My Fire Bowl Thingy

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My Fire Bowl Thingy

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My Fire Bowl Thingy - 5/5/2008 6:48:48 PM

ta_mosquito

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How's that for a descriptive title?

We've got a fire bowl built into our patio wall. Now, since open fires (or ones in things like this) are illegal in city limits, I was thinking of making it into a planter. Thing is, if I fill it with soil, that'll take a LOT of dirt! And I'm not sure I'd want to do that - have the soil and moisture right up against the insides of the wall. The inside of the wall looks like it's mortared in pretty well, but there's still the chance it that water buildup could cause swelling and splittage in the future.

So, what do y'all think?

I was thinking of putting a giant bucket or plastic container in the hole and putting the soil in that, but I'm not sure how to do that effectively.

Suggestions, anyone?

LINK TO PICTURES

< Message edited by ta_mosquito -- 5/5/2008 7:03:21 PM >

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RE: My Fire Bowl Thingy - 5/5/2008 6:57:05 PM

manda59

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You could use hanging basket liners - some of the water would still get through, but not as much as if you didn't have anything there at all.

The trouble with using just plastic is that you'd have to be very careful with watering, in case it all got waterlogged.

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RE: My Fire Bowl Thingy - 5/5/2008 7:00:05 PM

ta_mosquito

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I figured we could drill holes in the bucket. Yes, some would leak out, but it wouldn't be as bad as if it were full of soil.

See linked pictures. The hole is probably about 16 inches in diameter or more - so it's wider than a hanging basket.

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RE: My Fire Bowl Thingy - 5/6/2008 3:38:02 AM

manda59

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Here in the UK you can buy hanging basket liner that you can cut to size.

You can also use old bubble wrap.

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RE: My Fire Bowl Thingy - 5/6/2008 11:56:09 AM

meg4

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It seems like it would be okay to put dirt right in to it. It doesn't cause problems when it gets rained on does it? I think some planters are made from concrete, which is about the same as mortar (isn't it?).

If you planted something big, like a tree, in it, then root growth could cause the mortar to crack.

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RE: My Fire Bowl Thingy - 5/6/2008 2:14:42 PM

doinkdom

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I love the fire pit...too bad you can't use it.

I might consider using something like this to put water and few pretty rocks in and make it more of a place for birds or whatever and put some pretty potted plants on the ground below it.

course, that all depends on you having cats/dogs, etc.

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RE: My Fire Bowl Thingy - 5/6/2008 3:30:06 PM

peace77

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I suggest using a planter(plastic pot) and a plastic bucket or plastic container that is leakproof. The planter should be slightly smaller in diameter than the bucket.

If the hole is too deep for the larger bucket, put bricks or rocks in the hole until you have the right depth.

Put the bucket in the hole and put a layer of gravel on the bottom. Put the planter inside the bucket and fill in the gap between the 2 with more gravel.

This way the plants that are growing in the planter will have drainage and your brickwork will be protected from sitting water. You can plant ivy or any hanging plant to cover the edges of the pots.

Anne

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RE: My Fire Bowl Thingy - 5/6/2008 7:28:44 PM

agapetos

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You can also buy moss and artificial moss to line a hanging basket.

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RE: My Fire Bowl Thingy - 5/6/2008 9:23:54 PM

ta_mosquito

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I haven't measured, but the hole is pretty large. What would support the moss or whatever?

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RE: My Fire Bowl Thingy - 5/7/2008 7:43:05 AM

Brandy

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Tricia are you in a rental or apartment?

If so, don't do anything that can't be removed when you move out.

I would either find a bucket that fits well enough inside for plants.. even if it wasn't deep enough you could get some cinder blocks as a height builder inside it then place bucket/plant on top.

OR use the bowl or some other bowl and have a more shallow herb growing place?

Initially though my first thought was to transform it somehow into a water feature. Again, using the bucket on cinder blocks idea for height inside.

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RE: My Fire Bowl Thingy - 5/7/2008 8:56:00 AM

ta_mosquito

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We own.

If I do it too shallow, I'd have to water it a lot more. But I was thinking of growing herbs there.

I probably wouldn't do a water feature since I'd be the one responsible for keeping water in it, and I know I'd neglect that responsibility.

I think my biggest challenge would be to find a bucket wide enough. A 5 gallon bucket is still too narrow. And if I got something wider than the opening, I wouldn't be able to get it in!

< Message edited by ta_mosquito -- 5/7/2008 9:05:17 AM >

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Tricia

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RE: My Fire Bowl Thingy - 5/7/2008 2:46:24 PM

Brandy

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What about planter containers? Those come in so many sizes you might find one that works.

Since you own then you have soo much more freedom.. hmm

will have to think now.

What about a small tree? or bush? something that will not expand the area allowed but be easy to care for?

Is there any other access besides the top hole?

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RE: My Fire Bowl Thingy - 5/7/2008 3:07:10 PM

doinkdom

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You could fill up the hole with "stuff" like you would put in a time capsule.

Then cement a planter on top of it.

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RE: My Fire Bowl Thingy - 5/7/2008 3:52:13 PM

ta_mosquito

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There's a lot of old mortar and stuff in it already.

No tree or bush - I want it to be annual or at the very most, perennial herbs. We already had a major project fixing part of that wall that had caved in due to the roots of a lilac bush.

No other access besides the one top hole.

I'm going to have to measure the hole and see what planters/buckets/containers are out there.

Another thought is to put some treated wood in the hole, vertically, to make a narrower cylinder inside for the soil. That'd be hard, though, to anchor them well enough that they wouldn't move and spill the soil.

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RE: My Fire Bowl Thingy - 5/7/2008 6:09:52 PM

firefightermama

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Tricia, I have an idea, but not sure how to explain it...

You know those big tubes they fill with cement and then put a deck post or something into the cement? I have no idea what they call them, I'll have to ask hubby when I get home, and see if I can find a picture.

Anyway, it's just a big wide tube, and if it happened to be the right diameter, it would work for something narrower, rather than using treated wood.

Or some pvc tubing... there must be something cylindrical that you could use vertically...what about those great big ice cream buckets with the bottom cut out of it?

...still thinking...might be back later...

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RE: My Fire Bowl Thingy - 5/7/2008 9:29:50 PM

ta_mosquito

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Sonotubes. (I worked for a building supply company for a while.)

That's an idea!

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