How to Make a Beautiful Planter From Old Tires

In the gardening world, repurposing old tires to be used as planters is quite controversial. 

On one hand, proponents of tire planters suggest that reusing old tires as containers for plants, benefits our environment.

This is because disposing of unwanted tires isn't as easy as tossing them in your dumpster. 

Tire material is non-biodegradable and flammable. It's dangerous to the environment to have them accumulate in a landfill, but tire planters create a new use for them. 

Meanwhile, those against tire planters maintain that the chemicals within the tire materials may leach into your plants and soil.

This can be especially problematic if you decide to grow edible plants.

The last thing you want to do is ingest harmful chemicals!

Some argue that the leaching that occurs happens gradually and is only dangerous after decades of having the tires in contact with your plants. 

If this is worrisome to you, a great alternative is to plant non-edibles in the tires and distance any food plants from the soil being used within the tire planters. 

With that said, it's entirely up to you to decide whether you'd like to create a tire planter. If your answer is yes, we've got you covered with the instructions below. 

How to Make a Tire Planter

Materials:

• Tire of any size
• Soap
• Water 
• Cloth or Sponge 
• Soil 
• Plants

Optional: 

• Durable, Non-Toxic Paint
• Paint Brush
• Tarp or Cover (to place underneath tire when painting)
• Towels
• Sharp Knife 
• Work Gloves

Instructions: 

1. With a sponge, scrub your tire clean with soap and water. 

2. Allow your tire to air dry or dry it manually with a towel. 

3. *Optional* If painting your tire, place the dry tire on a tarp or cloth to protect the surface of the area you are painting the tire on. 

4. *Optional* Take your paint brush and paint the outside of your tire using durable, non-toxic paint.

5. *Optional* Allow the painted tire to dry. 

6. Place your tire where you'd like your plants to be. Keep in mind how much sun exposure your plants need. 

7. Fill the tire with soil until it reaches the surface of the tire.

8. For one plant, dig a hole wide/deep enough to fit your plant and it's roots. For multiple plants, make sure each hole is wide/deep enough to fit your plants, as well as spaced apart enough to allow air flow between your plants.

9. Place your plants within the holes inside the tire. Make sure they're planted snug enough to withstand the outdoor elements and still allow water to absorb through the soil and into the roots. 

10. Enjoy your new planter!

Don't forget to supplement your tire planter's soil with our nutrient-rich fertilizers that you can shop below. 

Related Posts:

• How to Grow Plants in the City With Urban Gardening
• What Should You Plant in a Container Garden?
• The 5 Fertilizers That Will Also Encourage Soil Health