How to make a tire planter

This is a medical advocacy blog. So some of you may wonder what does tire planters have to do with healthcare?

This summer in Grantsville, MD, colorfully painted tire planters edged the side of Route 40 and delineated the arts and entertainment district in Grantsville.  The students of Grantsville Elementary, their art teacher Kelly Lasher, and other local adult artists created the planter art using rice paper and Dye-Na-Flow dyes. I assembled the art and facilitated the project.  Many a town resident has commented,  "It sure brightens things up!"

And it does.  Sometimes at the end of hard day you just want a little something to brighten things up. 

Guys Tires, Northern Outreach Center and Mountaintop Truck Driving Institute of Garrett College, and local citizens donated the tires. That makes me very happy.  I love to reuse, reduce and recycle.  These tires were destined to end up as trash and they became art instead. 

Chestnut Ridge Nursery of Grantsville donated flowers for the planters.  Local volunteers prepared the tires for display. The Greater Grantsville Business Association helped pay for the flowers and the town of Grantsville approved this volunteer public art project during town council meetings. The planters have been on display since May and the colors are still bright!

We came together as a community and made something beautiful.  Isn't that what happiness and health is all about? 

How to Make a Tire Planter

1. Cut out the scallop pattern with a sawzall

2. Flip tire inside out. (Three strong people are needed for this step.)

3. Scrub tire clean with a degreaser. Rinse and let dry.

4. Prime with gray primer spray paint and let dry.

5. Paint with high quality exterior latex inside and out.  Use bright, light colors, as the planter will be very hot if painted in a darker shade.   Let dry.

6. Apply second coat exterior latex. Let dry.

7. Create artwork on rice paper by drawing an image with an ink pen or fabric marker and then paint using Dye-Na-Flow dyes.  After the art is dry, cut out the art image.  

8. Decoupage the art onto the tire using Golden Gel Medium Soft Gloss. Let dry.

9. Spray seal tire with acrylic gloss sealant. Let dry.

10. Staple chicken wire fencing to inside hole on tire.

11. Place planter in yard and add mulch.

12. Add a bag of potting soil.

13. Flowering plants are added.

14. Mulch around plants and water.

15. Display until fall and place in storage before hard freeze.