We get a fair amount of passers-by marveling at our tire garden, wondering how we got it started.
Actually, it’s really easy to create one of your own.
First, take a drive. We see tires all over LA. Scout ’em out and pick ’em up.
Once you’ve found a few, here’s what you do. Line out the tires where you’d like your garden, and start stacking. Play with different heights to make it feel more dynamic, keeping in mind where you’ll put your tall plants and your short plants. We’ve done various heights with 1, 2, 3, 4, or even 5 tires, building stacks that meander down the side of our barn. For a big garden like ours, you’ll need a lot of tires and a LOT of soil. We had a scoop delivered from C&S Nursery.
Next, start filling. Pack your dirt really well into the sides of the tire; this will keep your plants from sinking into the stack.
When you’ve got a good amount of soil in each tire, it’s time to start planting!
Plant your low growing plants with small roots in your low tires and your taller plants with larger root balls in your taller stacks.
A great way to water these gardens is with your greywater–that’s the relatively clean waste water from baths, sinks, washing machines, and other kitchen appliances. We water our entire garden with our dirty flower water and the suds from our dish pan (be sure you’re using an earth-friendly soap like Method, Mrs. Meyers or Seventh Generation – to name a few).
Look at that! Easy as 1- 2-3!
With a little elbow grease, you can create a gorgeous garden of seasonal and drought tolerant plants AND help clean up the neighborhood! Be sure to send us photos of your original Ranch-style tire gardens to share with our fans and viewers.
DANDELION RANCH 