9 DIY Whiskey Barrel Planter Ideas to Build (With Pictures)
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Whether you have whiskey barrels on hand or are planning to get a few, this list can inspire you to do something with them. Here are great ways that you can transform whiskey barrels into unique planters, and they’re all simple enough that you can do it yourself.
Whether you’re just browsing or getting ready to start your next project, these 9 DIY whiskey barrel planter ideas should tell you exactly what you need!
The 9 DIY Whiskey Barrel Planter Ideas
1. A Tiered Garden Planter
| Materials: | Half wine barrel, two ½” x 6” x 26” wood strips, and seven ½” x 4” x 10-12” wood strips |
| Tools: | Jigsaw, compound miter saw, power screwdriver, drill, drill bits, measure tape, wood screws, and twine |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
What’s better than one pot for plants? Multiple pots! That’s the idea with this tiered whiskey barrel planter. The design makes for a fuller and more robust appearance, which is perfect for succulents, strawberries, and much more.
While it’s not the easiest build out there, this guide does a phenomenal job of breaking everything down to get you through it. If you have the necessary tools, a bit of patience, and the ability to follow directions, we’re confident that you can build this tiered whiskey barrel planter without too much trouble.
2. An Umbrella Stand
| Materials: | Half wine barrel, 2” PVC pipe and fittings, 160 pounds of concrete, potting soil, plants, and bricks |
| Tools: | Concrete mixer paddle and a drill (optional) |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
Do you need a poolside umbrella or an umbrella out by the picnic table? This DIY whiskey barrel umbrella stand is the perfect outdoor decoration for a wide array of arrangements. Even better, this DIY plan, it’s easy to make, and the only tool that you need is to mix the concrete!
You’ll get a unique, beautiful, and versatile umbrella stand, and you won’t need to spend a ton of money to make it! The biggest cost is the half wine barrel itself; the rest comes down to lost-priced odds and ends to finish the job.
3. Bird House Flowerpot
| Materials: | Whiskey barrel planter, bird houses, 4” x 4” post, address numbers (optional) |
| Tools: | Drill and screwdriver |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
This birdhouse flowerpot combines a few of our favorite things into one adorable outdoor decoration, and it can be functional too. If you find the right location, a bird may use one of the birdhouses as their home, and the flowers in the front add a unique touch that puts it over the top.
While this DIY whiskey birdhouse flowerpot plan leaves room for creativity, it’s still extremely easy to follow. It gives you the space to customize the birdhouses exactly how you want, but it walks you through everything else.
4. Water Garden
| Materials: | Half wine barrel, plastic liner, filter |
| Tools: | Miscellaneous |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
Have you ever wanted to dip your toes into the aquatic plant or fish world? With this half-whiskey barrel water garden, you can do just that. You can keep it as a plant-only water garden, or you can even add small fish, like goldfish or mosquito fish.
This DIY plan walks you through the basics, but you will need to piece together a few of the finer points for it to work. You’ll also need to tweak it to your environment. If you live in a region with cold winters, you’ll likely want to invest in a water heater to keep it from freezing over.
5. Succulent Garden
| Materials: | Half whiskey barrel and cactus soil |
| Tools: | None |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
When it comes to turning your whiskey barrel into a garden, this whiskey garden wine barrel is about as easy as it gets. All you really need is the correct soil, your choice of perennials, and the half whiskey barrel.
But you do want the best-looking succulent garden that you can get, and getting inspiration from someone who did a great job with theirs is a great place to start! Take this design, and either copy it exactly or tweak it to fit your décor.
6. Teacup Garden
| Materials: | Drop cloth, half whiskey barrel, wood boards, tack cloth, self-tapping screws, metal hoops, primer, paint, cardboard, and 2.5” to 3” galvanized screws |
| Tools: | Wire brush, drill, 1” spade drill bit, paintbrush, scissors, and a jigsaw |
| Difficulty Level: | Challenging |
This is the most challenging DIY whiskey barrel design on our list. The problem isn’t that it’s hard to do; it’s that it’s hard to do well.
This whiskey barrel teacup garden DIY plan does a great job of breaking it all down for you, but you’ll still need to take your time and have an artistic streak to pull it off. But there’s no doubt that it will be a great-looking and extremely unique addition to your home’s décor.
7. Bamboo Tree Pot
| Materials: | Half whiskey barrel and soil |
| Tools: | None |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
This is a DIY design that’s quite straightforward. Bamboo trees make great privacy trees in areas where you wouldn’t normally have them, and they’re quick and easy to grow.
All you need to grow bamboo trees out of a half whiskey barrel is the barrel, the right soil, and the bamboo trees themselves. Pick your location before you start setting everything up because once it’s in place, it won’t be easy to move again.
8. Herb Garden
| Materials: | Half whiskey barrel, paint, stain, liner, soil, and plants |
| Tools: | Paintbrush |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
If you’re planning on growing your herbs outside, there are a few advantages to putting them in a wine barrel pot. The biggest advantage is that the wine barrel provides extra insulation for the soil and plants, which can help them thrive in different environments.
If you’re interested in growing your herb garden in a whiskey barrel, this DIY guide walks you through everything that you need to know!
9. Spilled Flower Pot
| Materials: | Half whiskey barrel, soil, plants, and the perfect spot |
| Tools: | None |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
While this is an easy DIY project if you follow the guide, it’s more about the idea that might spur you into doing something more elaborate. You can use any kind of plants that you want, but we recommend something with a bit of color to really make the display pop.
It puts a new and unique spin on the whiskey barrel flower pot, but it also might require a bit more work to keep it from rolling away!
Getting Your Own Whiskey Barrel
If you’re planning on heading out to your local home improvement store to find a whiskey barrel to use, be prepared to spend a great deal of money.
While you can get your own whiskey barrel from one of those stores, it’s probably not your only option. Look at local sales groups, the Facebook marketplace, thrift stores, and more. While it’s unlikely that you’ll find a free whiskey barrel, with enough time and patience, you should be able to find one that’s heavily discounted.
Since this is by far the largest expense for any of these projects, getting a great deal on one will go a long way in keeping the costs down!
Final Thoughts
Now that you’re armed with a bit of inspiration, all that’s left is for you to head out and start your next project. Figure out what you want and how you want it, and then turn that dream into a reality! Before long, you’ll have a new whiskey barrel planter that’s the highlight of your outdoor décor!
Featured Image Credit: AJACS, Pixabay
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