Planter boxes add color and interest to hardscape areas that do not suit garden beds, making them an excellent solution for gardeners with limited mobility.
Planter boxes add life and vibrancy to otherwise plain concrete spaces by hosting flowers or small vegetables. Planters also serve to highlight the changing of seasons - pansies and flowering bulbs can bring spring alive while heat-loving annuals thrive through summer and evergreen boughs thrive during the colder winter months.
The Right Planter Box: Materials Sizes and Style
Planter boxes enable anyone to enjoy gardening no matter the size or condition of their garden space or soil conditions. With the appropriate design, you can grow anything from flowers and vegetables to herbs and berries; plus fill your planter box with a soil mix that meets specific conditions like well-draining soil or pH level requirements.
Selection of appropriate planter box materials, sizes, and styles is crucial in making new planters work for both you and your garden. Quality materials will help your new planters last for many seasons to come, while box size determines how much space there is within.
Wood is the go-to material for DIY planter boxes due to its combination of durability and beauty. You can stain or paint it to fit any landscaping theme; alternatively, creative souls may enjoy adding designs or images if they have artistic talents.
Height is another key consideration in selecting planter boxes. Ultimately, its choice will depend on what you plan to plant but also on personal preference; you might prefer raised planter boxes if using them as part of an outdoor seating area or living space whereas for people with limited mobility, planting may necessitate lower boxes closer to ground level.
Once you've selected the material and height for your planter boxes, it's time to prepare them for planting. First, ensure your box has drainage holes at its base; next, add a layer of river rock or pebbles to prevent water from pooling inside; finally, fill your planter box with potting soil according to its growing instructions for maximum yield.
Once your plants have been established in a planter box, additional decorative elements can be added to complete the look of your garden or landscape. Many planter box owners opt for trailing decorative plants along the sides of their boxes or planting flowers in various hues that match up with other areas in their yards.
DIY Planter Box Building: Step-by-Step Guide
DIY planter boxes offer many advantages, not least of which is that you can customize one specifically to meet your space and preferences. Furthermore, this project gives you a chance to practice building techniques without risking serious errors which could compromise its integrity or harm the plants within.
One popular material used to construct planter boxes is concrete blocks, which are relatively easy to locate and cost-effective when purchased or handmade. You can paint these blocks to suit any decor scheme or leave them unfinished for an industrial aesthetic. Alternatively, wooden planter boxes can also be constructed out of pressure-treated lumber; this chemically treated lumber resists insect infestation and other outdoor conditions while still remaining budget-friendly and long-lasting in exposure conditions.
Once you have chosen a planter box that meets your needs, it's time to put it together. If you purchased pre-assembled sides, this step may only involve screwing them together, while for those starting from scratch, it would be wiser to assemble internal support pieces first, to help ensure an even structure.
Before beginning construction of your planter box, it is advisable to line its base with river rock or pebbles - this will help ensure water drains properly from roots into drainage systems without oversaturating them. Once this step has been completed, fill your box with soil. Follow your chosen plant's growing instructions with regard to the depth of soil required.
Decorating a planter box involves planting it with different varieties of plants that will flourish over time and create an eye-catching display. Aim to include plants that grow taller as well as those that trail down from its sides to add height and diversity in texture to your display. Experiment with mixing up different kinds of blooms as a creative touch!
Successful Design: Placement Drainage Soil Prep
Planter boxes are an effective way to transform otherwise underutilized space into usable areas and extend your current garden or landscaping design. As an alternative to gardening in the ground, planter boxes offer you control over soil, light, and water requirements allowing plants to flourish more rapidly than otherwise possible. Planter boxes may also be helpful for people with limited mobility who wish to still take part but do so from a more comfortable height.
Prior to planting, make sure your planter box has adequate drainage. Failure to do this could result in root rot, pests, or diseases which could reduce harvest yields significantly. Check that there are drainage holes at the bottom of the box that are clear of obstruction; if none exist already then drill 1/4 inch drill bits can be used to add them if necessary.
Once the drainage holes are secured, fill your planter box with potting soil specially designed for planters and containers. Such products typically include ingredients to aerate the soil while still keeping it light, such as shredded bark, coconut coir, pumice, vermiculite or perlite for instance.
Consideration must also be given to the location and surrounding environment for the planter box. For instance, if it will be situated on an incline, it should be constructed using step patterns rather than being completely flat so as to allow a more gradual ascent and descent of its slope without risking damaging plants.
When selecting plants to grow in a planter, it's advisable to choose those with similar lighting requirements. This will help maintain an even distribution of light exposure across all of them and avoid one overtaking or being shaded out by another in the same box. Furthermore, maintaining them should become easier since their water and soil needs overlap.
Thriving Garden Planter Boxes: Care Tips
Planter boxes give you great freedom in how they integrate into your landscaping and decor, from using them for growing plants or flowers in windowsills or porches to growing them indoors in windows. But to make the most of this investment in plants and flowers, proper care must be given so they flourish - here are a few pointers.
No matter, if you're growing vegetables, herbs, or flowers - selecting the appropriate plants for your planter box, is of utmost importance. Consider plants that can easily flourish in your climate while taking into account color, height, and size preferences when selecting your chosen varieties. It may require doing research to select an assortment that works well together but once found should be relatively straightforward once planted.
Materials your planter is constructed out of are also an important consideration. When selecting wood planters, stain or paint finishes should help the wood resist weathering and wear and tear better. There are also more durable planters made of concrete - often used to construct garden structures - which offer industrial appeal while still fitting well in various settings.
Once your planter is up and running, ensure it is situated in an area with ample sunlight throughout the day. If you don't intend on installing irrigation, be sure it is near a water source so you can easily replenish its contents when necessary.
As soon as it comes time to add soil, be wary not to overfill the box. Too much soil can suffocate roots while using wooden planters can damage them as well. If your box has drainage holes, be sure to use them when adding soil; this will prevent spillage out of the planter and further damage its contents.