14 Pretty Whiskey Barrel Planter Ideas [+ How to Plant!]
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Check out these whiskey barrel planter ideas! Whiskey barrel planters are a fun and easy way to create a splash of color and greenery around your yard. And homestead!
Whether you’re looking for a quick solution to create instant planters or have a load of old barrels around ready to repurpose, we’ve got some breathtaking whiskey barrel planter ideas that you won’t believe.
Before we share the best whiskey barrel planters we found, let’s talk about how to stuff your whiskey barrel planter with beautiful herbs, flowers, and veggies. And – which options we like best.
Sound good?
What to Plant In Whiskey Barrel Planters?
Regarding what to plant in a whiskey barrel planter? You can get spoilt for choice! You can go for a vivid splash of summer color or opt for a lovely array of plants with a native theme.
Ideas for Your Whiskey Barrel Planter
- Colorful flowers
- Native plants
- Herbs
- Strawberries
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
Consider whether you want year-round growth and flowers. Or if your planter will become a seasonal display. Deciding the ideal use of your whiskey barrel planter will also tie into your local climate. If you choose perennial plants, you will need to ensure they can survive cold winter weather and hot, dry summers.
Or perhaps you want your whiskey barrel planter to be productive? As well as beautiful? There is no reason why you can’t fill it full of herbs, fruiting bushes, or even vegetables.
Adding flowers (or herbs and veggies) to your whiskey barrel planters can be a great way to bring color and interest into your yard. And it can serve ready-to-harvest ingredients right by your kitchen door.
Whiskey Barrel Planter Flower Ideas
Flowers are a beautiful way to bring color into your life! And they attract beneficial insects to pollinate your beloved vegetables. If you’re a homesteader, it is easy to get hung up on the productive things in life, but there is always time to plant a few flowers too!
So – we searched to find the best whiskey barrel planter ideas. With loads of flowers!
We found some perfect for all climates. And all styles.
Here are our favorites.
Rustic Barrel With Marigold and Companions
This beautiful rustic barrel resides at the Old Train Depot in Livingston, Montana. What a delightful welcome! Create a similar statement with your own explosion of color – and don’t forget the marigolds!
Fall Color Container Planting Scheme by North Coast Gardening
A gorgeous combination of red, orange, and purple offers a vivid and eye-catching display!
Multicolor Summer Floral Display by Gilded Bloom
This wine barrel planter wins bonus points for the most different colors. And we love all the textures squeezed into the wine barrel!
Daffodil Explosion
Create an explosion of color in your barrel planter with annual bulbs like these stunning daffodils!
Spilled Flower Barrel by Southern Patio
I love this quirky take on the whiskey barrel planter idea, which has the bonus of being easier to maintain too.
Pink and Purple Tulips In a Barrel
I love this whiskey barrel planter with pink and purple tulips and white daffodils!
Gorgeous Impatiens Flowers
Ultra Color
An incredibly colorful whiskey barrel planter idea! I particularly love the idea of planting some cascading plants along the borders so they spill over the sides.
Whiskey Barrel Planter Ideas for Full Sun
In the full sun – you’ll need to use plants that cope with lower water amounts. And extreme heat! Here are some of my favorite choices. They’re perfect if your whiskey barrel sits in a spot smothered with warm sunlight.
Succulent Filled Planter by Succaholic Mum
You don’t get much more low maintenance than succulents, which can survive hot summers with minimal water. I love the contrasting colors and textures achieved with different succulent plants.
Strawberry Barrel Planter by Laura’s Garden
Many people struggle to grow strawberries. But putting them in a barrel in full sun is a surefire way to get an abundant crop.
Whiskey Barrel Planter Ideas for Shady Gardens
Shady garden spots can be tricky, but using a planter gives you many more options on how best to brighten up a dark corner.
Barrel Wildlife Pond by Gardening for Wildlife
Take advantage of a shady spot in your garden by transforming your barrel into this adorable pond. Your local wildlife will thank you for it!
Whiskey Barrel Planter with Fairy Lights by HaxMan
I love this creative way to bring light into your garden! A shady spot can transform into a sparkling grove with the clever use of barrel planters and fairy lights.
Read More – What Should You Plant In a Plum Tree Guild?
Whiskey Barrel Vegetable Planter Ideas
I love the idea that a whiskey barrel planter can be productive. And beautiful! Many fast-growing crops will grow well in containers with perennial plants and herbs.
Vegetable Garden Planter by Sagebrook Farms
This jam-packed barrel is an excellent example of how a diverse range of vegetables can grow happily together.
Barrel Planter Herb Garden by Cedar Grove Lodge
It is so handy to have your kitchen herbs as close as possible to your house, and a barrel herb planter by your door makes a really pretty feature too.
Whiskey Barrel Planter Growing Guide
Now we’ve filled your head with inspiration with some fantastic whiskey barrel planter ideas, let’s take a look at the practicalities of creating a fabulous floral display!
What Do You Use to Fill a Whiskey Barrel Planter?
Your whiskey barrel planter can get filled with the right combination of growing medium and other substrates to keep your plants nourished and the soil damp yet well-drained.
At the very base of the whiskey barrel planter, start with a layer of small rocks or large pebbles. You don’t necessarily need to go out and buy anything for this purpose, as you can use any stones around the yard. The purpose of this layer is to aid draining, as soil at the bottom would soon become compacted and retain water.
