Rotproof Planter Building

[Rabidbun]

Hi all.

I'm stumped again and in need of help and ideas please!

This year's project is planters (and water butts, but not thinking 'bout those yet!). After having trouble with several of my pots this season (mostly poocats, watering for thirsty crops, shallowness of soil limiting plants), I have set myself a target of sorting out the remaining areas where pots sit upon bare soil. The hope is that by filling these gaps by mini deep open bottom planters that I can easily net, the issues that I have experienced will be solved.

There are a few issues however:

1. I don't want to have to keep replacing whatever I use to build them, So some way of lining timber is probably needed?
2. I don't want to have nasty chemicals leaching into the soil - do decking boards (if these would even work) count as pressure treated and are they still safe for veggies, as the info I could find was from last year some time. I heard cedar boards were good, but cannot find them at a reasonable price...
3. The gaps are irregular shapes as they butt up against existing right angled link-a-bord beds. They are also small, perhaps as little as 40 cm diameter ish.
4. I suck at diy!
5. Time is reasonably limited by now as the wee one is moving into teething time!

Hope you guys can help me, and thanks for reading this far!

[Matt94]

weve just built some wooden planters for this season too (out of decking boards)
to answers 1 and 2 i would line the wooden planters with plastic and put drainage holes in the bottom, this would help preserve the wood and prevent toxins being released into the soil (i dont think they would leach much toxins into the soil anyway!)

[Potstubsdustbins]

Pressure treated timber used I repeat used to contain nasties. In this country those chemicals have been banned for a number of years so the use of pressure treated timber is now safe. Well as safe as anything else in this life.

[Rabidbun]

Thanks both, will have a search and a measure next time it's not freezing outside and attempt a build! Just heard I may be getting a teeny mini allotment too, so might be able to grow a few things I haven't managed so far due to space!

[Florence Fennel]

Can't help with any advice Rabidbun, but can wish you luck with it all. Hope the mini allotment comes to fruition

[Two_Sheds]

Any reason why you're not using plastic planting tubs, RB?

[Aberdeenplotter]

Pressure treated timber used I repeat used to contain nasties. In this country those chemicals have been banned for a number of years so the use of pressure treated timber is now safe. Well as safe as anything else in this life.

If you still have any doubts, just line your planters, with builders damp proof sheeting.

[smc999]

I lined mine with industrial strength plastic and then drilled holes in the bottom of the planters and pushed the tops of pop bottles through, put some cheap plastic netting over the bottom and added a layer of washed 20mm gravel.

[Rabidbun]

Any reason why you're not using plastic planting tubs, RB?

Hoping to cut down on watering by having root access to the clay base soil (will make them open bottomed I think) and make it easier to net to stop the ninja cat currently leaving me gifts in any pot it can get to (though I really want to catch it in the act out of curiosity to see how it is getting them right at the base of the potted fruit shrubs!). I am also limited with them being round and not fitting into the available space too well to make good use of it. Will still have 40 or so pots in the rest of the garden though, so prob won't miss the watering too much.

Been trying to get hold of old decking offcuts today and keeping an eye out for plastic sheeting, thanks again to all!

The pop bottle thing sounds intruiging.

[Two_Sheds]

You can buy square planters!

I sink my plastic pots into the ground, this greatly reduces the need for watering (and it keeps my potted trees small).

I've lined our wooden raised beds with old compost sacks. Other people have used those big 1 tonne builder's sacks as planters, then built a nice pretty wooden surround to them...

[Florence Fennel]

I've seen those builder's sacks used as planters, they look great.

[smc999]

The pop bottle thing was for my freestanding patio planters that I built. The idea was that the planters would drain better and also that the water draining wouldn't come into contact with the wood as the tops are pushed through a slit in the plastic in the base and stick out on the underside through drilled holes. The netting and layer of washed gravel also helps with the drainage. :-)

[Sarico]

two shed is right... the best thing is using this builder sack and build a frame around... they are very strong more then green polyethylene bag planter found in shop...

[veggiechicken]

I have used IKEA blue bags as planters. They're very cheap and cheerful. I also put them in the greenhouse and stand a couple of Morrison's pots inside. You can water into the bag and let the pots absorb it. Also, if you want to move the pots around, the bags have handles!

[Rabidbun]

Will have to have a rummage in the garage and see if I have anything.