sections of sewer culvert pipe? maybe wrong name?

[cathleenc]

I'd like to see if I can find 4 - 3' lengths (or so) of concrete/cement/other material sewage pipe/culvert. I want to plant some grape plants above ground and have been scratching my head trying to think what would make a great above ground planter for them. Thinking culvert might be perfect.

Where should I look for that sort of thing? Any ideas on how to make a 2-3' diameter raised bed for individual grape vines? Our water table is super high and the grapes must be elevated or they'll not survive.

thanks,
Cathy

[Old Vet]

Go to the nearest Home Depot or other hardware store and they will sell you plastic pipe in the right size. You may want to increase the size to 6 to 8 inches to have enough room for the roots.

[copperkid3]

Pre-cast concrete culverts are not a bad idea, but have you considered plastic as well?

Much cheaper and lighter in weight. Also, you can purchase the longer pieces at a more

reasonable cost and transport to where you want them and then use a circular saw to cut

to size needed. Most large building supply companies carry them or can order for you.

http://www.google.com/search?q=plast...D4ms9AT_roHQCw


Another alternative would be corrugated metal tubing;

but probably more expensive than an equal size of the pre-cast concrete.

[unregistered353870]

I second the plastic culvert suggestion. I've seen them done really nicely with wood pickets screwed to them all around the outside. You could do that with concrete too by gluing them on or using a band or something to make it look like a whiskey barrel.

[DaleK]

I'd use truck tires, should be free and you can wrap them with cheap burlap or something if the appearance bothers you

[jwal10]

Cut those free barrels in half and drill 2" holes in the bottom, bury 6" in the ground. I have put rabbit wire over the holes and put 2-3" of rock in the bottom, keeps gophers out....James

[spur]

Go to a salvage yard and look for some large truck tires. You can stack them as high as you need them. They will be free or very cheap. You can paint them with latex paint the paint will stick several years.

[rambler]

You are thinking of concrete drain tile, or concrete culvert.

Paul

[chickenmommy]

The tree nurseries around here use corrugated metal roofing. They can then make them whatever size around they want. Don't know how they connect after making the round, but they look nice when done. There are fields of them all full of good size trees.

[DryHeat]

My thought would be to call your local highway department and ask if they sell surplus or damaged sections of culverts/ sewage pipes. Or, you might watch for signage for construction companies using such materials on projects and call them. However, I would guess that moving and trimming such sections down to desired lengths would require such industrial-level, expensive, equipment that it would turn out impractical compared to other ideas such as posters above have offered.

I recall running across a web site recently showing some sort of "green" camping/ hostel sort of operation in Germany that had used really huge main trunk sewage concrete conduit sections as a version of "tiny houses." They were retrofitted with the back end sealed off, a nice door as the front on the other end and a skylight/ hatch at the top with room for a bunk and table and chairs etc inside. In one case several had been stacked together and on top of lower units with ladders going to the upper ones.

[cathleenc]

Thanks to you all I found some decent scrap double walled plastic culvert within an hour of our home, via craigslist, and negotiated a decent price to buy it. DH, who had been in total favor of this, heard the price and promptly went out to the edge of some neighboring woods and dragged home two heavy duty empty plastic barrels and is now cutting them in half. So I'm getting my planting barrels today - and dh gets to keep money in the family account - and the woods get cleaned up a bit. (the barrels are clean - no chemical smell to them at all - just a bit of rainwater inside)

[Gray Wolf]

Color of barrels may matter. Black or blue ones may get real hot in sunshine and cook your plants or warm up too soon in spring and start plants growing before last frost has passed. Maybe paint white or wrap with wood or ?????

[Notslar68]

Why not use landscape fabric inside a wire cage for support? I "acquired" two 100' section of erosion control fence. I cut sections of garden fence in 6' lengths to make circular planters then lined with the erosion fence to plant container potatoes this year. Going to also use it to make raised garden beds.

[joebill]

Concrete suppliers often carry 18" round hollow blocks that are about 8" long. I make pillars from them by stacking and filling with concrete. They are a natural for planters, too....Joe

[tinknal]

I'm wondering if frost damage to the roots may occur because the sides are exposed to the elements? Might want to try varieties bred for colder climates.