Garden Pole
I found a garden pole that I fell in love with in Austin, TX.
In fact, I found several garden poles that were awesome! The quality of the artist’s work was outstanding. The poles were beautiful. However, at $200.00 and up, they were out of my budget.
I tried to put them out of my mind, but I kept thinking how great one – or two – would look in my garden. So I decided to price making one for myself.
I found everything I needed at my local home improvement store. The pole itself, was just a 4 X 4 square post. The posts came in various sizes, but I quickly decided that the best way for me to go was an 8 ft long post. They even carried the copper post cap! While I was browsing the fence supplies area, I also found a solar light post cap. So I bought one of those too.
I didn’t want an 8 foot tall post, so I had the good folks at the store cut it down to a 5 ft. pole and 3 ft. pole. And they were kind enough to do it for free!
My total cost for both poles, the copper cap and the solar light cap was just over $25.00.
When it came time to decide what to paint on my garden pole I grabbed a sketch book and drew all of the things that I love. I drew crowns, birds, flowers, crosses and paisley designs. Once this was done, I grabbed my acrylic paints and went to town.
I couldn’t decide whether or not I liked the copper post top.
Or if I liked the solar light top. After much debate, I went with the solar light. I’ll put the copper top on the smaller 3 ft. pole when it is done.
I was really impressed with the solar light. It’s hard to tell in this photo, but it really puts out a fair amount of light.
I have to say that after painting this pole I understand why the artist charges $200 and up for her poles. Her beautiful poles have a ton of detail and are simply beautiful! My garden pole may not be as detailed or as pretty, but it has all of my favorite things and colors on it. I’d have to say that it is perfect for me.
Now if you will excuse me, I have another pole to paint!
Tammy
You can find me at these fabulous parties!
The Scoop
I love this Tammy!! This would be a fun project for a girls get together. The colors you chose are fun and the height is perfect.
Thank you Stacey! I never thought about using it for a girls get together, but you are so right! Thanks for planting that seed… after seeing the party at Jemma’s I’ve wanted to do something like that. Nothing better than great friends, food,and hands on fun!
Its beautiful. I’d love to make one. How will this hold up outdoor? Did you have to seal the paint?
Kelly I’ve had mine for years and it still looks great. Yes, you DO have to seal it. I used a heavy marine varnish – like they seal boats with, however I’m sure that there are other sealers for outdoors. I’ve had other readers tell me that instead of using a wooden pole that they have painted PVC fence posts and loved it, as it is lighter weight. Good luck and I would love to see your finished post!
I absolutely love your work. I have been tinkering with outdoor wood projects but have yet to find an acrylic paint I’m happy with. Would you mind telling me what brand of paint you are using?
Thank you so much Cheryl. I’m picky about my acrylic paints too. For outdoor paints I tend to go with a multi-surface acrylic, although I use regular ones too. For Multi – surface I like the FolkArt. Regular acrylic my favorite is Ceramcoat by Delta. It does seem as if the past ten years or so that all acrylics just don’t seem to have as good of a coverage as they did in the past. Good luck and have fun painting!
What a darling project.
Thank you for joining us and sharing at Thoughts of Home.
We are so glad you are here!
Laura
White Spray Paint
Thank you Laura!
This cutie of a project is just adorable!
Love your creativity and that you shared it with us at TOHOT!
Jemma
Thanks Jemma!
Hi Gemma how did you mount it in the ground…
We make a home made gift each year for xmas.
Love it for my next Xmas gift
Thanks
It’s mounted in the ground with a fence post anchor. This is the one I used:https://www.amazon.com/Mayne-580D-BK-Dig-Ground-Anchor/dp/B00191RWKA/ref=sr_1_16?crid=2Q5H8LM0WJY3H&keywords=fence+post+anchor&qid=1658800388&sprefix=fence+post+anchor%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-16
Good luck and have fun with it@
Very creative and beautiful! How do you make the post stand up without burying it? Thanks.
