How to Build a Raised Bed Planter on a Budget- Part 3 Paint and Accoutrement
This installment will be kind of be like a Mtv “Pimp my Planter” episode where we show you a few ways to fancy your planter up and finish it to suit your needs & conditions.
Paint & Color
The reclaimed metal materials I purchased were mostly tan in color with a few “Galvanized/zinc finish”.
You can paint the metal with Metal paint in a brush on, roll on or spray on application.
There are a few options that you can do painting the planters
Solid Color- all 4 sides/panels the same color, as shown above
Two Tone- 2 colors on 1 panel, one color highlighting the edge/surface and the other the recess and lower areas
Two Faced- 2 solid color panels of 1 color & 2 solid color panels of another color, as seen below
Hoops
Do you need a protective cover for your raised bed planter? It is easy to make and install metal hoops that will allow you to cover your Raised Bed Planters in
· Shade cloth
· Clear Plastic
· Opaque Overwintering Film
· Protective netting (deer, insect or bird netting)
You can make small 2ft and 4ft wide Hoops for your raised beds from 1/2" EMT tubing or Rebar
The 2ft diameter hoop I bent around a small handmade bender 180 degrees.
The 4ft Diameter hoop was made by making 10 bends(10-15 degrees), spaced about 10" apart.
Trellis
· Use top rail poles at each corner post, these are placed in the open notch area and are affixed with a 1-3/8” Galvanized Steel Tension Band Clamp (.47-$1.27 ea) and Lag Bolts.
From these CORNER vertical post you can attach 90. Corner – “chain link fence elbow” (approx. cost $2.97-$7.88/ EA.)
Or
an end rail clamps- “T clamps” ($2-$3/ EA.)
This will allow you to then attach horizontal support rails to make a trellis.
With these horizontal rails in place you can then install a piece of 1-3/8” tubing with end clamps to make the crossover piece
or
You could also use rope or twine, or string.
Using this setup you can also attach protective fencing to these vertical & horizontal poles.
These are just a few ways to finish and accessorize your planters. Check out Part 4 if you want to see a few different Raised Bed Planter Garden ideas.