One popular way of accessorizing your deck is to use the bottom half of whiskey barrels as planters (figure A). You can purchase barrels at hardware stores, home centers and garden centers. The main problem with them is that when they're full, they're quite heavy. Fortunately, you can make them lighter. Start by laying a bed of mulch in the bottom of the barrel and then adding a layer of gravel for drainage (figure B). Foam packing material is another useful filler (figure C). Fill the barrels halfway with packing material, and fill the rest of the barrel with potting soil. You'll need to move barrels occasionally to prevent the formation of rings on your decks. To make the job easier, install casters on the bottom of each barrel. Attach the casters using bolts all the way through the bottom of the barrel, secured with lock washers and nuts.
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