Posted October 13, 200816 yr As you all know, I'm living in a lovely unit and have been working on my 'garden'. It's all in pots as I'm renting and need to take everything with me when I leave... I still haven't decided what to plant near my carport yet (Full mid day-afternoon sun), but my main problem is getting nice big pots, that do not cost an arm and a leg... As it happens...Mum and Dad are getting a fence replaced soon, and that means old fence posts! So, my thoughts are to build some planters out of these fence posts. I'd make two long ones for under my front windows and plant my cactus in them, and then make either one long one for next to my carport, or two tall ones. So, I kind of have plans in my head of how to construct them, and I was thinking of lining them with something, as I don't want them to rot or the water to seep out through the sides. I'm thinking that black plastic stuff we used to use 'back in the day' to stop weeds. Do you think if I just poked some holes in the bottom of the plastic that would do for drainage? For the bottom of them, I was just going to use timber of some sort, and perhaps drill drainage holes... Sound okay???? If any one has a better idea or suggestions to improve my idea, I'm all ears. Thanks guys :hug:
October 13, 200816 yr Having seen a lot of such things thrown out and rotted. I would suggest making the planter box as you said but using pots inside it. You can change the pots as you like and the plastic lining will help. Edited October 13, 200816 yr by Neat
October 13, 200816 yr Author Having seen a lot of such things thrown oput and rotted. I would suggest making the planter box as you said but using pots inside it. You can change the pots as you like and the plastic lining will help. :rofl: Good point...
October 13, 200816 yr I agree with Kaz...... You are better off using the pot plants and to water them Pick each pot up and dip it into a bucket of water ... this will encourage the roots to grow down and not up if you water with a hose ....
October 13, 200816 yr Author I agree with the pot idea, but have some reservations. If I was planting shubs... I'd go for it, as they get big and it 'looks' like they are planted in the 'rustic planters', but I am planting Cactus and Succulants, which means they won't grow huge and you'll be ablt to see them in the black pots IN the planter... I'm fussy, I know, but I'm not sure if I will like the look of that... mmm. why do I make everything for myself sooooo hard :rofl:
October 13, 200816 yr Sounds like a great project. Could you put wood chips or bark on the top of the dirt so you cannot see the black pots.
October 13, 200816 yr I am the same, I would not like the look of seeing the pots either. You could put the cacti in their posts in the planter and fill all the gaps etc with ornamental pebbles and gravel until it looks like the pots are completely covered. My mum has an old wheel burrow with plants planted in it - i think it looks very sweet in her garden Edited October 13, 200816 yr by Neat Changes puts to pots
October 13, 200816 yr When you make it Maes, you can treat the timber with Some black tar stuff ( speak to hardware store) But you will need to air rate the base of it too - ....... HERE IS A GOOD IDEA AS IT HAS THE BASE I WAS TALKING ABOUT Edited October 13, 200816 yr by Neat added link
October 13, 200816 yr The black stuff is creosote and it stops termites (i love the smell of that stuff )
October 13, 200816 yr you will need to take pictures of your project, l would like to see how it turns out
October 14, 200816 yr Author you will need to take pictures of your project, l would like to see how it turns out I will indeed... as long as it doesn't look shocking!!! :bump:
October 14, 200816 yr If you are planting cacti I think your original plan would be fine as they will be planted in coarse sand soil and won't hold too much water so shouldn't rot any time soon
November 21, 200816 yr Author Exciting news... the fence came down today! The new fence is going in on Monday so Dad and his neighbor agreed to demolish it together to save $$$. It's so old it was pretty much falling down. I have Friday afternoons off and Dad was finishing early... so I headed round to Mum and Dad's for lunch and some fence breaking I got an early start on Dad and had a blast... what stress relief... belting the you know what out of an old fence with a sledge hammer... very cool. I collected my 20 pailings which I'm using for my planters (as above), and they are now stacked behind the shed. This weekend is going to be wet windy and cold... so perhaps next weekend will be the time to build them. As I write this... I have a hot pack on my neck (ear infections in both ears... but getting better), a sore neck, back, wrist and chinny chin chin... where I knocked with the back of the mallet lol ... but I feel great from all the hard work. So, when I get started I'll be sure to post lots of photos...
November 21, 200816 yr Author Sounds like you need to go have a hot bath!! YES... I don't have one in my unit... other than the bottom of my shower . But Mum and Dad are going away for the weekend and I'm going to go around to their place tomorrow, poor a glass of bubbly, and have a nice long soak in their bath...
November 21, 200816 yr :hi: I couldn't live without a bath (and a decent size one since you know how tall I am a little bath just doesn't cut it). I don't get time to have one very often what with my kids, etc keeping me busy but when I really feel like one it's nice to be able to have one. A nice big bath is first on the list for when we get our own house and start renovations
May 24, 200915 yr Author Well... 6 months later and I have finally built my planters Here they are: As you can see, they are planted in long grey pots which I've had for some time now, but just got around to building the planter surrounds today. I also ditched my herb pot and budgie seed pot (both of which were in the back yard and now not needed) and planted them with cactus and succulants... and added some pailings too: I'm looking forward to seeing them all grow and fill out the pots. The prickly ones around the outside, were the pups off a big one I've had since I was about 12!!! It's an awesome plant, but despite using tongs/newspaper to transplant... I'm still pulling the tiny hairs out of my hands Most of the others new plants came from my sister's boyfriend's grandma... She had collected some bits and pieces from her late husbands collection.
May 24, 200915 yr Author You brilliant, creative lady. Those pots are wonderful! oh shucks... why thank you. I'm happy with them!
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