Bloomin’ Tires are earth friendly and dirt cheap

Juli Southard with a selection of the Bloomin’ Tires, including one on the far right that, with a bit of color here and there, might make a good firewood holder. (Photo: Mary Jo Winter)

Several years ago, Juli Southard of Southard Tire and Auto ran across an article about “Bloomin’ Tires,” planters made from recycled tires, a commodity with which she is quite familiar.

Not only are the planters earth friendly, Southard has noticed her veggies, tomatoes and zucchini in particular, grow much better in them than they do in the larger wooden planter boxes.

All types of tires can be used, including auto, truck, ATV and even aircraft tires. When cut and turned inside out, each one shapes itself differently. Her favorites are the ATV tires because the petals flip out best.

Bloomin’ Tires can be used by themselves or grouped with other types of planters. (Photo: Mary Jo Winter)

Southard says the height varies with each tire depending on what the natural rubber wants to do. “The tougher the rubber, the taller the tire and the more worn out the rubber, the more it seems kind of short and fat.”

Bloomin’ Tires come in several sizes, ranging from about 12-inches for an aircraft tire to 29-inches for a car tire. They can be painted, decorated or left just the way they are, making them versatile garden décor. One customer used his to disguise a tree stump in the middle of his yard.

Since each one is individually cut by hand, no two are exactly alike. To turn them into planters, simply put a plastic bag on the bottom to keep the dirt in and crush aluminum cans for drainage.

The cost is only $10 for any size and special orders are accepted.

Visit Southard Tire and Auto at 474 S. Cloverdale Blvd. or call 894-2492 for more details.