Thank you Rita!
At the time I posted about the garden poles I had my husband drill a hole in the bottom of the pole. We inserted and glued rebar about six inches into the hole, and left about six inches sticking out to put into the ground. This worked really well until the rains came. So we went to plan B. Instead of putting rebar in the center of the pole, we drilled to holes into the bottom a few inches apart. We then glued and inserted the rebar the same as before, making the pole a lot more stable.
Just finished my first pole! I used a PVC pole cover instead of wood. Rough it up with light sand paper, clean off the dust, spray with a good primer and away you go. I used acrylic paint. As to putting it in the ground, we will probably buy 3-4 rebar (to go at least half way up the pole) put them in the ground then slip the pole cover over them. The problem I’m having at this point is all the cute covers, including solars aren’t fitting the 4×4 pole!! Hubby suggested cutting a piece of wood pole just long enough to screw the top onto, then slip wood into pole and screw PVC to wood piece from the outside. Any other suggestions?!
Colleen,
I think using PVC for you pole is a genius idea. The wooden ones are very top heavy and it’s tricky getting enough rebar placed just right for them to be sturdy. I will say that all of the cute covers that I tried didn’t fit the wooden poles exactly either. It was a little frustrating to say the least. With the wooden poles the covers were a little loose but not so much that screwing them into the pole was a big issue. I think that your Hubby’s idea of using a piece of wood is an excellent idea, as long as it doesn’t make it top heavy. The only other thing that I can think of – and with out playing with it I’m not sure how well it would work, I think it would depend on how much of a gap you have between the pole and the cover – would be to use the peel and stick insulation tape ( the kind they use around doors and windows) It would be light weight and any excess width or length could be easily trimmed. Good luck with your project, I would love to see your pole finished and I am super curious as to how you get the covers to fit! Please keep me posted!
Hi Tammy. Thanks for the reply. The covers are to small. So by taking a small block of wood, just enough to screw top onto and enough to insert into PVC and screw into all three together, I’m hoping that will work. I think we will scour the store and see what light weight material we can use besides wood. Cross your fingers if works cause if like to make more. If the covers don’t fit a 4×4 pole sleeve, how in the world do the fit over a 4×4 wood pole?! Must be the wood pole is a tad smaller. I’ll let you know what happens!
Colleen,
You have me intrigued! Yes the wooden poles are a bit smaller, making the covers too big. I was surprised as you see them on fence posts all the time. I can’t wait to see what you come up with. Good Luck and please send pictures!
Hi Tammy,
For some reason I can’t post pictures of my pole to this.
Please tell me how you put it in the ground. I am making 3 right now
Suzy,
I used rebar. I drilled holes about 6″ deep and inserted the rebar using an all purpose glue to secure it. I started with one in the center and quickly realized that it was too top heavy for that! So I have three pieces of rebar in a triangle shape drilled about 3 -4 inches into the bottom of my pole. Three may be over kill but I’ve broken the top caps more than once with the poles falling over. Good luck! And I would love to see pictures!!!!!
Hi Tammy & Suzie.
I found a “multi” fitting solar cap at Lowes!! They come in white, copper or black and the inside squares can be removed for a snug fit. With the bottom we pretty much did the same thing as Suzy. The piece of 4×4 wood we used should have been longer, I would suggest one at least half way up your pvc sleeve. We didn’t glue our rebar. Mine does wiggle a bit cause the wood isn’t very high, maybe 10″ but the rebar goes in the ground a good 15″ or more. No probs with it being too top heavy. The solar top looks great at night and is really bright. Forgot to tell you, I put at least 5 coats of clear acrylic non yellowing, UV protective spray on my pole. Good luck ladies, would love to see pics!!
Thanks Colleen! I’ll check on the solar cap. I have a feeling I will need those inside squares for my wooden ones. I can’t wait to try out making them with the PVC, which I think is genius! Thanks again for sharing!!!!!
