We always love the incongruous beauty of industrial elements in the garden. So last week, when we stopped by Flora Grubb Gardens, we were completely wowed by these little potted landscapes installed in repurposed car parts. Click through for close-ups and to learn some tips for replicating this project on your own…
Jim Kumiega, the man behind these beauties, recommends using lots of small plants and mounding up the soil, then covering the surface of the soil with rocks, washers, or other small pieces of metal or stone. Jim used a couple of old spark plugs here, as well as bits of demolished concrete. This kind of “mulch” will keep the soil from spilling out when you water, and the grayish color makes the green of the plants really pop.
While these two little gardens are destined for Luscious Garage, a local hybrid mechanic (and the prettiest auto shop we’ve ever seen), the idea wouldn’t be hard to replicate at home. Save your old tires, punch drainage holes in the rubber before planting, and balance the finished product on a wide-mouthed pot.
We've seen lots of creative substitutes for pottery in the garden: old bathtubs, sinks, and even toilets; vintage suitcases. What are some of your favorites?
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Comments (16)
tires.. no.
Nothing says "Trailer Park" quite like automobile parts and plumbing fixtures turned into planters.
That tire could be sent to a recycler for recapping as a spare or shredding and reuse as playground mulch, rubber play mats, etc...
...and the engine block could be melted down and reused for new parts.
Are you serious? This has been done for decades in places very far removed from San Francisco, both geographically and culturally.
Anyone who's lived in outer suburbia or in small towns has seen tires and auto parts as flower pots/beds for years. It's funny to see what is newly "hip" in urban areas.
Love the engine block, but the tire just makes me cringe...
If I had not been to Flora Grubb Gardens I would most likely be saying the same things about that tire.
If you are in the Bay Area go its such a cool space and the tire planter in only one of the few funky planters they actually have a entire old beater car that has been turned into a planter, so the tire works in that space. The gardens are beautiful so many great plants and displays. I love the home decor gift store lots of treasures and things you don't see everywhere else. They have a good coffee bar too. Its a fun place to grab a cup of coffee and browse for an hour. I bought a bunch of really beautiful succulents and pretty piece of pottery.
At least paint the tires white, which is usually done when making a raised bed out of one.
"A funky theme garden center is not the same thing as suggesting people put this idea to use at home."
Agreed - kinda like the posts we've seen here about wooden blocks displayed as "books", tree stump risers on dining tables and stacked and bound cardboard "end tables" in certain retail displays...
KTC I don't understand your comment. I am commenting that tire works at Flora Grubb and letting Bay Area people know it is a fun place to visit
I don't want a tire planter in my yard anymore than you would and maybe some do or it might work if they have a warehouse space or want a funky garden in any event any likes of dislike are allow to be posted.
I think its cute. I want to see more ideas like this. Its imaginative and fun. I love when people have the guts to do unusual things.
not so hot and the tire is downright ugly, let some else use the tire instead in a car.
I like the engine block but not the tire. Out here in the sticks you see this stuff all the time.
We do have someone here though that turned an entire vw beetle convertible into a planter. It's blue.
Yes, the neighbors will be thrilled to see how hip you are when you plant up your designer tire! Please, no.
The engine block, on the other hand, has an interesting, sculptural quality.
Lorijo, that VW sounds sort of sweet.
Trailer park!
I like the engine block. It's kind of steampunk-y