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TonyDralle
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/17/06
Posts: 1158
Loc: Bethel Park, PA
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Hi,
Just realized, after being in the astro groups for a few months, that this forum is here. I hope to become a regular poster, mostly to glean information from those more knowledge than I, but I might be able to make a contribution or two.
Here's my first question. Running along the side of my patio is a long rectangular structure, made from bricks like the patio itself, about 15 feet long and 15 inches wide. The inside of the rectangle is open, about 2 feet deep.
For the 33 years I've lived here, it has been covered with a long wide wooden board, which has served as a seat.
It recently (!) occurred to me that I could remove the board and, viola!, have a 15 feet long planter. All I need to do is fill it with dirt and then plants.
Questions: should I line the inside of this with something (heavy plastic?) before dumping the dirt in? Should there be a few holes in the lower part of this structure to provide drainage? (I live in western Pennsylvania where winter-time freeze and thaws cycles are common.)
Thanks for any suggestions!
- Tony
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- TonyD
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Mynok
sage
Reged: 02/14/07
Posts: 492
Loc: NC
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I wouldn't bother. I wouldn't put dirt in there either. I would make a mix that I use in my garden boxes:
1 part spaghnum peat moss
1 part vermiculite
1 part compost
No weeds and it has much better water retention than soil. The compost provides nutrients, though miracle grow or other fertilizer still helps vegetables.
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Zhumell 10" dob
4mm, 6mm, 9mm, 12.5mm, 32mm Plossls
26mm, 32mm, 38mm SWA GSO EPs
North Carolina
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TonyDralle
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/17/06
Posts: 1158
Loc: Bethel Park, PA
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Yes, I agree. I should have said "planting mix" instead of "dirt." (I was focussing at the time on whether to line the inside of the planter, or not.) Since my entry above, someone has suggested I could instead set a few containers in there, on pedestals if necessary for suitable height, growing my plants in them, and not worry about filling the entire planter. Of course, in the containers I would use a good planting mix such as you suggested. I'll have to see what containers are available.
Thanks for your reply.
- Tony
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- TonyD
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Mynok
sage
Reged: 02/14/07
Posts: 492
Loc: NC
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You could certainly use planters instead, but I would just fill the whole thing with a good mix. It's more flexible and would be less susceptible to temperature shifts.
Making planting mix is much cheaper than buying it, and you have full control over the ingredients. I highly recommend it. I'm gonna post some garden pics soon that will demonstrate exactly how great this stuff works.
No matter how you choose to go, be sure to *mulch* your bed or containers. Can't stress that enough. It makes a world of difference. Use what you can get cheapest (but not pine straw), and pile it on. It conserves moisture, regulates ground temperature and degrades into organic material. All good.
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Zhumell 10" dob
4mm, 6mm, 9mm, 12.5mm, 32mm Plossls
26mm, 32mm, 38mm SWA GSO EPs
North Carolina
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Erix
Toad Lily
Reged: 12/25/04
Posts: 24022
Loc: Texas, USA
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Considering how deep it is, you may decide to fill half of it with clean topsoil and then finish it off with a mix of your own. I'm cheap, I admit it. I buy a scoop from the local supplier and have them dump it in my truck. In fact, I use that for the whole thing adding a mix of other ingredients if needed like vermiculite, peat, sand, compost...depends on what I'm planning on putting in the bed or container.
Something you may want to keep in mind. You live in a colder zone like I do. For container plantings (I would consider this a large container planting if it is free standing and not against the foundation of your house) I would recommend planting perennials or small shrubs a hardiness zone lower than what your area is since the roots will be 'above ground'. If you're only planning on annuals, then you won't need to worry.
Also, when I build retaining walls, I put a layer of gravel between the wall and the soil since when the ground freezes and then thaws over the winter, the soil will expand and push on the bricks/stone. The gravel allows for this so that the wall isn't ruined. I've never had a problem with the proper large containers (I like fiberglass...clay cracks from the expanding soil over the winter) doing this, but am not so sure it isn't something to think about concerning your brick trough.
As for drainage, before you fill it with dirt (I'm a gardener and I like to call it dirt regardless  ), put some water in it and see what the drainage is like. Could be you already have drainage. If not, then drilling a few holes towards the base of it wouldn't be a bad idea.
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Erika
Automatic doors make me feel like a Jedi. 
Zhumell 16", 10" LX200 Classic,Celestron 102 XLT, ETX70-AT, DS Maxscope 60mm, AT6RC
PCW Memorial Observatory
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desertstars
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 41911
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Which side of the house is this planter on? The exposure will make a difference in what sort of plants you grow - possibly a very large difference.
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Thomas Watson
Author of Mr. Olcott's Skies. Available in paperback and ebook from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
@desertstarsbks
Under Desert StarsEither Way, It's Reading
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TonyDralle
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/17/06
Posts: 1158
Loc: Bethel Park, PA
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Thanks to all for the great ideas. The planter is on the eastern side of my house -- gets morning sun and also well into the afternoon (in summer, when the sun is high). Shade from trees is a bigger issue and will certainly be a factor in deciding what to plant there. It'll probably be annuals, but which ones is still a question.
- Tony
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- TonyD
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