String Outdoor Solar Lights With This Cheap Hack!

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Create your own relaxing backyard fireside retreat by learning how to string outdoor solar lights with this cheap hack!

If you are new to these parts, then first of all welcome I am so glad you’re here. Secondly, I need to fill you in on two things that I really love…

Fire And solar energy.

Random? Just keep reading.

I am always looking for an excuse to burn something whether it be one of the 3,597 candles in our tiny little 1400 sq ft French Country cottage fixer-upper or a campfire to roast sausages, saute veggies and sing Kum-Ba-Yah together.

I also love solar energy.

Solar energy just makes sense to me. So much so that we have installed a solar system on 2 of our 3 fixer uppers now.

In fact, you should read all about how you could potentially qualify for a FREE solar system like we did and actually make money doing it (lots of incentive bonuses being offered right now)!

When we bought this French Country Cottage fixer upper the backyard looked something like this.

I had visions of raised garden beds and a fire pit with solar lights like you see in so many of these gorgeously stunning Pinterest photos.

I mean look how pretty. This is the fireside retreat at Rachel’s home from Crate and Cottage! I love when old barrels are used as planters, but do you know how expensive they are?!

Or finding ANY planter for that matter tall enough to function as a base for a 4x4x8 ft post for less than $100 each?

So I improvised. I found a budget solution for creating your own backyard fireside retreat with solar lights.

Tah-dah! Trash cans! $20 each.

Without further ado let’s chat about how to string outdoor solar lights with this garbage can hack.

I promise it is EASY.

Looking for more outdoor DIYS? Check out:

You will Need:

• 4 30 gallon steel trash cans
• 4 pressure treated 4x4x8 posts
• 4 5 gallon plastic buckets
• 4 50 lb bags fast-setting Quikrete
• 3 50 qt bags potting soil
• solar lights
• spray paint (optional)
• level
• drill

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String Outdoor Solar Lights With This Cheap Hack

#1. Spray the Trash cans (OPtional: If you want a different color)

String Outdoor Solar Lights With This Cheap Hack

#2. Place 5 gallon bucket in trash can and level.

**Be sure to drill holes in the bottom or the sides of the trashcan first to allow for water run off as this will become a planter! (we forgot to do this!)** 

String Outdoor Solar Lights With This Cheap Hack

#3. Place the post in the 5 gallon bucket and level.

String Outdoor Solar Lights With This Cheap Hack

#4. Fill the 5 gallon bucket with Quikrete and water.

Someone has to hold the post and level while the other pours the Quikrete.

Fill with water according to Quikrete instructions on bag.

It starts to set very quickly and you can let go in approx 10 minutes.

String Outdoor Solar Lights With This Cheap Hack

#5. Fill the trash can with potting soil.

String Outdoor Solar Lights With This Cheap Hack!

#6. Attach the solar lights to the top of the posts!

Ready to see what it looks like?!

Grab some hot chocolate and come join me by the fire.

After

Have leftover brick or pavers laying around? Check out my post on how to make a fire pit with leftover brick!

Looking for more outdoor DIYS? Check out:

Pin any of the images below for later!

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