How to Tighten the Bands on an Oak Barrel
- 1). Store empty, unused oak barrels in a cool, damp environment and spray the interiors of the barrels with water regularly to soak the staves and tighten the hoops.
- 2). Place soil and plants into a new oak barrel planter and water as soon as possible to expand the staves and tighten the hoops. Maintain the moistness of the soil to keep the staves swelled.
- 3). Fill barrels with liquid is they must be perfectly watertight and never allow them to dry out. If the barrel must be emptied, refill it with water or other liquid as soon as possible to saturate the staves and restore tightness of the hoops.