DIY Round Cement Planters: A Step-by-Step Guide to Elevate Your Space

Looking to add a touch of greenery and modern elegance to your home or garden? This comprehensive DIY guide will walk you through the process of creating your very own round cement planters. Whether you’re a seasoned DIY enthusiast or just starting out, this project is a fun and cost-effective way to enhance your living space with personalized, stylish planters. Learn how to make durable and aesthetically pleasing cement planters that will complement any indoor or outdoor setting.

Creating your own DIY cement planters is a fantastic way to add a personalized touch to your home, garden, patio, deck, or porch. This tutorial provides detailed instructions for making large-scale, eye-catching concrete planters right in your own backyard.

This summer, we relocated to a new studio space situated on a vibrant avenue that cuts through the heart of St. Paul and Minneapolis. We absolutely love our new location!

Our expansive floor-to-ceiling windows offer a sun-drenched view of the bustling street and sidewalks, allowing us to watch the light-rail trains as they roll by. However, the view from the outside looking in was not as appealing. Our storefront needed some love and attention.

So, we decided to kick off our office transformation from the outside in by creating a few large-scale DIY concrete planters.

Concrete is truly a miracle substance. Look around, and you’ll notice that concrete is used everywhere. It’s strong, durable, easily moldable, simple to work with, and offers a sleek, modern aesthetic!

For this project, we wanted to create planters that were large, impressive, and visually appealing. These planters would be placed outside our office, where they would be seen by many people.

We didn’t want to simply purchase generic planters from a big box hardware store. Where’s the fun in that?

Being a DIY-focused website, we wanted to avoid having ordinary, store-bought planters sitting in front of our headquarters.

We came up with the idea of using concrete footing tubes, which are cardboard concrete tube forms typically used for making fence post footings. These tubes are perfect because they come in various sizes and can easily be cut to the desired length, making them ideal for creating concrete planter molds. We opted for a basic cylinder shape, which is both simple and stylish. Here’s how we did it:

Materials Needed for Your DIY Concrete Planters

Gathering the right materials is crucial for a successful DIY concrete planter project. Here’s a comprehensive list of everything you’ll need to create your own stunning planters:

• 3 – 80-lb. bags of Quikrete® Countertop Mix (for a smooth, professional finish)
• 3 Quikrete Quik-tube® building forms (choose diameters like 16″, 12″, and 8″ for varied sizes)
• 2 PVC drain caps (2″ diameter)
• 3 sheets of corrugated plastic, smooth-top (for creating a stable base)
• Non-stick cooking spray (to ensure easy mold release)
• Duct tape (for securing the mold components)
• Silicone caulk (to seal the edges and prevent leakage)
• 1 roll of wire mesh (optional, for added strength – but see our note later!)
• Plastic garbage bag or sheeting (to protect your work surface)

Essential Tools for Your Concrete Planter Project

Having the right tools on hand will make the process of creating your DIY concrete planters much smoother and more efficient. Here’s a list of essential tools you’ll need:

• A large concrete mixing tray (for mixing the concrete)
• A shovel (for mixing the concrete)
• Caulking gun (for applying silicone caulk)
• A utility knife (or circular saw, optional, for cutting the tube forms)
• A tape measure (for accurate measurements)

Step By Step: How to Make Your Own DIY Concrete Planters

Follow these detailed steps to create your own stunning DIY concrete planters.

Preparing Your Mold for the Round Planter

Selecting the right mold is crucial for creating your round cement planter. Consider using common household items like bowls, old planters, or any round container that fits your vision for a variety of size and shape options. Here’s how to prepare your chosen mold:

• Apply cooking spray liberally on the inside surface of your outer mold and the outside of your inner mold (if using one) to ensure the easy release of your cement planter.

By following these instructions meticulously, you’re setting the stage for a smooth crafting process and getting one step closer to unveiling your bespoke round cement planter.

Step 1: Cutting the Tube to the Desired Height

Determine the desired height for your planter. We made our first one 24″ tall. Mark this measurement on the tube (in our case, we started with the 12″ diameter tube) and cut the tube at that length. Use a sharp utility knife or, for a faster cut, use a circular saw carefully.

