Step Ladder Planter

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Posted by @valleylynn on
Here is a great way to re-purpose that old wobbly step ladder that no longer is safe to use.

Material list:

1. Old ladder

2. Lath strips (cut to length of the ladder width)

3. 1" nails

4. Water proof wood glue

5. Hammer

6. Potting mix

7. Moss

8. Plants (preferably shallow rooted type plants)

2012-06-18/valleylynn/942e9d


You will need at least two strips for each ladder tread, depending on how deep you want the planting area. One or more for both the front side and the same amount for the back side of tread. Adjust to fit your needs.

Before nailing, apply wood glue to the area that you will be attaching the lath strips to.

Place the strip of lath to the side pieces of the ladder forming a planting box on each rung of the ladder and nail into place. I used two nails on each end.  I also left a narrow space for water to drain at the bottom of the trough that is formed by the lath strips.

On this ladder I notched the second strip on the back of the rung so it would fit over the metal hinge. This also helps to make the ladder more stable.

After all the strips are in place you can leave it with a rustic look, or you can paint your ladder planter in lovely colors that will compliment your garden decor.

I stuffed moss into the crevices to keep soil in place. You can use whatever soil mix will work with the plants you will be using.

I used plants that can tolerate having shallow soil for their roots. This would also work great for many succulent type plants.

Gluing and nailing

 

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Notching  and  ready to plant.


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 2012-06-20/valleylynn/dd8634

Plants used in this project:

Sempervivum 'Pixie'

Sedum palmeri

Delosperma 'Eye Candy'

Cymbalaria muralis

Oxalis versicolor.

Now all I have to do is wait for all the plants to fill the troughs.

 
Comments and Discussion
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Old ladders never die by Sherib381 Jul 19, 2016 9:33 PM 3
Cute idea! by goldfinch4 Mar 28, 2013 5:38 PM 48

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