Should I line my Planter with Plastic Sheeting?
unclegarage
10 years ago
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oxboy555
10 years agocalistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
10 years agoRelated Discussions
Advice pls: lining new (large) planters
Comments (1)You might try fish and plant safe pond liner. My local nursery sells it by the linear foot off of rolls that are 5', 10', or 15' wide. It's thick and kind of stretchy, so it doesn't tear easy, but it's still easy to work with. Can't advise you as to the safety issue though....See MoreIs this planter safe? What should I plant in it?
Comments (12)In relation to the wood portion of the questions: That is such a nice planter, I'd also suggest you use it as a holder of containers. Notice the description says "holds pots up to 17 inches in diameter". Look real close at the slats on the sides, are they fitted pretty tight without any light showing between them? They probably are, which is good. The outside finish should be fine -- even if you decide to put soil directly inside it. The manufacturer leaves the inside unfinished because many people don't want to put anything on the inside of the wood when they place soil in it -- for fear of the toxicity. Cedar wood is right up there with good anti-rot features, even if you do not coat it. It will not last as long if you don't, but depending on where you live the years of elements may long damage the outside of the container (functionally and aesthetically) before an uncoated inside is ruined. Here in central CA this happens all the time. I've used a rubber or asphalt coating product that is used as a prune sealer. You can still find it in the big box stores as an aerosol spray either called Pruning Sealer or "Wound healer" or the like.. Actually, I just searched google and the topmost item returns this: Asphalt based sealer Which is the first time I've seen this, but it says "Can also be used to waterproof pots and tubs." Good luck, I have no affiliation with the above link provided so I cannot make any recommended to the vendor or the product....See Moretomato row, plastic sheeting as mulch
Comments (3)Nate, It looks like you're ready for planting season to just go ahead and get here. Now, if only the weather will cooperate a little bit. I don't use plastic sheeting because it sheds water and I want the water, most years (2004 and 2007 being exceptions) at least, to soak down into the ground instead of rolling off. I do use weed block fabric in my tomato rows and have done so for many years. If you put your drip irrigation beneath the weed block fabric and mulch heavily on top of the weedblock (or the plastic sheeting) you'll be able to irrigate your rows of tomato plants without growing a multitude of weeds along with them. Just be sure that you promptly pull any weeds that pop up in the mulch on top of the weedblock. Otherwise, the weeds will root right down through the weedblock and you'll have a hard time getting them out. The weedblock doesn't guarantee no weeds, of course, but if you promptly remove any weeds that pop up on top of or beside the weedblock, you'll be able to keep that area weed free with relatiively little effort. I never would be able to maintain our large garden as well as I do without the use of weedblock fabric in some rows (generally those with plants requiring wider spacing but not in those with closely-spaced plants like beans). I also have it in all my pathways every year which further reduces the need to pull weeds. I hope you'll put mulch on top of the plastic once the plants are in the ground and growing. I mulch very lightly early in the season because I want the ground to continue to warm up to a point, but once the soil temperatures are getting hot, I cover plastic and fabric weedblock with mulch so the sunlight's heat won't roast the soil, earthworms and other beneficial soil-dwelling creatures i ncluding beneficial soil microbes.You can literally cook your soil in hot temps underneath black plastic if you don't put mulch on top of the plastic. With weedblock fabric, without a couple of inches of mulch on top of the weed block, weeds will get enough sunlight through the weedblock to sprout and grow and as they growth they will lift up your weedblock fabric somewhat. The wind here has been crazy all day but none of my weedblock has moved at all, and only some of it has mulch on it at this point, while other sections are completely bare because they aren't even planted yet. I do think the wind has dropped some this afternoon. This morning it was gusting in the upper 30s and low 40s. I'll be headed outside in a little while to cover up a few things with row cover (which I first learned about long ago from Dr. Cotner's excellent book) so they won't freeze tonight. If my forecast is correct, our temps won't actually drop low enough to damage the cool-season plants. But, we have dropped 5-7 degrees lower than forecast quite often this winter, so I'm going to cover up a few things just in case this is one of those nights. It is always better to be safe than sorry. Dawn...See MoreShould I bring a cement urn/planter in for the winter?
Comments (6)My concrete birdbaths have not cracked after many years outside all year. My theory is that they are shallow and ice sort of slides up the sides and out--ice can't exert enough pressure on the shallow sides to crack the birdbaths. Your results may vary. But I have a very large, deep concrete pot that has a big crack from staying outside. :( I can fortunately hide the crack as the pot sits against a stone wall and the pot still functions. It's too heavy to get inside. What I should have done is empty all the soil out of it and covered the top. Too little, too late. I also have a perfectly beautiful covered urn on a pedestal that I bought many years ago at Weston Nurseries. It stays outside all year and has never cracked as it has no soil in it and water can't get in it. So the answer to your question is...it depends....See Morenil13
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