What can I plant in tin baths and old wooden crates¿

hostie

Hello, I have a couple of very old tin baths in the shed as well as some aliminium pails. Does anyone have experience of ideas as to how I could use these for plants.

I wonder if the baths will just get very rusty and if that is the case, maybe I should paint them before I use them?

Also, I don´t think they have any holes in the bottom so does that mean I should either just put pots inside them or make holes in them for drainage?

I also have lots of very old wooden boxes with writing on the side. I wonder if I should just use these in the shed so they don´t rot away or if there are any nice creative ways of using them as planters.

I also have a few very large half whiskey barrells.

I have been looking for inspiration online but can´t seem to find any. If anyone has any suggestions, that would be great (pictures would be even better).

hostie x

sirbrainy

IMHO sling the metal stuff, doesn't get over the 'ugly' hurdle, but definitely plant up the half barrels

hostie

Thanks, do you have any ideas as to what I should put in the whiskey barrells? I have read online that you can put a mini pond with waterlillies in them but I wonder if that is a bit adventurous for me. I have quite a few and have planted one with bulbs already.

I do like the shabbychic vintage look so I will probably do something with the baths. Just not sure whether to paint them cream first.

sirbrainy

You should put in stuff you like eg geraniums but in an ironic twist how about sticking empty whisky bottles in the soil twixt the plants?

Greenhouse effect.

Some upside down for a further laugh.

emiff6

Tin baths are never going to look attractive in the garden. Is there room to put them out of sight behind the shed and use them to collect rainwater off the shed roof?

Half barrels are big enough to plant dwarf stock fruit trees, or flowering shrubs, or fill them with bedding plants, or vegetables, or once the wood is soaked and has swelled up to be waterproof again, you could make one into a pond and grow things like small water lilies.

ETA Oh, I see you've thought about the pond idea. There'll be books in the library that will show you how to do it.

Sally_A

If you do use the baths, keep them in a shadier area as hot metal can frazzle the roots of plants.

Mr Down the Bottom - Over the Road, has one outside his front door, he is in an old type cottage and it looks lovely planted up with seasonal flowers.

You could have trailing ivy over the side, and then sink pots in throughout the year for a continuous seasonal changing display.

hostie

Thanks for the suggestions. The baths are both very old (possibly antique) oval ones. They are not baths as we know them now with taps. I think they would look nice in the garden I´m just not sure how to do it.

Thanks sirbrainy, I´ll put geraniums in one of the barrells. I guess I have to wait a couple of months before I can do that.

Thanks Sally for the point about the hot metal. I have an old stone cottage too (hence finding old baths in the shed). I´m not keen to get any more ivy as the garden is covered in it and my relatives think it is unlucky. Good idea about the pots inside. I guess that is the best way to do it.

Sally_A

Forgot to mention your wooden crates - herbs look great in these.

hostie

Thanks Sally, should I put earth in the wooden crates and then herb seeds or put herbs in plant pots in them? Sorry to ask so many questions I am a complete novice!
Thanks,
hostie

sirbrainy

Don't forget the empty whisky bottles, about half upended

Sally_A

Don't know how big they are, or what herbs you love. Am guessing they are like the old wooden tomato boxes, approx 2ft by 1ft.

If you want to do a whole box to say, basil, line it with at least 3 sheets of paper or old carrier bags. If you want a variety of different herbs, I'd do in pots - they all have different watering needs etc, so much easier to deal with in pots.