30 minutes or less - summer garden projects

Sunset, June, 1993 by Lauren Bonar Swezey

These six summer projects for the garden are quick and easy

IT'S FINALLY THE weekend, and you're ready to tackle a garden project. But you don't have time to devote the entire weekend to it. Take heart: not all garden projects are time-consuming. The six projects shown on this and the following pages are quick and easy, and all add a little pizzazz to the garden.

How about an easy-to-install plant shelf that places flowers right at your kitchen window? Or a simple, low-cost flagstone table that adds an elegant touch to a corner of the garden? Or a sturdy pot stand on wheels that's utilitarian and attractive?

Once you have the materials in hand, each of these simple projects can be put together in 30 minutes or less (two of the projects also require drying time). And none of them require special skills, although a little imagination helps when painting pots.

Shopping for the materials is the most time-consuming part of each project, but shopping lists can help you plan exactly what you need. All of the materials are readily available at nurseries and building supply stores (look in the yellow pages under Building Materials). Flagstone (for the table) is also sold at some businesses that sell landscape materials.

1 Paint redwood or clay pots (30 minutes, plus drying time)

What you'll need

Clay or redwood pots Saucers Water-base nontoxic waterproofing Roofing compound Latex paint Paintbrush Paint roller Sponges

With colorful paints, you can transform any mundane-looking clay or redwood pot into a bright, even abstract piece of art that's suitable for displaying indoors or out. Because each pot is waterproofed first, it's both functional and long-lasting.

The designs shown here were created with a sponge, paintbrush, and paint roller. If you choose a wood pot, sand it first. Otherwise, the steps are the same for both wood and clay.

First, coat the pot thoroughly inside and out with waterproofing; let dry 24 hours. Next, coat the inside of the pot with roofing compound, stopping within 2 inches of the pot rim. Then comes the fun. Follow the designs pictured above or create your own.

The three pots above with solid backgrounds (yellow and purple) were painted on the outsides with a roller. After the base coat on the yellow pots had dried, designs were painted on with brushes; masking tape helped define the zigzag lines on the large yellow pot at far left. Saucers were waterproofed, then painted along the rims.

The small, spatter-painted pot in front was first sponge-painted with red, light green, and dark green and then brush-spattered with yellow.

The Southwestern cactus pot in the center was painted with triangular pieces of sponge (apply paint to one side of the sponge piece with a brush and press painted side onto pot as shown in the photograph at bottom left). The long wooden planter box was covered with a solid coat of blue paint, allowed to dry, then painted with 1-inch squares of sponge to make the purple checkerboard design. A small brush was used to dab on orange dots.

Circular pieces of sponge made the yellow dots on the pot at right rear in the photo; lines of purple and turquoise were painted around them.

All of the pots were allowed to dry thoroughly before filling.

2 Display chimney pipe plant stands (10 minutes)

What you'll need

Round terra-cotta chimney pipes (various sizes) Potted plants Empty pots or wood blocks

The attractive containers shown at right are not actually containers, but pipes sold for lining chimneys. They're inexpensive (about $11 to $28, depending on size) and available at masonry supply stores. Unlike typical containers, they add height to potted plants and bring flower colors and plant textures into closer view.

The pipes come in two heights: 24 inches with a 12-or 14-inch inside diameter, and 30 inches with an 8-inch inside diameter. If you cluster three pots as shown, use two taller ones behind with a short one in the foreground.

Since the pipes are hollow, fill the interior with stacked pieces of wood or empty pots so the potted plants can be set at the right level. Mix seasonal pots of color with foliage plants that have interesting textures and shapes.

3 Put together a flagstone table (5 minutes)

What you'll need

24-inch-tall oval terra-cotta chimney flue liners: 2 A piece of flagstone about 21 inches wide by 32 inches long

Although this flagstone and chimney-flue table is extremely simple and inexpensive to make (about $10 for each flue liner at a masonry supply store and $6 for the flagstone), it is attractive and elegant, and durable enough for use in the garden or on a patio.

The flues are just the right height for a coffee table or end table. The buff-colored Arizona flagstone was handpicked from a building supply store that sells flagstone and other outdoor paving. To install, just set the legs 6 to 8 inches apart and center the flagstone on top.

4 Make a plant shelf (15 minutes)

What you'll need

Rough-sawn 2-by-8 cut to window length plus 6 inches Rough-sawn 1-by-12 (optional) cut to length of 2-by-8 8-by-10 shelf brackets: 2 or 3, depending on width of window #8 flathead woodscrews: 6 per bracket A screwdriver or drill with #8 screw bit Plants in 1-gallon cans