Old chairs will now support plants

May 24, 5:54 AMSoutheast MI Home & Living ExaminerJackie DiGiovanni

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Photo: Jackie DiGiovanni
The yarrow is still growing, but in another month, it will be blooming through the seat. The
green painted chairs do not draw attention until you notice the sun bouncing off the edges.  

Turn folding chairs into unique plant supports that keep tall plants upright and happy.

Find them in your basement or garage, or keep a watchful eye out at upcoming yard sales. Look for chairs with a wooden seat.

You'll Need:

• folding chair with wooden seat
• safety glasses
• screwdriver (if needed)
• sharp wood chisel (if needed)
• rotary cutting tool (if needed)
• pliers (if needed)

This is the chair before work started.

1. Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes. There may be flying woodchips.

2. Spread a canvas or plastic sheet if you plan to paint the chairs.

3. Use a rated extension cord if you will need power tools.

A rotary cutter cleared out most of the plywood around the rivets.
Then, the seat was ripped away from the frame.

4. Remove the seat to expose the metal frame.

• Use a screwdriver to remove screws.
• If the seat is attached with rivets, use a rotary cutter or a wood chisel to cut around the rivets. Most wood seats are plywood, so you can chisel through one layer at a time.
• Use pliers to coax out fragments stuck under the rivets.

Use string or floral wire to add more cross supports if needed. 

5. Paint the chair if you want a fresh color, using paint designed for metal surfaces.

6. Add more cross-supports by tying string or wires to the chair frame.

7. Place the plant support in your garden before your plants are too tall.
 

Add some designer touches to your chairs:

• Arrange several chairs in the garden to suggest a seating arrangement for chatting.
• Make slipcovers in coordinating or contracting colors for the back of the chairs using vinyl material.
• Paint each chair a different color to draw the eye of the viewer.

     When buying for your family or your friends,
spend your Michigan dollars in Michigan.

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