Step 2: Preparing the Inner Form

To create the inside part of the form, mark your smaller tube at a length that is 1.75″ shorter than the first tube (this accounts for the height of the PVC drain cap and creates the base of the planter). For example:

Step 3: Creating the Base for the Inner Tube

Place the smaller tube (the one that will be inside the larger one) on your plastic sheet and trace around it. Then, cut out that circle with a utility knife. This will serve as the base of the smaller tube.

Step 4: Securing the Plastic Base

Tape the plastic circle you just cut out to the bottom of the smaller tube, making sure to tape it neatly all the way around to prevent concrete from seeping through. Then, wrap the entire cylinder in plastic and tape it on. Although not strictly necessary, this step will make it easier to remove the form from the concrete later.

Step 5: Adding the PVC Drain Cap

Place the PVC drain cap in the center of the cylinder’s plastic ‘lid’ and screw it in place. Now, your interior form is ready.

Step 6: Sealing the Inner Form

Place the smaller tube on top of a clean sheet of corrugated plastic, with the ‘cap’ side up. Adhere it to the plastic using silicone caulk.

Don’t do this!
We often make mistakes during DIY projects! Here’s something we tried that you shouldn’t: putting wire mesh into the mold.

I thought this would add strength to the planter. It probably would have, but it also made it really hard to distribute the concrete evenly within the mold. Honestly, it’s just a planter, so it’s not like anyone’s going to be standing on it. If I were you, I’d leave the wire mesh out – the planters will be plenty strong without it.

Here’s how the entire mold comes together:

Step 7: Assembling the Outer Mold

After spraying the interior tube with cooking spray, set the outside tube down around it and adhere it to the base with silicone caulk. Once the caulk has dried, your form is ready for the concrete.

Step 8: Mixing the Concrete

Open a bag of Quikrete and mix it according to the directions on the back! I can’t stress this enough; unless you’re an expert concrete mixer, follow the directions. The results will be much better. For a project like this, where a nice, even, and smooth finish is crucial, the concrete should be relatively wet (even wetter than it appears in my photos). A wetter mix will flow into the form more effectively, resulting in a smoother and more even surface finish.

Step 9: Filling the Form with Concrete

Fill the form all the way to the top, making sure to pack the material in well (use a dowel to ensure it gets in there). At this point, vibrate the form using a rubber mallet, an orbital sander, or even a reciprocating saw (with the blade removed). Vibration helps the concrete compact and eliminate air bubbles within the mix.

The ‘top’ here will be the base of the planter. Smooth it out with a trowel or rubber concrete float, being careful not to cover the drain (this face won’t be visible, so don’t worry about making it too perfect).

Step 10: Demolding and Finishing

Let your planters dry for 48 hours before removing them from the molds. Cut the cardboard away with a utility knife, and the mold should peel off relatively easily by hand.

This stage also presents an opportunity for creative embellishments. If you choose to paint your planter, make sure it’s completely dry before applying any paint to avoid trapping moisture. Whether you decide on a uniform color, intricate patterns, or simple designs, the paint can significantly transform and enhance the appearance of your round cement planter, making it a unique reflection of your personal style.

Personalizing Your DIY Round Cement Planter

Transforming your newly crafted round cement planter into a piece that reflects your personal aesthetic is an exciting next step. Consider embedding a mosaic of broken tiles or colored glass shards into the exterior before the cement fully sets for a vibrant, eye-catching effect.

Alternatively, wrapping twine or rope around parts of the planter can add a rustic charm, contrasting beautifully with the smooth cement. For those who appreciate minimalism, a simple but elegant approach could be to coat your planter in a waterproof sealant, leaving the cement’s natural texture to stand out. Imprinting leaves or other natural elements into the wet cement offers an organic, one-of-a-kind pattern that truly makes your planter unique.

Lastly, incorporating a variety of plants—from lush foliage to striking succulents—completes the customization, turning your round cement planter into a living work of art that complements your living space or garden.

We’re thrilled with how our planters turned out. They are incredibly heavy, which makes them difficult to move around, but this makes them perfect for an outdoor, public location. Once we have them in place, we will be ready to move on to our next office transformation DIY project: custom-printed window signage!

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