass came from Target, Hobby Lobby, or GardenRidge. I’ve picked up decorative glass from different sources over the years. Those are all good places to find some. —Pam

  25. Donald says:

    I love this! You make me want to be more creative in my garden!
    Thanks, Donald. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. —Pam