Creating a Crack-Resistant Concrete Planter with This Old House

If you're looking to create a beautiful and functional planter without breaking the bank, consider using a crack-resistant concrete countertop mix. This material cures quickly to a smooth finish and can be stained in any number of colors. While working with new materials may seem daunting at first, the end result is well worth the effort.

Before you begin, it's essential to create a plywood form that will serve as the foundation for your planter. The form consists of a box with panels that create relief in the sides of the planter. You can find a cut list on this web page to pick up the necessary materials. Keep in mind that you may need to special order the countertop mix, which is just one of the components needed for this project.

To start, measure and mark the dimensions for all the pieces involved in creating the form. Make sure you have clearance under the sheet of plywood for your saw blade. Use a square and circular saw to cut out the panels, and don't be afraid to use a miter saw to cut the mold into length with an inside miter on each end. This will create a gradual transition for the concrete.

Next, attach the set panels and molding using wood glue and a pneumatic nailer. Make sure to mark the location of the panels and apply the wood glue correctly. Once the glue is dry, use your nailer to secure the molding in place. It's crucial to prevent any air leaks from entering the form, so make sure all the inside edges are sealed.

To create a drain hole for your planter, cut a 1-inch diameter wooden dowel about 1 and a half inches long. Find the center of the plywood base and use a drill with a 1-inch spade bit to create a shallow hole. Set the dowel in place and screw it into position using screws.

Once you have all the pieces assembled, attach them together using screws. Make sure the box is centered on the base and secure it using screws. Apply duct tape to the corners of the particle board to protect it from water in the mix, and wrap the interior form in a plastic bag to keep everything clean and dry.

With your form complete, it's time to pour the concrete. Mix half a bag of countertop mix with half a gallon of water until you reach the consistency of cooked oatmeal. Set the mix aside for 10 minutes to allow the water to interact with the cement. Meanwhile, spray vegetable oil onto the inside of the form to make it easier to remove later.

Now it's time to fill the form up to the top of the drain dowel. Use a masonry trowel to work the mix into the corners, making sure to fill them completely. Set the interior form inside the plywood form and fill it with sand to prevent its walls from bowing under pressure. Make another batch of mix to fill in the spaces between the forms, filling them up to the top on all sides.

Tap the sides of the filled form with a hammer or mallet to remove any air bubbles, then smooth out the top edges using a trowel. Allow the cement to cure for at least 18 hours before removing the form. Tilt the planter onto its side and use a drill to loosen the screws holding it in place. Gently knock the dowel out of the planter if desired.

