Making a Log Planter for Flowers

ByKendra Stamy Updated on Home and Garden
Making a log planter for flowers.

Disclaimer: Post contains sponsored links. #LetsGarden #Monrovia

You know it’s summer when flowers and gardening take over the blog.  Like this post, making a log planter for flowers.

Making a log planter for flowers.

Back in March I found and shared this photo on Facebook. I loved the idea and wanted Jason to help me make one.

The response from every-one was overwhelming, and I was asked to share photos if I ever made one. Well it took several months but I now have a log planter in my back yard!

I found a log that was about a foot in diameter and 45″ long.  We stripped all the bark off and then Jason set to hollowing out the center. Due to memory card problems on my camera at the time, I lost the first photos I took.

Yes, I laid on the ground taking photos of my hubby showing off his skills with the ax! How about them wood chips?

Making a log planter for flowers

Making a log planter takes a bit of work but the results are amazing!

I didn’t watch the whole time, but I know that he used a chainsaw to make the defining cuts for the sides and edges and then used the ax to hollow it out. If you look at the photo below, you can also see where he used the chainsaw to cut smaller sections in the area to be hollowed out.

Making a log planter. Use a chainsaw and ax to hollow out an old log

Ivy leaf geraniums were on sale, so I bought them to fill the log with.

Ivy leaf geraniums to plant inside a log planter

Ready to plant:

Making a log planter step 3

And planted!

Making a log planter from a hollowed out log.

I love how my log planter turned out! And now that our patio is all finished it just looks amazing out there. So, who wants to come for a cookout this summer? Hopefully we will have at least one….

If you are wondering what plants would be good for your log planter, visit Monrovia.com and enter your zip-code. This will pull up the plants that grow best in your area with all of the info on each plant’s needs.

FAQ about Making a Log Planter:

Q. How long will it last?
A. This is the 3rd summer I’ve had it and the underside is beginning to show a little rot, but still very solid and I expect to get another 3 years at least out of it.

Q. Does the log hold water?
A. Not very well. We have to water it every other day in the summer.

Q. What tree makes the best log planter?
A. The harder your wood, the longer it will last. However, hard wood is difficult to cut. We used Maple which isn’t as soft as pine nor hard as oak. It seems about perfect for this.