Flat Tire Decor Container Garden
Photograph © Kerry Michaels
I was recently sent this pot made from re-cycled tires and have totally fallen for it. I love that this is a great looking pot with an environmental and social mission. The environmental mission is to keep old tires from landing in landfills and the social mission is to provide jobs for people with disabilities, who construct the pots through the Curative Care Network.
I'm using my pot as a cache pot, meaning I'm keeping the plant in it's nursery pot and simply placing the plant, pot and all, inside the Flat Tire Decor pot. If your plant sits too and low when you put it in the cache pot, you can put a plastic container (I find yogurt size works well), or a cup or mug, upside-down under the plant to raise it up. If you only need to raise it a small amount, Pot Risers work well for this.
Sometimes you can see the pot inside the pot (especially if you have an upright plant) and will want to hide it. A good trick is to tuck Spanish moss around the plant. This can also give your container a nice finished look.
Note: I wouldn't use this pot for edibles and would keep it in the shade or inside because there is some evidence that tires in the sun can leach harmful chemicals into soil. Also, black rubber can get really hot in direct sun, so you might want to keep this pot in the shade or part shade.
Comments
Tire planters are so tacky-looking. Especially if you have them in your front yard. I know they are supposed to be good for growing potatoes and other vegetables. They make a yard look like a junkyard. I know we must recycle but there are other ways to recycle tires than to use them in your landscape!
I have nothing against tire gardens except that they potentially leach toxins. I truly believe that everyone has the right to garden however they want. Yes, there are some things may not be to my taste, but if someone is gardening, I’m applauding!
I also think these pots are really gorgeous.
Here in Puerto Rico the Agriculture Dept. and its instrumentalities are using but first wash them with pool clorox and paint out with diferent non-toxic paint in multicolors for give brightness and beauty on yards.
Excuse my bad english, my first language is Spanish but I tried to be understand.
Hey Mildred – Thanks for your interesting comment. I wonder if the paint over the tire stops the leaching. I still wouldn’t grow food in them though. I would love to see a picture if you have it.
Cheers,
Kerry