Concrete Veggie Planter

What you will need:

• Flat piece of shutter board
• Polystyrene board
• Piece of pine
• Drill
• Wood screws
• Mesh
• Rectangular plastic containers with pre-drilled holes
• Binding wire
• Steel trowel
• Plastic trowel
• Nuts and bolts
• 2 parts riversand
• 1 part stone
• 1 part cement
• Water

What to do:

1. On the flat shutter board – place pieces of pine to create two 500 mm x 800mm rectangles as well as two 500mm x 1100mm. Use wood screws to put the wood pieces together. They will form the base of the planter.
2. Prepare mesh for all four panels to use as re-enforcing.
3. To create the top of the planter
4. Use pine pieces to form a rectangle that is 760mm x 1140mm. Use wood screws to put join the pine pieces together.
5. Place a large polystyrene board onto the wooden rectangle. Put the plastic container with pre-drilled holes upside down. With a pencil- draw the outline of the container. Then calculate the distance between the lip of the container and the body. Use that measurement to draw a new line within the first outline. That is now the cutting line on the polystyrene. Cut out the container shape from the polystyrene. You will need to do this twice as you will need two containers for the planter.
6. Place the two small polystyrene cut-out in the 770 x 1140 rectangle that you created earlier.
7. Mix 1 part riversand, ½ part of stone and ½ cement with enough water to form a mixture of a runny consistency.
8. For the base panels – simply put a first layer of concrete then place the meshing and continue to fill up the top and smooth it with a steel trowel.
9. For the top panel – place the two small polystyrene boards that you have already cut out, making sure that you put enough space between them and also taking care that they are not too close to edges of the wooden rectangle.
10. Put the first layer of concrete around the polystyrene boards then add the re-enforcing rods. Fill the cavity around the poly boards to the top and smooth it with a steel trowel
11. Leave it them to dry for 5 days.
12. Remove the dried panels from their mould. Then proceed to first assemble the base by placing all four panels together – making sure they are fitted flush to each other.
13. You can join the concrete panels by drilling holes on the one side. Then use a bolt to put through the hole and place a nut and tighten.
14. Place the top of the planter onto the base and add the plastic containers in their slots

DIY Video

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