I'm a novice semp grower and totally beginner woodworker (not even really a woodworker!) but I wanted to make some mini green walls...there is info on ATP for making living frames by goldfinch4 http://garden.org/ideas/view/g...... This was very helpful to me, and exciting
so I went out yesterday and bought a jig saw, glue, screen (although they only had 1/4 inch so that's what I'll be using) nails, and of course extra blades in case I broke one (didn't happen but one never knows!)
I decided I want to try a wood box, as well as using several metal containers (I love my cookies in a tin)
These first few photos are the cut pieces of wood, didn't really draw my line straight...didn't really cut the pieces straight...used way too much glue which I only figured out when it came pouring out of the seam while I was hammering the first pieces together...but I did remember to have an old towel and rag on hand!!
The finished product (especially in the photos) looks just fine! And I made it all by myself



The next step will be attaching the screen once the glue dries (overnight) Then I'll add soil and plants and take photos!
Cheers
Greg

Now I won't sleep tonight. I'll be up all night trying to picture what it will look like.

P.S.
I love tins also.

Lynn I'm wondering if they're going to rust too quickly, so now I'm hesitating about that...I have enough wood for one more box, and it really wasn't that difficult to make (since I didn't need to be that careful, honestly having uneven edges gives the box some depth) I could go on and on...meanwhile I've been checking USPS for their "check ins" so I know when/where the plants will get here :P
Anyway see you soon

Great start on the box Greg. They are nice and easy to make! I think if the tins rusted it would actually look nice - semps and old rusted things are great companions.

Its so funny, you may not be able to tell in the photo but I was NOT able to cut a straight line...it didn't help that I was holding the piece of wood in the air on the last cuts I have 2 brothers who are builders, they'd be really unimpressed!
Chris you've inspired me! So has wanting semps and running out of room!!
Cheers

with Chris about the tins. They will age gracefully and provide interest in all stages of maturing, from paint to rust.

The wood doesn't have to be perfect to become a picture of loveliness.

Hi, Greg, Last summer, I put together a bunch of wooden "pots" to hold my collection. I started out using scrap wood of various types, but eventually settled on treated fence boards. I was able to put together about 50 of them, working in about an hour a week over a long period. Fiber board (used to make cheap furniture) did not hold up at all. Plywood starts to deteriorate after one winter here. The fence boards are still looking great however. I needed a way to cut down on container costs to hold the growing collection.

A couple of suggestions. Use stainless steel coated nails as well as glue to hold them together. The glue did not hold up for me once the containers became wet, but was helpful during the aging process by preventing the wood from warping. (Warping pulled some of the nails out during my initial efforts without the glue.) I had good results with "trim" nails sold for aluminum siding work. I eventually stopped using the glue and learned how to recognize how the wood would warp or age better for better results. A few of the containers had to be re-assembled to fix ones that warped too much or in the "wrong" direction.

All my wooden containers were treated with a water sealant. This did help preserve them. However, the use of a deck paint/treatment was not helpful. That pealed off quickly for some reason.

The fence boards are cheap, especially when found on sale. I was able to get some for as little at $.70 on sale. The are 6' by 5.5", so are a good size for making troughs (but can be used to assemble wider containers as well). Just be careful to not breathe any dust when you are cutting or sanding them. I used them to provide a "rustic" look to the containers and know that they will last a long time. I have one wooden container that my dad built using treated lumber that has lasted more than 20 years. They are not particularly decorative, but do the job and the neutral color does not take away from the plants.

Good luck with your project!

Hi twit, been missing you. Great information for Greg and all the rest of us.

What is your weather like now?

Thanks for info Twit, I didn't treat the wood so we'll see what happens
I was trying to share a couple of photos of mostly filled box, which I'll grow out for a month, then tip up vertically, can't post them for some reason
Tomorrow I'll try again
Greg

I found out that some browser add-ins prevent me from posting photos on this site. I mostly use firefox and when I want to post photos, turn off the add-ins temporarily.

I'm still around, mostly lurking. Having some time issues of late, so not able to post much.

Greg, if you can, still treat at least the outside of the box. Be sure to have plenty of good holes for the drainage and better O2 exchange.

Good to know you are here watching out for us all twit.

Greg, I had the same problem awhile back and it was what twit said about the browser. Hope you can figure it out so we can see the photos.

Finally I'm posting photos...I still want to fill with more sedum, and baby semps but thus far... here it is
Box measures 30x12x4 inches looks much larger in the photo
in the middle is one of my S. 'Karo' (can't wait to see how that grows)
As it grows in I'll post more photos
Cheers
Greg

Good job Greg, now I can't wait for spring when they all wake up and start multiplying. It will be beautimus.

Thanks Lynn, I know I can't wait either, and yet, we have to go through winter first - which by the way hasn't even begun yet!
Greg

Looks good Greg. That's a pretty good sized one!

Greg, loved the little itty-bitty semps "hanging in there" (looks that way even though the box is in horizontal position now?)... Good job!

The nice part about the hardware cloth is that you can just lay the semps/sedum on top of it and the roots will find there way through, and into the soil. That might be a problem for the heuffelii though, since their main root can get quite thick.

Thanks all!
Lynn wrote

valleylynn said:The nice part about the hardware cloth is that you can just lay the semps/sedum on top of it and the roots will find there way through, and into the soil. That might be a problem for the heuffelii though, since their main root can get quite thick.

I have been wondering about that, I couldn't find 1/2 inch hardware cloth so used 1/4 inch, which won't work as well, since those holes are so tiny! I did cut them and fold them back in places where I want the plant to grow larger, its all an experiment!
But Twit after seeing your photos I'm looking at all my recycles, and the neighbors and up and down the alleys NO!!! I can't begin collecting garbage for making pots!
Greg

gg5 said:NO!!! I can't begin collecting garbage for making pots!
Greg

You can't?

Hey Greg, I have used chicken wire in my frames; The holes are bigger and the wire is softer and thus more malleable even if you have to cut a few wire pieces to plant in bigger plants.
Here's a frame (12 X 17 inches) where I used chx wire: