| Author |
Message |
   
Lilybeetle

| | Posted on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 01:27 pm EST : |  
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I think I may have posted this as a garden tip earlier in the season but thought I would post these photos for the visual assist. To save on potting mix the bottom of the top container was filled with five 4" pots. They do not impede drainage and took up the space to the first definition line in the pot. See how easily they empty out. Not like those wretched popcorn peanuts.
In this pot I used "balled up" clematis vines that were cut back in the spring. They were added to the bottom of the pot up to the double line. You can see how they have composted over the season - they are almost like straw now. The pot empties easily. This light mixture can be used to protect my roses over the winter and the nice thing - even heavy terracota pots can be repositioned when they are not filled completely with soil. I've used pop cans too. They are returned to the recycle in the fall.
Lilybeetle
- Ontario,
Zone "4B"
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Susanq

My Favorite Photo
My Garden Journal
My Weather
My Garden
My Time
| | Posted on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 02:35 pm EST : |  
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Thanks for the great tips, Kim! I do like the 'visual assist'. I plant quite a few containers and am always looking for ways to save on potting mix.
SusanQ - Zone 4b-5b Wisconsin |
   
Missgarden

My Garden
| | Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 01:52 pm EST : |  
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I haven't seen tips like these before and they will come in handy. I like the visual assist very much as well. It's less typing for you and clearer for us.
Missgarden
- Ontario,
Zone "5b"
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Gardenbug

| | Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 03:07 pm EST : |  
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DH often has styrofoam chunks from computer wrappings at work. These too can be placed in the bottom of pots after I cut them to size with our saw or simply break them. Again, much easier than the popcorn peanuts. I really hate styrofoam for environmental reasons, so at least using it a few times makes me feel a little better.
Gardenbug
- Ontario,
Zone "4/5"
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Deanneart

My Favorite Photo
My Weather
My Garden
| | Posted on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 10:58 pm EST : |  
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These are great visuals!!! and outstanding tips, thanks much for sharing.
Deanne New Hampshire Zone 5 |
   
Kniceone

My Garden Journal
My Weather
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 01, 2005 - 01:44 pm EST : |  
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Thanks for the good tips Kim. Will keep that in mind next spring for sure because I do have about a dozen large pots that I plant and they are brutes when fully loaded with soil.
Jodi, ONT, Z4, Great White North
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