Hanging planters

These planters are a great way to get your little ones to add their creative touch to the garden and learn all about growing their own strawberries.

Hanging strawberry planter

You will need

Supplies

2 x 2m lengths of 3mm galvanised wire
2.5m PVC pipe
10 end caps
12 x 3mm wire grips
Glue
Paper (A4 sheet)
Pen
Sandpaper

Tools / equipment

5mm drill bit
8mm drill bit
Drill
Hand saw
Hole saw
Jigsaw
Paintbrush
Spirit level (for a straight edge)
Tape measure

Our colours

Resene Magma
(with a basecoat of Resene Toffee)
Resene Bullion
(with a basecoat of Resene Porsche)
Resene Gold Dust
(with a basecoat of Resene Porsche)
Resene Stun

Resene Coriander

Resene Magnetic
(with a basecoat of Resene Raptor)

Gardening supplies

Potting mix
Strawberry plants
Weed mat

Top tip: If you don’t have a hole saw you can use a jigsaw to cut out a rectangle at the top of your pipe.

Adult supervision: This project is designed to get the whole family involved. Ensure safety equipment is used and only use power tools under adult supervision – or pass these tasks on to a competent adult.

Painting tips: Each metallic colour has its own recommended basecoat colour – you can find this on the Resene Metallic colour chart. Apply Resene Concrete Clear over the metallic paint for extra protection and to make it easier to wipe clean.

How to build a hanging strawberry planter

Step 1 Step one
Measure and mark out your PVC pipe into five 500mm sections. Mark a point and then wrap a piece of paper around your pipe so you can draw a straight line.

Step 2 Step two
Get an adult to use a hand saw to cut along each line.

Step 3 Step three
Use sandpaper to smooth out any rough edges.

Step 4 Step four
Mark two points on each pipe, each 75mm in from each end.
These will be the centre points for your hole saw. Ensure the two points are in line with each other (your tape measure or a straight edge will help here).

Step 5 Step five
Have an adult use a hole saw, and use your marks from step four as guides, to cut out two circles from each pipe.

Step 6 Step six
Use something with a straight edge (we used a spirit level) to draw a line connecting the two holes at both ends of each length of PVC pipe.

Step 7 Step seven
Let an adult with a jigsaw carefully cut along the two lines. Sand smooth any rough edges.

Step 8 Step eight
Mark a dot 30mm in from each end, as shown. This is where you will thread wire for hanging so it needs to be in line with the centre of the holes.

Step 9 Step nine
You might need an adult to drill (with a 5mm drill bit) through your marked point – keep going to also drill through the bottom of the pipe. Repeat for each length of pipe.

Step 10 Step ten
Drill several drainage holes along the bottom of each pipe using an 8mm drill bit.

Step 11 Step eleven
Glue the end caps on to each pipe and allow to dry.

Step 12 Step twelve
Use your chosen Resene testpots to add a basecoat colour to each pipe. Apply a second coat, if needed, allowing two hours for each coat to dry.

Step 13 Step thirteen
Apply a coat of Resene FX Metallic testpot paint over the basecoat colour and allow two hours to dry.

Step 14 Step fourteen
Attach a wire grip to one end of each wire to create a small loop. Use this as a starting point to measure and mark out four points, every 250mm, along each wire.

Step 15 Step fifteen
Take your first pipe planter and push the wire through your pre-drilled holes. Pull through until the pipe is resting on the wire grips. Attach the next wire grip onto each length of wire and tighten at your first mark, above the current pipe. Repeat until all five planters are on the wire and finish off with a wire grip at the top, with the wire in a loop.

Step 16 Step sixteen
Hang your planter in a nice sunny spot and place strips of weed mat at the bottom of each pipe to stop the soil falling through the drainage holes.