what would you do with a broken water butt?

[kingkano]

I've got a 200ltr water butt that has cracked at the bottom. After a few tries to reseal it and deciding its a design flaw and am considering other ideas to reuse it.

Most of my ideas revolve around filling it with compost/topsoil mix and using it as a big planter (its about 4ft tall and mayube 2 ft wide at the top). Because I have raised beds with weed fabric underneath I've avoided parsnips but this would let me grow some. Or a fruit tree... not sure.

Also considered cutting it in half then useing the top ontop of my bed for parsnips and the bottom as a big planting tub elsewhere.

But what would YOU use it for?

[scott78]

you could get a hole cutter and bore out a few holes and use it as a strawberry /spud planter.

[taff]

If the top bit didn't leak, I'd turn it upside down and use it that way, and stick some comfrey or nettles or both in there for feed
If it did, cut it in half and use it for planters.

[Aberdeenplotter]

stick it on freecycle. Someone will be able to repair it

[TonyF]

I use damaged water butts in my potager all the time plus the large blue fruit syrup tubs too, they make excellent planters and look so much better than stacks of tyres or similar.

I do what you're thinking of, cut them in half horizontally and grow anything in them.

Last year they had excellent crops of several types of tomatoes, aubergines and carrots. I also use them to isolate the guardian seeds I raise to keep the heritage seeds away from the other plants. Great way of recycling the old butts.

[womble]

Also considered cutting it in half then useing the top ontop of my bed for parsnips and the bottom as a big planting tub elsewhere.

Exactly that!

[chris]

Was going to say the same thing - expect for blueberries

[Florence Fennel]

I too would use them as planters.

[HeyWayne]

A compost tumbler?

[fiskies]

I've got two large white plastic barrels from work that are similar shape, they're used for soap for the car wash, anyway, i brought them home, cleaned em up, cut them in half long ways and i now have four large semi-circular plant beds for my salads etc.

[planetologist]

Dig it into the garden and grow horseradish in it.

[kingkano]

Some good suggestions there thanks everyone Keep them coming.

I had thought of spuds but thought its a mighty lot to empty out! lol.

[BUFFS]

id use the bottom half as a planter,and use top half to support tatties growing in a compost bag,i have 3 set up like that now,i was given 6 old style rubbish bins,(black plastic,3ft-3ft 6in tall,with a step out halve way up),i cut them 1ins above stepout so get a strong top rim,works a treat,same size planter from shops = 12/14 quid...

[bazzaboy]

I previously had two but after this rough winter I've now got four split water butts....duh! The first two curved inwards at the top so I cut off the top 8-10 inches and used those as small round raised beds for cranberries in the fruit cage, the main butts I used for carrots. The two damaged this year are a different shape and open outwards at the top so have used those whole, again for carrots. If you put some bricks in the bottom for drainage and then a sandy mix (either on or off the separate base if they had those) they won't be troubled by the carrot fly (supposedly they can't fly that high!) and you can easily wrap fleece or protection across the top. I don't grow any carrots in the open garden now and last year had the best carrots I've ever managed. I just sprinkle the seed then thin.
A large water-butt full of soil weighs quite a lot, you won't want to be emptying it too frequently!

[bearded bloke]

Rhubarb forcing tube ??