• A half whiskey barrel makes a rustic lanscape planter.barrel image by apeschi from Fotolia.com
  
  A whiskey barrel is a large barrel made of oak planks and bound with metal bands. The barrels are made for production of alcoholic drinks that must be aged, such as whiskey and wine. Barrels have been recycled into landscaping for many years, and are so popular that plastic containers have been manufactured to create a whiskey-barrel appearance. Using whiskey barrels in your landscaping can give it a rustic appearance.
  
  

Water Gardens

• According to Texas A&M University, whiskey barrels are a good alternative to in-ground water pools where space and physical restraints make an in-ground pool impossible. Barrel water gardens cost less, are more mobile and do not require edging or surrounding landscaping plants. Plants for barrel gardens include floating plants such as hyacinth and dwarf water lilies. Plastic whiskey barrels may be filled with water and planted immediately. Authentic whiskey barrels should be lined with a PVC liner. Some pond manufacturers make liners designed specifically for whiskey barrels.
  
  

Container Gardens

• Container gardens are popular for people who live in apartments and do not have backyards for growing plants, or are physically limited and cannot bend or stoop to break up soil in their garden. Container gardens may consist of flowers grown in hanging baskets such as petunias, begonias and ferns, or may include vegetables and fruits such as strawberries or tomatoes. The large size of a whiskey barrel makes the container perfect for larger-sized plants such as tomatoes and even corn, both of which require at least 5 gallons of soil per container to grow healthy plants that bear fruits and vegetables.
  
  

Trees and Shrubs

• A whiskey barrel's large size and tough construction makes it ideal for growing larger, heavier plants with more extensive root structures such as trees and shrubs. The thick wooden walls of a whiskey barrel will protect the tree from temperature extremes in winter and summer. The heavy container will prevent the tree from tipping over if it is pushed by wind action on rooftops, balconies or decks. A whiskey barrel's wooden construction also helps it to blend harmoniously with a wide assortment of tree varieties.