Planters

Nikkisun

Apologies for the daft question - I don't do gardening!!

I have some new wooden planters in my garden - they are 24" x 24" x 24" and so would need over 200 litres of compost to fill them!

It's been suggested that I partially fill them with hardcore to cut down the amount of compost needed so my question is how high should I fill with hardcore and how deep do I need the compost? Am planning on putting in fuschias if that makes any difference to the depth needed.

Thanks.

Dark_Star

I think chunks of polystyrene (the big chunky sort you get with large appliances)would work just as well & be lighter if you needed to move them..the plants need a reasonable amount of soil

Nikkisun

The planters are concreted in so won't be moved and I have a garden full of hardcore so it won't cost me anything.

Just trying to work out the depth of compost needed.

Miss_Havisham

if you are just planting fuchsias and summer bedding plants I would say 9 to 12 inches of soil, roughly the depth they would have in a hanging basket. They will have soft roots that don't go down too far and will only be in for a few months.

If you are planning on longer term shrubs, bulbs etc I would give them 15 to 18 inches as they will put down longer stronger roots.

In both cases I suggest starting to feed them after a month or so because any food in the compost will probably be depleted by then. Also they will need to be watered regularly, as the troughs won't hold onto water as well as flower beds would.

Good luck, post a pic when they are in full bloom !

Miss H

Nikkisun

Miss_Havisham wrote: »

if you are just planting fuchsias and summer bedding plants I would say 9 to 12 inches of soil, roughly the depth they would have in a hanging basket. They will have soft roots that don't go down too far and will only be in for a few months.

If you are planning on longer term shrubs, bulbs etc I would give them 15 to 18 inches as they will put down longer stronger roots.

In both cases I suggest starting to feed them after a month or so because any food in the compost will probably be depleted by then. Also they will need to be watered regularly, as the troughs won't hold onto water as well as flower beds would.

Good luck, post a pic when they are in full bloom !

Miss H

Thanks - will half fill the planters with the hardcore then top up with compost - then all I have to do is try not to kill the plants!!

blossomhill_2

Hi OP
I'd put the hardcore in then a layer of plastic with a few holes punched in, then the compost, so the roots stay in the good stuff, and water doesn't drain straight through and wash out goodness from the compost