Next, fill your barrel with a good quality growing medium on top of the drainage layer. Don’t be tempted to use poor-quality topsoil, as the plants will soon use up all the available nutrients and fail to thrive. The best option is potting soil. Potting soil will retain moisture well and offer your plants many months of nutrients.
Top tip – a lot of potting soil can get expensive, so add a layer of small logs or twigs first! Twigs and logs will gradually decompose, providing slow-release nutrients for your plants.
Other optional extras to add to your whiskey barrel planter are water retention granules and slow-release fertilizers. Your whiskey barrel planter will do just fine without them, but using them will give your plants an added boost!
You could also consider placing a layer of bark chips around your plants to act as a mulch. Bark chips can be immensely beneficial if you live in a hot climate prone to drought.
Should You Line a Whiskey Barrel Planter?
It is not essential to line a whiskey barrel planter. But doing so will improve the pot’s water retention and increase the planter’s longevity. If you use a liner, remember to make drainage holes in the bottom.
A good quality whiskey barrel will naturally expand when the wood is wet, helping to hold in water. However, maintaining constant contact with damp soil will increase the rate at which the wood starts to rot.
Do I Need to Drill Holes in Whiskey Barrel Planters?
If your whiskey barrel planter does not already have drainage holes, you will need to drill some. Drainage holes are vital to allow excess water to drain away. Without this, too much water can accumulate in the planter’s base, causing it to become waterlogged. Plants do not like having their roots in too much water and will fail to thrive or even die.
What Do You Put in the Bottom of a Barrel Planter?
At the very base of your barrel planter, it is a good idea to lay some soil retention fabric to prevent soil from being washed through the drainage holes. The fabric will also allow water to exit freely without losing all your lush potting soil.
How Long Do Barrel Planters Last?
A barrel planter can last for two to twenty years if cared for correctly and protected from extreme weather and moisture. A genuine whiskey barrel will be made from hardwood such as oak. (American white oak is probably the most popular.)
How Do You Make Whiskey Barrels Last Longer?
A great way to make whiskey barrel planters last longer is to raise them off the ground using pavers. Lifting your whiskey barrel planter off the ground helps the planter’s base dry out in between watering, preventing the wood from rotting.
How Do You Waterproof a Whiskey Barrel?
A whiskey barrel has good water retention properties. When the wood is wet, it expands and forms a tight seal that will not allow water to pass. Tight seals allow wine and whiskey to get stored in barrels without leaking!
If you use a whiskey barrel as a planter, it is not necessary to waterproof the exterior. But you could use a wood preservative to help it last longer or a liner to protect the wood from excess moisture.
Can Whiskey Barrels Rot?
The hardwood used to make whiskey barrels is relatively rot-resistant and should last for many years. However, this process can be sped up if they are used as planters, as the wood usually faces extreme temperatures and higher levels of moisture.
Do you have too many whiskey planter barrel ideas? Then you need more than one whiskey barrel! Here's a set of three rustic whiskey barrel planters - perfect for herbs, veggies, flowers, or decorative plants. They're stain-resistant and finished. The whiskey barrels aren't massive - but they come in three sizes. The three barrels are 14-inches, 11.5 inches, and 10-inches high.
Do Termites Like Wine Barrels?
Sadly, wine barrel planters create the perfect habitat for termites. They love damp wood and dark conditions, and they can quickly cause your whiskey barrel planter to deteriorate. If you live in an area renowned for termites, you should not place wooden planters near your home.
What Can You Plant in a Whiskey Barrel Planter?
You have endless options. Whiskey barrel planters are not just for flowers! You can grow herbs, soft fruits, vegetables, and small trees in a whiskey barrel planter.
What Flowers Do Good in Planters?
The best flowers for planters are annuals, as these can get replaced yearly. Redressing your whiskey barrel planter each year allows you to replace some of the soil in the spring, ready for the next display of flowering plants.
What Plants are Good for Planters in Full Sun?
Plants that live in full sun should be drought tolerant, as planters will dry out much faster than flowerbeds. I love to use Mediterranean herbs in whiskey barrel planters, such as rosemary, sage, lavender, and thyme.
What Flowers Come Back Every Year?
Flowers that come back every year are called perennials. There are (nearly) endless types of perennial flowers that suit all different climates and growing conditions.
What Are the Best Flowering Perennials for Pots?
My favorite flowering perennials for pots are those with a compact, bushy appearance. Most of these tend to have an abundance of flowers over several months. Good options include polygala, lavatera, hydrangea, and penstemon.
How Do You Take Care of a Whiskey Barrel Planter?
Your plants in your whiskey barrel planter will require regular watering through the drier, warmer months of the year. A top dressing of mulch can be helpful to help water retention. You should remove any annual plants during winter and prune perennials, ready for a floral display the following summer.
Read More – 11 Herbs with Beautiful White Flowers!
Conclusion
Whiskey barrel planters are one of the best ways to dress up your backyard.
And – you can fill them with an endless array of flowers, vegetables, and herbs.
It’s tricky to know where to start! Why not have a few whiskey barrel planters?
That way – you can grow plenty of flowers, herbs, and snacks for yourself and your friends. And then choosing what to plant inside isn’t so difficult!
What about you?
Which whiskey barrel planters sound (and look) the best?
We’d love to hear your thoughts!
Thanks so much for reading.
And – have a great day!
