Comments on: What can I reuse or recycle to make plant troughs/window boxes?

By: Janet

Janet — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:09:18 +0000

Some kind person (I don’t think so) left a broken barbeque (the big ball ones) outside my house. Hubby planted it with flowers, it looked very nice. I have also used a toilet cistern (that did not last to long) guttering hoppers, old wheelbarrow,belfast sinks and this year I have used the bottom part of an “Henry Hoover”.

By: Charlotte

Charlotte — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 17:26:54 +0000

Oh no, i was about to plant some potatoes in a stack of tyres in a school garden – is it really truly that dangerous? What’s the evidence? And what if i line it with a big sheet of plastic, would that protect veggies from the pollutants?

I’d really appreciate some advice on this, from anyone!
Thanks,
Charlotte

By: Bill

Bill — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:28:42 +0000

Old gutters work fine if they are deep enough and not totally worn out.

By: Simon

Simon — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:55:16 +0000

Louisa – similar to your Father in Laws idea but a bit more rustic…

If you have woodland near you try looking for long straight logs, a bit of work with a hacksaw and you can usually find a few that will sit neatly on top of each other.

Drive two stakes (also made out of fallen tree but smaller), into the ground on either side of your log pile at regular intervals and tie them with string across your logs to form uprights (or better yet use willow or tree roots a’la Ray mears to lash them together).

This should creates a decent enough barrier if done well to pile enough dirt up inside for a raised bed, small gaps between logs can either be plugged from the inside by using sticks as you build up the earth, or by using planks of wood, plastic sheet etc – you get the idea.

Another possibility might be to use willow or twigs to wattle a sort of barrier but I’ve never seen this done and have no idea how effective it would be.

By: daniel

daniel — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:30:44 +0000

Dont use car tyres if you plan on eating produce!

They contain dangerous levels of cadmium and other nasties!!

I have old gutters screwed to shed with holes drilled in.

Its very sunny spot so thinking hardy dry lovin herbs at mo..

By: Cipollina

Cipollina — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:24:43 +0000

Oh, those on the first picture are lovely!

By: Cipollina

Cipollina — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:22:31 +0000

I too have rock a couple if hand widths down, and I have built raised beds using shoebox-sized rocks collected on walks with the dog in the neighbourhood. One to two rocks per walk make two to four rocks a day, more if we have a friend or two along. In a couple of weeks a nice little bed can be made that raises the ground at least ten centimeters – which for many plants is all it takes – even most types of carrots.

I just found a beautiful old cauldron by our recycling station that is going to become a planter. In the same place I also found a while ago a huge old enamel cook pot – white with a blue edge, really pretty. Last year I found an old zink bucket in the forest (!). They all have one or more holes in or near the bottom, which probably is the reason why they were thrown away. Since planters need holes for drainage, I think they will both do the job perfectly and add a certain charm to my garden.

By: Susie

Susie — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:11:57 +0000

Alice, I use the large blue mushroom boxes which supermarkets often throw out. They are strong, of useful depth with suitable drainage holes! Mine last one or two seasons easily.

By: Alice

Alice — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:07:33 +0000

You can turn tyres inside out to make good planters http://www.magnifeco.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/kitsch-u-like-recycled-rubber-tyre-planters.jpg

Or just cut the sides out for something simpler http://img.youtube.com/vi/-hYR0eFYWBU/0.jpg

By: Covert_Operations'78

Covert_Operations'78 — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 02:35:47 +0000

How about metal biscuit tins, with holes drilled into the bottom to let water out?