How do I repurpose concrete culverts?
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We have rented a beautiful log cabin in our efforts to downsize as empty nesters. We would love to stay here for a few years but my OCD is in overdrive. On the property we rent there are these huge concrete culverts that are right across from our front porch. This is what we see everytime we walk out our door (pics taken from porch). Not to mention all our guest see this everytime they visit. Please flood me with some ideas how to make these into something cool or beautiful. Before someone says yo move them, that is impossible. They are huge and heavy and have been there for years. Remember, I rent this property so I do not want to spend a lot of money. I just want them to not look so UGLY! HELP PLEASE
You can use them as raised planters. Of course, they would require a lot of dirt!
make great chicken coops paint them some nice vivid colors and make roofs of recycled pallets or sheet metal so you can lift them rake them out if needed or collect eggs,or as Zard suggested nice huge planters for veggies,trailing plants and flowers you'd need to rent little bobcat or borrow tractor with bucket to fill them
If they are on your property, perhaps you could request the owner or landlord to at least move some of them. I my self would check with the landlord about altering them so that you do not get into trouble with the landlord. I think painting them to blend in with the property and turning them into raised gardens would be a great idea. Just put filler in them, like empty bottles to that you don't have to fill with so much soil. Have friends, neighbors and relatives start saving them for you. Start with the closest ones to your house, they are probably the worst eyesores. I hope you can figure out something that you can do with the culverts!
Fill full of soil and use them as planters for flowers or vegetables
I'm all for the planter idea, save on dirt by filling them as much as you can with styrofoam broken up. I'd plant roses or whatever grows best near you. I always go to lowe s and buy the $1.29 a bag of top soil to fill my big pots after styrofoam fills up most of the unneeded space. I fertilize after planting and have never lost a plant. Too expensive the other way. put some PVC pipe with solar lights in them higher than the planting. I have OCD too and I plant in aquariums, detergent buckets, and anything else that grabs me. Daylilies would work or you can even look for tree babies in the surrounding area. Set your OCD free lol.
Forgot something, if you post on something like craigslist for free plants needed, you may be surprised how many people will offer you plants, cutting s, bushes etc.
Place false bottoms in them for planters. Paint the outside with different patterns to blend with your yard or add a pop of color. You could plant trees in these "planters".
I like the idea for hiding them with vines that Patsy suggested. Morning Glory vines grow rampant in our area. You could plant some around the base and let them cover the culverts. Then you’d have something pretty to look at instead of concrete. Your cabin porch is adorable by the way!
I'm not sure, but I believe that they are part of septic tank not a culvert. I'm a big one on living fences. Any fast growing vine will cover them up well.
then along the road side in front. Place rustic 1/2 tubs of roses, shrubs ect. If not your property then the tubs are not permanently placed, and easy to fill and move.
Paint them as faux stone ruins, castle rubble... It doesn't have to be perfect since it's a good distance away. Try one and see. If you like, you could really get crazy and slowly add fairies, beasts, painted vines. You already have the gray, so just paint/smudge in the darker mortar areas. I wouldn't plant anything, it just extends your maintenance zone.