How To Care For Your Oak Barrel

Oak Barrel care is very important to ensure the longevity of your planter and keep your garden looking top tier. Below we have outlined just a few of the essential care tips you should follow to ensure your oak barrel planters last as long as possible.

Our Barrels are sturdy by nature as they were initially used to store Scottish Whisky, a process which has already improved the overall durability. Their 20-year history means they are guaranteed to add character to any setting, with some barrels even containing markings from the original distillery. A general tip for increasing the life span of barrel planters is to raise the barrel off of the ground with stones, bricks or terracotta plant feet. This will ensure the bottom of the barrel is completely protected from any forms of rot. On the same note, it is recommended to drill drainage holes in the bottom of the barrel planter to reduce the chances of rot inside. You may also consider covering the drainage holes with mesh to prevent any unwanted pests and insects from burrowing and making your planter their home! We will drill holes for drainage if the customer requests them. It is also advised sometimes to drill holes in the side rather than the base, this way if you go on holiday or in hot weather there is a reservoir of water in the base.

Ensure to monitor your Oak Barrel planter regularly in periods of hot weather. In high temperatures and long periods of dry weather, the wood can dry out causing shrinkage. This can eventually lead to the rings slipping and in turn the barrel losing structural integrity and falling apart (we always use tacks to prevent the bands from dropping). In conditions like this, we recommend watering the planter when watering the plants to ensure this doesn’t happen. If you are concerned about rust forming on the metal bands when performing this maintenance a great way to maintain this is to use vinegar on any spots of rust that may appear. It is an easy and sure-fire method to ensure the upkeep of the bands and the overall integrity of the barrel! For our Lined Oak Barrels, we would recommend using apple cider vinegar on the inside lining of the planter to ensure you do not have any fungus growth that could potentially cause rot and decay over a long period of time. 

We often get asked whether or not it is worth using varnish on our Oak Barrels. Advice regarding this is however mixed, but if you do decide to go down this route beware that varnish will require several applications and will need to be periodically applied as it will gradually fade and will likely give the barrel planter a blotchy appearance. Varnishing is very much a personal choice but does have the added benefit of further protection.

Our Oak Barrels are generally very easy to maintain and typically have long lives but to ensure you get the most out of your Oak Barrel follow our guided instructions above and you’re guaranteed to have a stand-out garden feature for years to come.