I’m so excited to share today’s post – it is one that has been on my wish list to make for 3 years now.
THREE YEARS!
It was about 3 years ago that the city cut down some dead trees on the walkway behind my house.
Look at that!
I walk by this everyday as I walk my dog and every single day my brain screams “GET A CHAINSAW”!
Serendipitously, WORX Tools contacted me and asked if I’d like to try out their 10″ pole saw (which consists of a 10″, 8AMP chainsaw and a 10′ extension pole as two separate pieces.)
I will fully admit that after I got off the phone with the brand rep, I happy-danced around my office salivating over the prospect of finally chopping these beauties up for a DIY decor project.
I should start by saying that the WORX 10″ pole saw is not intended to cut logs of this size – WORX does have a line of larger chainsaws that are better suited – but since I’m a product tester (and I really wanted those logs) I decided to put this baby through it’s paces and I cut through logs that were over 18″ in diameter…
like it was nothing!
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Because these logs have sat on the ground for years, they are pretty rotted and the wood is wet; the crumbling you see is because of that and not the chainsaw.
The WORX Tools 8AMP Electric 10″ pole saw is so light at only 10lbs, that I was a bit shocked with the amount of power it packed – I’m crazy-happy with this tool!
I carted my long-loved loot home and stripped off the bark and washed away the bugs. (Just a FYI, while the log succulent planter might have looked nice with a bark edge, underneath the bark is the area that houses most of the bugs and it crumbles off over time.)
I used my Rockwell vibrafree™ random orbit sander to sand the top, sides and bottom to remove loose bark and rotten sections.
I then used my Rockwell Bladerunner X2 to cut a scrap piece of ¼” plywood to act as a base for my log succulent planter. I just traced the bottom of the log on the wood and then cut about a ¼” inside of that line.
I used some Gorilla Glue clear and a few finishing nails to adhere the plywood to the base of the log.
This particular log was wet from years spent on the ground and then the extra moisture/indignity of having me wash it down to remove its’ ant residents, so I had to let it dry for a few days before treating it with cutting board oil.
The oil will help keep the wood from drying out and cracking over the winter months indoors, plus it’s food safe so it shouldn’t harm your succulents either.
I buffed on a coating of cutting board wax to seal the deal. Look at the detail in the wood! Isn’t it gorgeous!
If you plan on planting real succulents, you’ll need to line the rotted-out centre section of the log with a plastic protection; a margarine dish would be ideal. Succulents don’t need much water, but you wouldn’t want even a drop to escape and ruin a wood coffee table.
For me, “the chick whose thumbs are so black I’ve actually had a succulent burst on me”, I decided that fake was best.
I picked up a few branches from Michael’s and trimmed off the succulents with a wire cutter.
I filled my log succulent planter with decorative stones from the dollar store and then tucked my succulent branches in.
It’s even better than I imagined over those years of walking past the fallen trees!
You couldn’t buy a planter this pretty – and this is DIY and repurposing and upcycling and cleaning the walkway and decorating – all of those great things in one easy project! It’s a win all around I’d say.
Those succulents look almost-real right? And far more alive than any real ones I’ve had in the past. lol
Because the trunks were so large, this log succulent planter is fairly substantial and could stand alone on the coffee table as a decor piece.
If I’d used my WORX Tools pole saw to cut a thicker section of log, I could have used it as a low table on my front porch.
I love how this turned out!
The warmth of the oiled wood and the details in the log itself, paired with the ‘natural’ greens of the succulents – it’s just gorgeous!
Three years in the making (but not to make) and all thanks to WORX Tools!
Those bugs didn’t know they were living in a designer condo!
Good things really do come to those that wait!
What I used:
Have a great one!
This post is sponsored by WORX Tools and Rockwell Tools. I was provided with a WORX 8amp Electric 10″ pole saw and the new Rockwell 5″ vibra-free random orbit sander to help spread the word about WORX and Rockwell products. 100Things2Do.ca only shares information I feel is relevant to my readers. All opinions expressed are sincere and my own. Neither WORX Tools or Rockwell Tools are responsible for the dialogue of this article.
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Beautiful!!! May have to try this!
Three years I tell you! I’m so pleased with how it turned out – you really do have to try! Thanks for taking the time to comment.