You are welcome!
Good luck! Can’t wait to see pics!
I’m on my second PVC pole now.
Colleen
What about a bird house on top?
Alison,
a birdhouse on top would be awesome! Great idea…. I may have to try that!
Did you spray the pole after you painted them, if so with what? I have a couple I want to get painted before our weather changes! Thanks
I did put a couple of coats of poly-acrylic on mine. However, I would recommend something that is rated for outdoor use. Marine varnish ( like they put on boats would be ideal). The first time I coated mine, I used Rust-O-Leum clear protective finish,(which I love and use often), however the paint faded. No one wants to spend that much time painting and have it fade for sure!ANy home store should be able to assist you in finding an outdoor rated finish.
P.S. I would love to see photos once you are done.
Your pole turned out great! I like the solar top especially with bright colors. Maybe the copper top would look better next to darker colors?
I agree about the copper top! Now that we have moved I will be making new poles and will give the copper a try~
I have several garden posts that were leftover from a deck renovation. Painted with “outdoor acrylic”, like Deco or Anita’s. I put a solar light on one, a ceramic tile on another. Have had one post for 3 years, and just now repainting. Plan to glue a birdbath to the top. Some were screwed to a raised bed, some short ones were drilled and placed atop rebar stake. Love my posts!!
Cathy they sound absolutely beautiful! I love the idea of putting a birdbath on top! Genius idea!
Hi ladies, I came across this link as I was preparing to paint my own post. I am planning on using a ‘No Dig’ post hole screw that is available at our local home improvement store to hold the post. It costs $25-30, but looks like it will stabilize the post. Let me know if anyone has tried this .
Love the creativity!
Hey Lori! I made several of these at my last home and the buyers wanted to keep them, so I left them. With those I used a post hole anchor after trying several different things – which is basically the same as the post hole screw, only you just hammer it into the ground. It worked the best of all things that I tried. However, after looking at this post hole screw, I’m thinking that it might just be the best solution of all! Thanks for sharing!!!! I can’t wait to give it a try! I would love to see your finished garden pole. I love seeing how everyone else paints theirs. If you get a chance my email is tammy@patinaandpaint.com
I have some cinder blocks that I need to use. I’m thinking this same concept but with those. Painting them a neutral color and then painting designs and putting a solar light on top. They’ll sit on the inside of my porch and won’t need to be screwed in(I guess). Any ideas?
Mary I would love to see your project when it’s done! My only thought would be to use a construction adhesive to join them together if you are worried about them getting knocked over. However, if they are in a spot that most likely won’t be disturbed I’d just stack them as it would make it easier to move. Also, since the cinder blocks are porous, you may want to put a concrete sealer on them to make it easier to paint. Be sure and send pics – I love seeing what others do. Such great inspiration!
I love painting items in my yard. My poles around my patio that hold my sun shade i have done a couple times. And the flower pots….
how far into the ground did you sink the poles?
I used a post hole attachment so the pole itself isn’t in the ground at all. It’s a large screw with a flat top with 4 sides. Your screw the screw into the ground then place the pole on top. The sides have screw holes so that you can screw the pole to the sides. It works great. You can get them at home depot, Lowe’s and Amazon.
Love the cleaver poles. Wish someone would video & post painting a vinyl pole.
Thanks Karen. It takes a LONG time to paint these, so doing a video would be challenging. HOWEVER, I will give it some thought!
Tammy I also started making these garden posts. After seeing what these people are charging. They are not cheep to make but so much fun. I am trying to find a bird bath that fits on top of a 4×4 post. If anyone knows please e-mail me.
Thanks Tammy
You are so right about the cost, but making them yourself is much cheaper than purchasing one. I haven’t seen a bird feeder to fit on top, however now that you say that I’m doing a head slap wondering why I didn’t think of doing that. What a great idea. I’ll be on the hunt for one and if I come across one will forward the info to you. Thanks!