Is it one of those galvanized metal hay feeders? That's what I'm imagining. If so, you might go down to the local feed store/farm supply and see if they have hangers for them that can be screwed onto the feeder. Mine have these. Without the hangers, we simply screw the feeder to the fence. Or, Home Depot/Lowes have lots of metal brackets of various shapes, sizes, angles, etc. Might go take a look at those to see if something will work.

FYI, I don't use mine as planters (they feed my horses and cows), so I don't have them full of soil. As for a liner, you can use screen door mesh material; real cheap. Make sure you have drainage holes.

Interesting idea to use hay feeders as planters. Maybe I'll give that one a try!!!

Cheers.

Thanks for that suggestion. I will see if I can attach some brackets somehow. No I don't think what I am referring to is what you are referring to. They call it a 'hay rack' I am pretty sure, but it is a plant container made to look like a useable hay rack, I think. It is plastic coated metal in construction. I imagine an old real one would work just as well too. Great idea about the screen door mesh!

Thanks..
pm2

You can buy a coir liner (you might also be able to find hardware) for your hayrack planter at any big box store or large garden center. These can be composted when they start to get worn. I have reused them in hanging baskets for a couple of years before replacing.

Thanks too prairiegirlz...like your screen name btw... [g]

Yes, I will look for the liner next time I am at Lowe's. I did want to report a good idea I've been given...using srew hooks through the stringer at the back of the fence section to put the basket on and then using those plastic ties that you thread one end through a hole at the other end...to further hold it to the fence and support the weight. I thought this was a brilliant idea and I have bought the supplies and am going to try it this weekend. I will let you know how it works.

I should also let you know that the brackets that are made to hang this on a railing of a deck will not really work with the installation I am doing.

Keeping my fingers crossed that it works. :-)

pm2

I have mine hanging on my deck railing which is pretty similar to a picket fence. They aren't planted yet so if you want picture of how they're attached I can get them tomorrow.

If it's too heavy you might want to brace it from the bottom to the ground with a stick. Maybe a spare picket so it blends in? ;)

dlm...if it isn't any trouble I would like to see how you ended up hanging yours. When ever you get around to it, no rush.

msaunt....what a good idea, I hadn't thought of that. Thanks. :-)

prairiemoon - sorry it took me so long - our internet has been funky for a couple of days.

This is how our hayracks are attached - we have 3 and they're very large - 12" deep, 12 " front to back and I think 48" wide. When full they are pretty heavy.

Empty showing type of brackets

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And full

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Excellent photos dimm!! Those are quite amazing trellises as well. It looks like you have also attached those to the posts of your railing. So they don't go any lower then the porch? Do you use them for what looks like Mandevilla vines in the hayracks? Very nice arrangement that I am sure becomes very private as the season progresses.

Thanks very much for the photos.
:-)
pm2

Thank you pm2 - the trellises are my DH's handiwork. What you can't see is that the deck sits about 3 feet off the ground at that point and there are SA Clematis beneath. They climb up wire screening you can see in the 1st photo, and then to the trellises. The SA provide some privacy, hopefully more as time goes by. I plant a variety of climbing things in the hayracks depending on my mood that year. I've tried Mandevilla a couple of times with less than stellar results. I generally have Grandpa Ott MG's mixed in with something else.

I was going to ask you if you had something growing from below the deck up and over these trellises. Very interesting, because we have a screening issue along our lot line with a neighbor. There is a gap that is about three fence sections wide that faces their back deck and slider. Because that area on our property is very narrow, I have not wanted to fill it up with evergreens. All I need is probably two or three feet above the 6ft fence more of screening for that three fence section area. I actually planted a small cutting of a SA Clematis there with the intention of using it as a screen. I haven't figured out yet how to support it for the two or three feet above the fence that I need.

Looking at your photo, it struck me that your railing area is about the same width as the area I am trying to cover. Did your husband find those metal circular pieces that he attached to your railing? He didn't actually create them did he? Really nice job and inspires me to try to figure out a way to attach something to our stockade fence that will allow me to do something similar. What type of store did he find those metal trellises and were they actually trellises or something else?

