Tire Planter Directions

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Making A Tire Planter: Felder Rushing Style

By Terry Conner

STEP 1

Finding the right tire is essential in making a tire planter. The tire you select should be well worn, and pliable in the shoulder area of the tire (what Felder calls the "sweet spot"), just below the tread. You can tell if the tire is a good candidate by pushing in on the shoulder area with the palm of your hand. If there is plenty of "give" in this area, the tire should be easy to work with. If not, you should find another one to use.

STEP 2

Using a white crayon or other brightly colored marker, draw the shape of your choice around the wall of the tire as shown in the above photo.

STEP 3

Using a good, sharp knife, start your first cut. CUTTING AWAY FROM YOUR BODY, follow the outline of the shape you drew on the tire. If your knife is sharp, and you chose the right tire, you shouldn't have any trouble cutting through the tire. If the cutting becomes difficult, you may have to resharpen the knife.

Here you can see that I am cutting along the shape I drew. Continue cutting all the way around the tire until you've completed the cut.

After you complete the cut, you should have a separate section similar to the one in the above photo.

STEP 4

Position the tire as pictured in the photo above and using your foot to hold down the bottom section, grasp the outer edge of the tire with both hands and push in on the "sweet spot" with your knee, this begins the turning inside out process.

After you have the tire started on it's way inside out, place the tire on the ground and continue to flip the tire inside out by pushing out on the inside of the tire, where you first started with your knee. Work your way around the tire until it's completely inside out.

STEP 5

Prepare the tire for painting by using a degreaser (follow the directions on the label of the degreaser) and a cloth rag to wash down the outside of the tire. Allow the tire to dry and paint it a color of your choice.

Felder Rushing taught me his method while he was up visiting our place as he was gathering information for his new book, Tough Plants for Northern Gardens, due out early next year. I am honored with writing the forward for it.

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This page last updated Monday, June 3, 2002 17:27

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