What can I use cheaply for planters?
Pros: Crushed aluminum cans (crushed so they don’t collect water) are another lightweight option that can help with drainage, and one of the cheapest way to fill planters. Using crushed aluminum cans also keeps them out of landfills. An effective and affordable way of reducing the soil you need when filling large planters is by using lightweight pot fillers and lightening materials. These materials consist of foam peanuts, plastic bottles, and even crushed cans.Garden soil is also much heavier than potting soil, which is great for moisture retention but could lead to problems like root rot if used with the wrong kinds of plants. As we mentioned, garden soil contains bacteria and microbes.But the bottom line is that potting soil is a lighter, airier product than garden soil. That airiness means it will drain well, which is precisely what you need when growing plants in containers. Depending on the specific type of potting soil you buy, this product may consist of: Coconut coir.
Should a planter have a bottom?
You don’t really need a bottom unless your raised bed will sit on a surface you’d like to protect such as a wooden patio deck, a balcony, a porch, a concrete walkway, etc. Standing planters also, obviously, have bottoms so that they can hold the contents of the garden several feet above the ground. Adding gravel to the bottom of your raised bed for drainage is not necessary and adds another expense. If you don’t add junk to the bottom of your bed and use appropriate soil, you should have good drainage. Don’t fill your raised bed with ground soil. That defeats the purpose of having a raised bed garden.Soil taken from your yard or a garden bed is too heavy and dense to use in a pot or raised bed. In containers and raised beds, soil from the ground can become easily compacted causing problems with drainage and air circulation, and it can also harbor weed seeds, insects, and diseases.
How to cheaply fill a large planter outdoor?
Milk jugs and juice bottles with he lids. Most planters get filled with plants that require less than 5” for rooting. Just put clean capped milk jugs or plastic juice jugs in as tightly packed as possible. You can add a layer of landscape fabric then top with soil. An effective and affordable way of reducing the soil you need when filling large planters is by using lightweight pot fillers and lightening materials. These materials consist of foam peanuts, plastic bottles, and even crushed cans.Waste Paper and Cardboard Put those old newspapers and Amazon delivery boxes to good use and fill the bottom of your large planter with a mix of them crushed down. Again, these materials will break down over time, so they’re best suited for those repotting regularly.
Should I put rocks at the bottom of my planter?
Adding rocks can actually trap water, harm your plants’ roots, and even damage your container over time. So, what really belongs in the bottom of your planter? High-quality potting soil—nothing else. Rocks at the bottom creates a perched water table, where the water actually stays in the soil portion until it’s saturated. Much better to have a well draining, homogeneous soil mixture. There is no should or shouldn’t. If you want rocks in them then go for it.