Finally, apply water-based translucent concrete stains from Quickrete in eight different colors after the concrete sets. With your planter complete, you're ready to plant something beautiful and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enhi and welcome to This Old House you could spend a lot of money on a large landscape planter or you could spend a little time making one like this crack resistant concrete countertop mix makes the job pretty easy it cures quickly to a smooth finish and you can stain it any number of colors don't be put off by working in a new material the biggest part of the job is actually making a plywood form before you dive in check out the cut list on this web page to pick up your materials you may need to special order the counter top mix the form is just a plywood box with panels to create relief in the sides of the planter let's start by cutting the pieces for it make sure you have clearance under the sheet of plywood for the saw blade measure and mark the dimensions for all the pieces then use a square and circular saw to cut them out now each of the four panels is framed in molding to create a gradual transition for the concrete use a miter saw to cut the mold into length with an inside miter on each end next attach the set panels and molding Mark the location of the panels then apply wood glue and press them in place use a Pneumatic nailer to attack them down set the molding in place and use your nailer to secure them now to make the drain hole for the planner cut a 1in diameter wood Dow about 1 and 1/2 in Long find the center of the plywood base then put a 1in spade bit in your drill and use it to make a shallow hole to seat the Dow then set the Dow in place flip the base over and screw the dial tight to build the Box clamp two sides together in a right angle use your drill to make pilot holes through the face of one side and into the edge of the other screw the pieces together then attach the other two sides then Center the Box on the base set the plywood cleats on the exposed edges and screw them down now it's important to all the inside edges of the joints to prevent any concrete from leaking out the interior form sits inside the plywood form to create the walls of the planter to make it draw the four sides and the base on a sheet of particle board use your circular saw to cut the pieces then use duct tape of the corners to hold the pieces together to protect the particle board from the water in the mix wrap the interior form in a plastic bag and tape it tight now for the concrete pour half a bag of the countertop mix into a large plastic container add half a gallon of water and turn the mix with a shovel until it becomes the consistency of cooked oatmeal set the mix aside for 10 minutes to allow the water to interact with the cement meanwhile spray vegetable oil on the inside of the form to make it easier to remove the planter from it later next use a masonry trial to fill the form up to the top of the drain dowel work the mix into the corners making sure to fill them completely now set the interior form inside the plywood form and fill it with sand to prevent its walls from from bowing under the pressure from the mix be sure to Center the interior form you want an even wall thickness all around make another batch of the mix to fill in the walls TR it into the spaces between the forms filling it to the top on all sides tap the sides of the filled form with a hammer or Mallet to remove any air bubbles then Tri the top edges smooth then you need to let the cement cure for at least 18 hours to remove the form tilt it on its side to pour out the sand stand it back upright and break out the particle board form remove the screws holding the form together and gently pull the sides of it away from the planter walls tilt the planter onto its side again and drill through the dial to loosen it up then use a hammer and chisel to gently knock the Dow out of the planter if you want to stain your planter quickrete makes water-based translucent concrete stains in eight colors that are applied after the concrete sets get a friend to help you haul the planter to the spot you have picked out then all you have to do is plant something prettyhi and welcome to This Old House you could spend a lot of money on a large landscape planter or you could spend a little time making one like this crack resistant concrete countertop mix makes the job pretty easy it cures quickly to a smooth finish and you can stain it any number of colors don't be put off by working in a new material the biggest part of the job is actually making a plywood form before you dive in check out the cut list on this web page to pick up your materials you may need to special order the counter top mix the form is just a plywood box with panels to create relief in the sides of the planter let's start by cutting the pieces for it make sure you have clearance under the sheet of plywood for the saw blade measure and mark the dimensions for all the pieces then use a square and circular saw to cut them out now each of the four panels is framed in molding to create a gradual transition for the concrete use a miter saw to cut the mold into length with an inside miter on each end next attach the set panels and molding Mark the location of the panels then apply wood glue and press them in place use a Pneumatic nailer to attack them down set the molding in place and use your nailer to secure them now to make the drain hole for the planner cut a 1in diameter wood Dow about 1 and 1/2 in Long find the center of the plywood base then put a 1in spade bit in your drill and use it to make a shallow hole to seat the Dow then set the Dow in place flip the base over and screw the dial tight to build the Box clamp two sides together in a right angle use your drill to make pilot holes through the face of one side and into the edge of the other screw the pieces together then attach the other two sides then Center the Box on the base set the plywood cleats on the exposed edges and screw them down now it's important to all the inside edges of the joints to prevent any concrete from leaking out the interior form sits inside the plywood form to create the walls of the planter to make it draw the four sides and the base on a sheet of particle board use your circular saw to cut the pieces then use duct tape of the corners to hold the pieces together to protect the particle board from the water in the mix wrap the interior form in a plastic bag and tape it tight now for the concrete pour half a bag of the countertop mix into a large plastic container add half a gallon of water and turn the mix with a shovel until it becomes the consistency of cooked oatmeal set the mix aside for 10 minutes to allow the water to interact with the cement meanwhile spray vegetable oil on the inside of the form to make it easier to remove the planter from it later next use a masonry trial to fill the form up to the top of the drain dowel work the mix into the corners making sure to fill them completely now set the interior form inside the plywood form and fill it with sand to prevent its walls from from bowing under the pressure from the mix be sure to Center the interior form you want an even wall thickness all around make another batch of the mix to fill in the walls TR it into the spaces between the forms filling it to the top on all sides tap the sides of the filled form with a hammer or Mallet to remove any air bubbles then Tri the top edges smooth then you need to let the cement cure for at least 18 hours to remove the form tilt it on its side to pour out the sand stand it back upright and break out the particle board form remove the screws holding the form together and gently pull the sides of it away from the planter walls tilt the planter onto its side again and drill through the dial to loosen it up then use a hammer and chisel to gently knock the Dow out of the planter if you want to stain your planter quickrete makes water-based translucent concrete stains in eight colors that are applied after the concrete sets get a friend to help you haul the planter to the spot you have picked out then all you have to do is plant something pretty\n"