Table of Contents
Can you put a planter box on a deck?
Keep in mind that installing a raised garden bed on top of a deck may cause staining or water damage, unless drainage is controlled. Provide adequate drainage, bed depth, and high-quality soil for the plants to grow best. I don’t recommend placing the soil itself right on the concrete.
Is it cheaper to build your own planter box?
Building raised planter boxes is very easy, and usually more cost effective than purchasing them.
How do I keep my pots from rotting on my deck?
5 Ways to Prevent Deck Staining from Container Gardens 1.) Opt for Hanging Planters and Deck Planters. 2.) Place Potted Plants on Plant Stands. 3.) Elevate Off Surface with Pot Feet or Risers. 4.) Frequently Change Your Pot Placement. 5.) Keep up with Regular Deck Maintenance.
Can you build a raised garden bed on a deck?
The long answer is yes, but there are two main factors to consider before placing a raised garden bed on a timber deck: weight and water. The raised garden bed, therefore, has to be 20cm in height or less. Water: if the timber deck is in permanent contact with water, this will result in fast decay of the wood.
How deep should a planter box be?
For most plants, a 6-to 8-inch-deep planter box is sufficient. The depth may vary for some vegetables, however. Turnips, cucumbers, broccoli, beets, lettuce and green onions can all grow well in a planter box at that depth, but other vegetables, like cabbage, need a deeper depth of at least 10 inches.
Do planter boxes need drainage holes?
Do Planter Boxes Need Drainage Holes? Yes. Planter boxes need very good drainage holes at the bottom of the container. Any water that stagnates will choke out the oxygen that is channeled to the roots.
What do you put in the bottom of a planter for drainage?
Put a layer of gravel in your plant’s drainage tray, or down inside a decorative planter, then sit your plant pot on top. The gravel will hold water and increase humidity, while keeping your plant’s roots up out of the puddle.
How do you fill a deck planter?
Various household cans, bottles and bags also can be used to take up space in the bottom of a tall planter. Possibilities include crushed aluminum cans, plastic milk jugs, plastic water bottles, plastic soda pop bottles and crunched, empty potting soil and soil amendment bags.
How do you plant outdoor planter boxes?
How to Garden in Planter Boxes Step 1: Fill your portable container with soil. For any container planting, you’re going to use potting soil. Step 2: Choose your plants. Before you choose what to plant, ask yourself the following questions: Step 3: Water and watch your edible garden thrive. Step 4: Harvest your hard work.
Do I need to line the bottom of my raised garden bed?
Why You Should Line the Bottom of Your Garden Beds It’s not mandatory to create a raised garden bed floor, but experienced gardeners recommend it for several reasons: Prevent weeds from growing up from the ground below. Stop burrowing pests like voles, moles, and gophers from entering the raised beds.
What do you put at the bottom of a raised bed?
The bottom of a raised garden bed should be a layer of grass clippings, leaves, wood chips, straw, and other organic material. The cardboard should be placed on top of that layer. The organic material will turn into compost, while the cardboard will prevent weeds.
What kind of wood do you use for planter boxes?
Cedar, white oak and redwood naturally resist termites and other insects. They stand up very well to the elements and last season after season. They can, however, require more upfront investment. Soft woods such as pine work best for indoor planters.
Do you need to line a wooden planter?
The best way to prevent deck planters from rotting is with a liner. Lining a wood planter prevents water and fungi from contacting the wood. For a small planter, every fall, emptying and cleaning out the planter will prevent rot. With the wood drying out over winter and fungi slowed without dirt or water.
How do you fill a raised bed cheaply?
Put down a few layers of cardboard to kill any weeds or grass. Then, fill the core of your raised bed. The best option for this is to use straw bales, but you can also use leaves, grass clippings, or old twigs. You can mix together a few of those options if you choose, too.
How wide should a raised planter bed?
Raised beds are best kept to a maximum of four feet (1.2m) wide. This makes it easy to reach the middle of the beds without stepping on the soil. Beds against a wall or fence should be about 2-3 feet (60-90cm) wide, as you’ll only have access from one side.
Should I put rocks in the bottom of my planter?
A: For years, experts told gardeners to put a layer of gravel, pebbles, sand or broken pieces of pot in the bottom of the pot before potting up houseplants or outdoor plants. The idea was to improve drainage. But research shows that this advice is wrong. Water doesn’t travel well from one medium to another.
Does a planter need a base?
Bed Height for Drainage Raised planters do not have a base, meaning that the soil of your planter drains down to the topsoil on the ground. This provides a depth of 11 or 12 inches before the planter’s soil drains down into the ground, thereby avoiding water-logged soil.
Do planters need to be off the ground?
In wet weather, harmful rot and mildew can build up from overwatering and become especially saturated with water. It is vital to raise pots up off the ground to keep the bottom of the pot out of the water if they live outside or on and non-porous area.
What do you put in the bottom of a planter without drainage holes?
Some experts suggest using a layer of pebbles as a sort of drainage layer in those pots without drainage holes. This technique allows excess water to flow into the space with the pebbles, away from the the soil and therefore the roots of your plant.
