I have been cutting barrels in half today and getting them cleaned out and ready to put soil and plants in. I got these 30-gallon barrels and they will help me have lots of extra room to grow this spring and summer. It is not really that hard to cut them in half. I will give you an idea of what to do.
First, you want to find the point that is the closest to the center as you can get. You measure and mark yourself some lines all the way around the barrel every 12 inches or so, whatever the distance is comfortable to you. I will say the more marks the easier the next step will go.
then you take some masking tape or whatever tape you want to use. You put the edge of that tape on the marks all the way around the barrel. When it is done it will look something like this.
Then you lay it on the side and you take whatever you choose to cut yours with and cut on the edge of the tape all the way around, you will have to turn it as you go and make sure whatever you use to cut them with is not running and blade is not moving when you roll the barrel.
I used a circular saw to cut mine in half. You have to do a plunge cut to get it started, so make sure you line it up before you start cutting, it works better to have two people on this project, as it is easier to manage the turning of the barrel as you cut it in half.
We got 4 barrels cut in half today and cleaned out from what was in it before. Make sure you drill some holes around the bottom of the barrels so excess water can drain out and not drown whatever you have planted in them. I think I put about 12 holes using a 1/8 inch drill bit around the bottom of mine.
Tomorrow we will get the soil we need in them and put some plants we have started in them. I am hoping we do not get a frost late in the year like we did last year. Our last frost was in April the 21st last year. I guess if I see a frost coming I will cover them up as I have some plastic. Thanks for reading our blog and spending a little of your time with us. Hope everyone has a great night/day, whatever it is in your neck of the woods.
