Caution!
Please note that we are using some serious saws to cut the tire. It's important that you are familiar with and comfortable using power tools to make these projects. While the cuts are not difficult, the tires do have steel wires in the sidewall that can be resistant to sawing initially. BE CAREFUL AND WATCH WHERE YOU PLACE YOUR HANDS/FINGERS!
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Step 1: MATERIALS:
Used tires:
>We saved our tires when we replaced them. This actually saved us the cost of the disposal fee! We also asked a couple of friends to save their tires for us as well since we knew we'd need several for various gardens.
Sharp Knife:
>You will want to use a sharp knife but not one that would bother you if it's used in your garden.
Jig Saw:
>This saw is used to cut the side off the tire.
Dual Saw:
>This is the saw we used to cut a slit in the side of the tire. It cuts through the steel bands easily. Again, BE CAREFUL!
Landscape Fabric:
>You could also use several layers of newspaper to create a weed/grass block.
Garden Soil:
>You can purchase garden soil, compost material, or find a friend/acquaintance who needs to have soil hauled away.
Step 2: Preparing to remove sidewall
All you really need to do in this step is make a "hole" to put the jig saw blade into.
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>Note that the knife is placed just inside of the "tread". We are going to cut off the sidewall only.
Step 3: Cutting Away the Sidewall with Jigsaw
Now all you have to do is cut around the tire! We didn't use a special blade. The general purpose blade works just fine.
You should also note that it isn't necessary to remove both sidewalls. We've tried this both ways and have found that the tire is much more stable if you only remove one side. Also, you have a trough that allows a little water to pool into a reservoir which helps with fluid retention and watering. Another benefit is the way this second sidewall will hold the landscape fabric and soil without allowing it to run out the bottom.
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Step 4: The Sidewall is Removed!
This is what you're left with after removing the sidewall.
Since I believe you're intelligent enough to figure out where to put the soil and landscape fabric, I'm not showing photos of that step. All you need to do is, PLACE THE TIRE WHERE YOU WANT IT SINCE THERE WILL BE NO WAY YOU CAN MOVE IT ONCE THE SOIL IS IN. Once you have the tire in place you will need to line it with the landscape fabric. Then fill the tire with soil and plant!
Now wasn't that easy???
Now for your BONUS PROJECT! THE TREE RING!
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Step 5: Splitting the Tree Ring
This step is optional depending on the size of your tree or shrub. If the plant is too large for the ring to go over it then you will need to cut the split.
Again I'd like to caution you about where your hands and fingers are placed. Make sure that you have the tree ring placed on a safe surface with an adequate work surface for cutting. Take time to make sure the electrical cord isn't in the way of your blade!
You will need to use a Dual Saw for cutting through the steel belting. It's usually a very narrow band of metal that requires cutting. Be prepared to feel a give and easier cutting after you get through the metal band. The most difficult part of cutting is the curvature of the sidewall. We suggest using a cutting surface that you can cut into.
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Step 6: Now you've made two projects out of one tire!
This picture shows a tree ring in place around a small shrub. We didn't need to cut this ring because the ring was so small.
Our rings have stayed in place through several mowings without any pinning or stakes. However, it would be easy enough to drill some holes to drive stakes into for holding the ring in place. We have also filled in some tree rings with mulch now and it stays put really well.
*Additional tip for "lawn stakes":
>Everyone I know has more wire hangers than any reasonable person could sanely use. (I say sanely because I find it insanity inducing to untangle the tangle of wire hangers when doing laundry!) Wire hangers make GREAT lawn stakes. We've used them for years and since you will typically pick these up for free, they are also CHEAP! (That's one of my favorite words!)
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Posted to Instructables by auntwrenny
Instructables is a web-based documentation platform where passionate people share what they do and how they do it, and learn from and collaborate with others.
Becca S. says:
Tires contain toxic constituents, which will leach out into the soil, and into surface and groundwater from where it is tapped for drinking, bathing, cooking and bottling. Some TOXIC heavy metals and chlorinated constituents can collect in agriculture, into produce, and animal fats.
No matter what is done with tires, there are risks to public health and the environment because the toxic constituents build up in the food chain, into fish, and wildlife, as well as domestic animals, including livestock.
For example, amongst the ingredients in tires are carbon black --carbon black extract is a possible human carcinogen, and carbon black depends on its toxicity to the solvents like benzene which was used extensively in the tire industry. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is manufactured and used as a synthetic in the rubber/tire industry. Both benzene and PVC or vinyl chloride monomer are human carcinogens, and all are animals carcinogens. (IARC; WHO IARC Monographs; TOXNET, HSDB]