You don’t need an established garden to make something that feels established. Joel started with simple galvanized troughs, added a little age and a few practical upgrades, then filled them with plants. Here’s how to make one of your own.
What you will need:
- Galvanized trough or stock tank
- Caster wheels
- Drill
-
Toilet bowl cleaner with bleach
- Muriatic acid
- Gloves + protective mask
- Rocks or gravel
- Soil
- Plants of your choice
- Brass handles, if you want to dress it up
Step by step
0.1 Make it mobile
Start by flipping your trough over and installing caster wheels on the bottom. Once it’s planted, it’ll be heavy — wheels let you move it around the garden as needed.
02. Add drainage
While you have it upside down, drill additional holes into the bottom. Good drainage is essential for keeping your plants happy.
03. Give it some age
Remove any stickers, then cover the exterior with toilet bowl cleaner containing bleach. Let it drip down the sides and dry. Follow with a layer of muriatic acid to take the shine off the new galvanized finish and begin creating that beautifully weathered look.
Joel's Note
Wear gloves and a protective mask for this part, work outside in a well-ventilated area, and follow all product safety instruction
04. Let time do its thing
Let everything drip and sit before thoroughly rinsing the trough. The finish will continue to change and develop character as it lives outside.
05. Build your container
Add a layer of rocks or gravel, then soil, and start planting. Mix heights, textures and varieties to give the container a looser, more collected feel.
06. Add the finishing touch
Joel added brass handles to each side. Completely optional, but a small detail that makes a utilitarian trough feel a little more considered.
Want to build one with us?
We’re thinking about bringing this project to the garden for a hands-on workshop at Asher + Rye, starting with the trough and building your container from scratch.Interested in joining us?
Email us at hello@asherandrye.com and let us know.