How do you use driftwood in landscaping?

Asked by: Cedric Gerrero

Driftwood serves as an excellent container for succulent plantings. Specifically, the shape and drainage ability of driftwood pieces make them ideal for creating centerpieces with succulents in the garden landscape. In addition to succulents, air plants fit well in decor made with larger pieces of driftwood.

How do I arrange driftwood in my garden?

Place a large piece of driftwood in the center of a flower bed to create a garden focal point. Choose driftwood that is twisted or curved to increase the visual interest. Driftwood is especially useful in landscapes that are drought-stricken or with poor soil in which it is difficult to grow plants.

What can I do with a piece of driftwood?

Driftwood can be used to make furniture and lamps – you may DIY such pieces or buy ready ones. Driftwood can become a base for your dining, coffee or console table, it can be used to build a shelving unit, some racks, clothes and jewelry holders and hangers and even benches, sofas and chairs.

How do you put driftwood together?

A good adhesive needs to keep the driftwoods together. For that, we would recommend Gorilla Super Glue Gel from Amazon. The traditional hot glue gun is not exactly recommended as it is not as strong as Gorilla glue.

How do you display a piece of driftwood?

The most common way to display driftwood is on the wall. But while sometimes it can be enough to just put up the piece and then admire it, that’s not always the case. Sometimes a better idea is to make something a bit more complex like these decorations featured on Islaura.

What can I plant in driftwood?

And succulents are a great choice for a DIY driftwood planter because many succulents have shorter roots and don’t need a great amount of depth to grow. Air plants are also perfect for driftwood planters, don’t be afraid to place those on the driftwood.

How do you plant flowers in driftwood?

Some people use tacky gel glue. Or hot glue i primarily. Actually i only use hot glue in this project i'll show you why later and then you want a variety of succulent cuttings i've got some echeveria.

How do you preserve driftwood for outdoor use?

Mix a concentrated insecticide with water in a spray bottle, and cover the driftwood with the spray mixture while outdoors. Set it in the sun and let small pieces dry three to five days, while allowing larger branches up to 15 days to dry.

How do you make driftwood look good?

To seal the porous wood, yet not make it look artificial, I prefer to mist it lightly with an aerosol can of Minwax® Clear Lacquer. You can continue to spray additional coats until you achieve the precise look you want, ranging from very natural to a high-gloss finish.

How long will driftwood last?

Wood is organic and that means it will break down over time. How quickly it breaks down will depend on a number of factors, but on average, most driftwood will begin to show signs of deterioration as early as 2 years after being submerged and may need replacing after roughly 5 years.

How do you decorate with driftwood?

If you have artistic or crafting skill, you can combine several pieces of driftwood to make something functional. For instance, you can glue, nail or tie a number of medium-size pieces together to create a lamp base or use one or several large pieces to make the base of a table.

What is so special about driftwood?

In some waterfront areas, driftwood is a major nuisance. However, the driftwood provides shelter and food for birds, fish and other aquatic species as it floats in the ocean. Gribbles, shipworms and bacteria decompose the wood and gradually turn it into nutrients that are reintroduced to the food web.

Do you have to clean driftwood?

Whether you are using driftwood found in the wild or bought from a store it is important to clean it thoroughly before putting it to work. Start by getting rid of any exterior debris. For an extra layer of protection, soak the wood or expose it to heat.

What does baking soda do to driftwood?

Add 3 or 4 teaspoons of baking soda to the water in the container. This raises the pH of the water in the container. The alkaline water draws out the tannins in the wood.

Does driftwood have termites?

Driftwood hoppers (talitrids), as well as isopods, chilopods, insect larvae, some ants and termites, comprize the secondary colonizers. They are all characterized by their inability to utilize driftwood directly. Instead, they rely on symbiotic microflora for digestive purposes.