My Container Gardens #6: Need opinions ...

paint it to look like rust.. will last longer and look the same.. ;)

-- Planting Daylilies in Kentucky, zone 6b

what if I put a clear poly over it??

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

I’m not sure that would work. Since the rust doesn’t have a good adhesion to the metal it would eventually fail.

I’m all for just tossing it out.. Those things are thick and would take years before it rusted through.

Now, are you going to pop the lid and pot a pot in the top with trailers in it? Might be good to drill some holes in the bottom for drainage of any flow through water which would cause it to rust out quicker.

-- Planting Daylilies in Kentucky, zone 6b

http://www.finishing.com/305/22.shtml

Read over that for some ideas.

Now, I’d wiped down a jointer that was rusting with 3 in 1 oil and it stopped further rusting while preserving what was there. Granted, I did it to stop rust until I could refurbish it (was my grandfathers).

So linseed oil may be a good finish to slow any further rusting while preserving the look.

A thick (brush on, 3 coats) of quick dry poly would do the job too, however I think it would fog eventually. Should be think enough to prevent flaking though.

-- Planting Daylilies in Kentucky, zone 6b

I have a clear poly over mine and it has been outside for 5 years. All year round! And I never had to touch it!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

I have one just like it including the cart and i am going to sand blast mine and paint it bright colors. Maybe red, black and silver.

-- John in Cranbrook , http://www.extremebirdhouse.com http://community.webshots.com/user/cranbrook2

This is a gorgeous piece John_L
Am I ever so jalous!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

for me, I cringed when you first said that you were going to paint it… but it would look lovely painted as well.

Personally, I’d probably just put it outside as is.

John.. you are killing me!! With a cart??? !!!!!
First, the barn took me back to my childhood and now you show me this. My dad and my uncle picked up milk from farmers (before I was born)... I wonder if they had a cart but I don’t think so.. I think it was all muscle.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Thanks for your comments and ideas think I am gonna just leave it “alone” ... make a nice “statement” in the midst of the other items and plants. Probably plant flowers around the base …

John—didn’t realize they came with a cart!!! How cool is that. Guess though if you think about it, something would have been needed to lug them around from house to house. Be sure to post pics of your painting job!!!

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

I have decided to leave it the way it is . Maybe i,ll make a little garden around it .

-- John in Cranbrook , http://www.extremebirdhouse.com http://community.webshots.com/user/cranbrook2

I would leave like it is, my husband said to wipe it down and get off the loose rust then give it a coat of auto wax to protect it from the weather.

-- Louise Edgwood,Md.

Yup, the jury is in and I am going to leave it alone … thanks for the suggestion of auto wax Louise.

John … guess we are thinking alike ey???!!!!!

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

I didn,t have time to paint it anyway . lol
I wonder how many people got sour milk back then ?

-- John in Cranbrook , http://www.extremebirdhouse.com http://community.webshots.com/user/cranbrook2

Great idea GranT and John_L.
And yes Louise, I also got the rust spot of and then used the clean mat Tremclad varnish.

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

Great ideas everyone.I also have a milk jug which has some rust on it and was afraid to put it outside in case it rusted through.Does the wax stop it from rusting Louise?
Eklectic.. does the varnish crack with the weather?
Not sure which idea to take.(lol)

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

with a bit of work why not do it like this grandma t this one is for sale by the artist who specialises in canal art (known as castles and roses) its £90 or $180 we call these milk churns your is complete with lid.

regards mike

-- MIKE MILTON COMMON U.K.

Well that is gorgeous Mike … but I think for now I will leave it “rusty”. Now come winter and with everything inside again, who knows … I could get creative … :-)

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

That looks really good Mike.Kinda flashy though.

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

believe it or not this type of folk art it not that difficult and is mainly made up of simple brush strokes it is very popular with people who use our inland waterways which were once used to transport coal and timber but they all became redundtant when the railway began. now they are used fo mainly pleasure for those who like a slow pace of life

.a href=”http://s247.photobucket.com/albums/gg137/miketheglass/?action=view&current=paint20roses20and20castles.jpg” target=”_blank”>

available from amazon a great book that is easy to follow.
regards mike

-- MIKE MILTON COMMON U.K.

Bon
All the metal I have outside is varnished with the Tremclad and has been out for 5 years, some of it all year round and it still looks like when I first applied it!!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

Thanks Eklectic.Ya gotta love that tremclad.I use it on all my outside metal including my trailer.Never tried the clear varnish though.I will get some for my jug and give it a try.I lthink I want the natural look.But all the other options are so nice too.

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

I HAVE NOW PLANTED UP ABOUT 20 OF THE 60 HANGING BASKETS AND PATIO POTS I HAVE ORDERS FOR.
IN ENGLAND WE LOVE OUR HANGING BASKETS I HAVE AN ORDER FROM ONE PUB TO SUPPLY 8 LARGE HANGING BASKETS AND ABOUT 10 POTS OR PLANTERS.I HOPE TO SHOW YOU PICTURES OF THIS PUB AND SOME OTHERS WHEN THEY ARE IN FULL BLOOM. I ALSO HAVE BEEN INVITED TO SELL MY PLANTS AND CONTAINERS IN THE VILLAGE HALL AT THE FARMERS MARKET WHICH I HOPE WILL USE UP ALL MY STOCK .
I AM KEEPING BUSY WITH MY HOBBY ITS NOT MY LIVING.

REGARDS MIKE

-- MIKE MILTON COMMON U.K.

How awesome is that Mike … selling your plants/baskets at the Farmer’s Market. Congratulations on the “ask”!! Yah, I too love my hanging baskets … just can’t justify their price this year. Sooooo, I busy creating my own this afternoon. Got 4 made already. Two for the front porch and two for the double Sheppards Hook on the back patio. I did purchase two really nice hanging, iron planters for the front porch. The 4 baskets turned out quite lovely. Filled them with Wave Petunias of different colors. They should fill out quite nice.

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

GrantT
Would love to see pics of your baskets!
I am sure they are really complimenting your front porch and do heighten the welcoming feeling!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

well the car is packed its all priced and tomorrow morning (sunday ) i will be at great hasely in the village hall
i will keep you posted on this and future events

-- MIKE MILTON COMMON U.K.

I bought a milk jug like this about 12 years ago

Paid $30 for but I never got around to painting it other than blue

I must look, it has been outside all this time in a sheltred part of the garden. Heck it might have taken a walk
I don’t remember seeing it lately

-- NS Zone 5B 200 KM East of Halifax cheers Bunting------Having a place to go – is a home. Having someone to love – is a family.