Eightymillion

A DIY craft and photography blog. Dogs included.

Recycling Cement Bricks into Flower Pots

Here’s a DIY project that anyone can do.  Give those cement bricks a new life by recycling them into flower pots.  It’s easy and inexpensive.  If you don’t have any laying around you can buy them for around $1.75-$2. each.  Every year I always use annuals because I like to experiment with different varieties.  This year is my favorite combination. Fibrous Begonia and Celosia.
This is my fourth year using these bricks.  For a step-by-step tutorial click here.  Feel free to check out the previous years here and here.
Here’s a few additional tips that I discovered along the way to save you some time.
Right before the snow arrives, pull out the dead plants from the bricks.  No need to cover them or change the dirt from season to season.  Just let them sit as is.
Use a tarp.  It saves on cleanup time.
If you have dogs, keep them away from the bricks.  My three loved to “mark” one brick in particular. So much that their urine was trapped in between the spaces of the bricks.  Gross right?  I ended up switching out that one.
Don’t worry about the excess dirt.  As it rains it’ll wash away.
Easy right?
I had four leftover plants from the flats I purchased for this project.  I’ll share another easy project tomorrow on what I did with those.

Yoga 101 for Dogs: Play, Bark, Breathe

This is your instructor, House.
{Dog Narrating}  
First:  Lay on the floor with your front legs out in front of you.
Second:  Cross your legs.
Third:  Close your eyes.
And last:  Slowly put your head down, just a little bit.  Hold this position for about 30 seconds.  Repeat three times.  Then refresh yourself with a trip to the water bowl.  Feel better?
House’s recommendations:  Practice indoors.  Far too many birds and squirrels outside to distract you.  Stay focused.  Have your human friend put lots of ice in the water bowl.  Hydration is very important.  Provide treats made with whole grains (organic apple flavored are my favorite, not sure where my Mom gets them).  Fresh fruits are water-based and full of hydration.  Click here for additional information of what foods we can and can’t have.
Benefits of Yoga (for dogs):  Improves flexibility, reduces stress, and resolves behavioral issues.
{Human typing}
We can learn a lot from our four-legged friends.  As long as he doesn’t start expressing himself through karate, I’m okay with this activity.
P.S.  According to the weather channel, we have a hot and humid weekend coming up.  Since I won’t be outside much I’ll put together some more recycling garden projects I’ve completed.
Until the next word…
~Jennifer

DIY Instant Flower Pots Using Recycled Cement Bricks

Here’s an easy recycling project for you to do.  These are the bricks that I got from a friend last year.  I don’t have much knowledge in regards to flowers, so I just pick what looks good together and go with it.  This year I chose begonias and dusty miller plants.  I thought I was paying attention to the sun requirements, only to notice that one of them requires full sun.  The bricks rest on the sidewalk where there is part sun.  Oh well, hopefully they’ll survive.  (Update, yes they both did well)
After weeding out what was left in the bricks from last year I added some additional top soil and then the plants.  Going with an every other pattern placement gave them an interesting look.