For the last week I’ve fielded a few questions about the clawfoot tub from my previous post, so I thought I would share the process of how I repurposed mine into an outdoor planter — though there wasn’t much to it. The tub was already in the yard when I moved into my house. It was propped up on a pile of stones under the partial shade of a mature feijoa tree, and as you can see, it sits slightly askew to promote drainage through the original drain hole. Unless you knew about the tilt, you wouldn’t notice it just walking by the tub. In a climate like Southern California, which gets little rain, drainage isn’t a concern for me. (Though we did receive several inches in our recent set of storms, and the tub held up well with no waterlogging.) If you live in a very rainy climate, it might be a wise idea to drill a few more holes in the bottom to help with root aeration. I don’t recommend adding stones, styrofoam, pot shards, or any of the other fillers people often turn to for pot drainage.

This is a long-standing gardening myth that refuses to die, despite simple physics proving that so-called drainage materials do the complete opposite of what they’re intended.Tire Store Cleburne Tx Water does not move easily from finer textured material (soil) to coarser textured material (say, stones). House For Sale In Kirriemuir AngusAs the water trickles through the soil and reaches the stones, it will stop and start to pool in between the layers (in effect, “back filling” the pot) until the soil is fully saturated. Great Pyrenees Puppies For Sale In South AfricaOnly then will it start to drain — a slow process that keeps the roots sitting in soggy soil far longer than it ordinarily would if the whole pot were filled with soil.

Rather than assisting with drainage, the stones restrict it. The only way to ensure proper drainage is to fill your pot (or in this case, your bathtub) with well draining potting soil (not garden soil, which is much too dense) and make sure the drain hole is unobstructed. When you water, stick your finger in the soil and water only if the first inch or two feels dry. (Moderate watering also encourages the plant roots to reach deep into the soil and grow stronger, rather than staying near the surface where they tend to be weaker.) With a no-dig garden bed like the one I built for the bathtub, the layers decompose into soft, aerated soil so compaction is not an issue. When I top off the bed for next season, I’ll simply use well rotted compost or amended potting soil. In the fall, you can also plant fava beans or another cover crop in the clawfoot tub and turn them under the soil at the end of the season, just as you would for a normal garden bed. One of the things I love about the bathtub planter (besides its quirky aesthetic) is not having to stoop or kneel to harvest.

On its perch of stones, the tub comes up just below my hips, putting all the plants at perfect picking height. I can also spray compost tea onto the undersides of the leaves while standing and inspect the plants more easily for pests — small benefits that my back and knees end up thanking me for. Have any other questions about my clawfoot turned planter? Let me know in the comments!Gardens don’t need a lot of space to be special, nor do they have to be in the ground at all. When it comes to limited spaces, such as windowsills, balconies, patios or that unused corner of your yard, container gardens can create big impact in a small footprint. They’re also very forgiving if you’re a novice gardener or lack the resources to care for a larger garden; they can be as simple or elaborate as your skillset or budget allows. A benefit to gardeners in drought-stricken areas is that potted plants require much less water than their in-ground counterparts. On the other hand, you’ll have to be more vigilant in summer as they usually need more frequent watering (up two times per day) due to the rapid evaporation that occurs in porous containers.

Always remember to water your potted plants right at the roots until the water drains out the bottom. A tool with multiple watering patterns like Gilmour’s Front Control Watering Nozzle can deliver water more evenly without blasting delicate plants, and also more quickly and deeply so you can get on with other garden chores.Here are four fun ideas for starting, arranging or revitalizing your own small-space garden. 1. Recycle, reuse and repurpose. Those ubiquitous terra cotta pots seem to be the container of choice for gardeners, and for good reason—they’re breathable, economical, long lasting and their warmth works well with almost every landscape. But several sizable quality pots can also add up if you’re on-budget! When you’re looking to save some money but still want a beautiful vessel for your plants, think outside the terra cotta box. Many household items are perfectly suitable as plant containers, especially if they’re no longer functional in their original forms.

Old wheelbarrows, watering cans, tea tins, ceramic bowls, even cookware can make for interesting and colorful containers. You can drill a few holes in the bottom for drainage and transplant directly into the containers, or use them as decorative pots and place smaller pots inside them. If you can spare a bit more space, a vintage clawfoot tub makes an excellent (and conversation-starting!) alternative pot planter idea, especially for deep-rooted vegetable crops and small trees. 2. Carve out containers from natural features in the landscape. If your landscape is naturally featured with nooks and crannies, such as those found in rock walls, you can take advantage of those concave surfaces by putting small plants in them. Succulents work especially well in these situations because they grow in shallow soil, don’t need a lot of space to spread, and require little maintenance once their roots are established. They also add a splash of color right where you want it, with no need for stands and hangers when space is limited.

3. Group several small containers for maximum effect.Rather than having one large pot dominate what little room you do have, go with several smaller pots in varying diameters and heights to add interest to your container garden. Not only does this take the pressure off keeping one large focal plant happy (you can simply replace a smaller plant that may not do as well, as often as you need or want to), it also allows you to change your plants seasonally or rearrange them with more ease. 4. Hang containers off a railing. If your potted plants are jostling for floor space on a patio that also houses a barbecue, heating lamp and lawn furniture, think vertically—and hang them off the railing. It’s a structural feature that usually takes a backseat to fences, posts and walls when it comes to vertical gardens, but can attractively support a lineup of small plants. (Think succulents, herbs and flowers.) Use brackets, hooks or planter holders to suspend individual containers from the railing without committing to a more permanent setup.