How to restore a wooden barrow planter

Give an old wooden barrow planter a new lease of life with a little bit of help from Resene.

To get the look: Mark planted up the barrow with a selection of seasonal potted colour.

Ways with wood with Mark Rayner – 51

Difficulty level: Moderate

You will need

Materials / tools

40mm galvanised nails
Barrow planter (or any old wooden garden planter)
Treated wood to replace base (if necessary)
Bucket and garden sprayer
Drill with 10mm drill bit
Hammer
Latex gloves
Mineral turpentine
Paintbrushes and paint stirrer
Pencil, saw and tape measure
Stiff bristled brush, wire brush

Resene products

Resene Lustacryl tinted to Resene Blackjack
Resene Moss & Mould Killer
Resene ArmourX Rust-Arrest
Resene Timber and Deck Wash
Resene Waterborne Woodsman woodstain tinted to Resene Totem Pole

Other ideas: For a strong black finish use Resene Waterborne Woodsman tinted to Resene Pitch Black.

Instructions

Step 1 - remove the wheel and any rotten wood

Step one
Remove the metal wheel from the barrow and knock out any rotten wood from the base.

Step 2 - spray with Resene Moss & Mould Killer

Step two
Mix one part Resene Moss & Mould Killer to five parts clean water and apply a generous amount to the wooden planter using the garden sprayer. Leave for 48 hours.

Step 3 - Wash with Resene Timber and Deck Wash

Step three
Mix one part Resene Timber and Deck Wash with three parts water and scrub the diluted solution into the wooden planter using a stiff bristled brush. Allow the wood to remain wet for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing off with clean water. Allow to dry.

Step four
Measure, mark and cut pieces of treated timber to form a new base for the wooden planter.

Step five
Fix the base into position with 40mm nails and drill adequate drainage holes in the bottom.

Step six
Carefully stir the Resene Woodsman and apply two coats to the wooden planter, allowing two hours for each coat to dry.

Step 7 - Remove any Rust and Apply Resene ArmourX Rust-Arrest

Step seven
Remove any rust from the wheel using a wire brush and apply one coat of Resene ArmourX Rust-Arrest, washing out brush in mineral turpentine. Allow Resene ArmourX Rust-Arrest to dry.