Oh, and about the mandevilla. I have a large pot with a lightweight trellis I am planning on growing something in and was thinking of trying the mandevilla this year. What was it about the mandevilla that didn't satisfy? I tried a moonflower vine last year and it didn't make me happy. I have grown MGlories a number of times, and I do enjoy them, but they take so long before they bloom and most of them close during the day. Have you had success with anything else over the years?

Thanks..
pm2

Yes, my husband made the trellises. I designed what I wanted, he made a jig out of wood and used it as a form to bend the metal around, then welded the interior pieces and brackets in place. I've yet to come up with a home project that he can't do. And no, you can't have him ;-)

As for the Mandevilla, I think most of the problems I have are because it's a tropical and Chicago isn't! One year they did pretty well but one year I lost 2 of 3 - leaf by leaf they would turn yellow, get brown spots and fall off and then the buds would never open. This is such a horrid spring - I gave up and turned the heat back on in the house yesterday. Sunday it's going to be 50, heavy rains, and strong NE winds - I'm normally planting on Mother's day but will be waiting a long time now. No idea what vines I'll try this year. I've done Black Eyed Susan vine but didn't care for them much. Passion Flowers are beautiful but for me didn't offer a lot of coverage. There is a Vine forum here - may have to look there for suggestons. Problem for us is our growing season isn't all that long, and by the time any annual vine really gets going, the summer is close to over. And what everyone wants is a fast growing annual vine that has beautiful flowers, creates privacy and isn't invasive! When you find it let me know.

Here are a couple of inspiration pictures I have that might help you - not sure anymore where they came from. I think the first one was from BHG, the second may have been Southern Living. I love both ideas - would either help your situation?

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I have a planter almost like yours with the coir liners, do you have trouble keeping them moist? The flowers in these coir lined planters do okay, but do not grow as well as those grown in regular pots, Have you noticed the same? I use regular potting soil and was wondering if I should use something else. Or maybe line the coir liner with plastic. Thanks for you input. Lola

Hello :-)

Dlm, I would love to see an update of how your planters/trellis look at this time of year. I see you posted and I never responded...I was having trouble with my mail for awhile, so I am sorry. I thought that was an amazing job that you and your husband did. Quite an elegant solution to privacy issues on the deck.

I have not done anything about my area that needs privacy yet. That project has gone on hold at the moment. I did have the hay rack/coir basket and figured out how to mount it. I used the idea that was given to me of using simply medium size galvanized screw hooks into the spacers between the pickets, the basket hung nicely on that and then I used the plastic ties to lend it further stability. At the back of the bottom of the coir basket, I placed a small piece of styrofoam between the container and the fence to try to keep the fence dry.

loladetweiler...No, I don't seem to be having trouble keeping that container moist any more so than all the other containers. I water once a day all the containers, in sunny weather. The plants in my containers are not growing very well this year, but the plastic pots are not much better than the coir lined, so I can't see any difference. I got started late on the fertilizer and we had quite a bit of cloudy weather for awhile, so I am attributing it to that.

Lola...I think that some of the advantage to these containers is that they drain so well. Perhaps you could consider using plants that require and appreciate good drainage? Are you fertilizing? As far as keeping them moist, how often are you watering? Is the container in full sun? What are you planting in it? What brand of potting soil did you use?

pm2

I use miracle grow potting soil and fert with miracle grow every other week. Last year and this year I have put tidle wave petunias in them and water every day when it is hot. They are in the sun at least 8 hours a day. I have read on other forums when some are going to line the baskets with plastic, then there are some that have soaked the coil liners. I was wondering if everyone does this. This year I put in new potting soil, where last year it was old potting soil. Are petunias the wrong flower? Thanks for all advice, Lola

loladetweiler....

It sounds like you are doing everything that is usually recommended. The choice of plant material sounds right for that amount of sun, your potting soil sounds okay, although I usually add perlite to whatever I buy for better drainage but since you feel the water is draining too fast anyway, that wouldn't be a necessary extra step for you either. The only thing I might suggest is that you try fertilizing half strength every week and see if that makes a difference.

I haven't used MG fertilizer so I can't comment on it's effectiveness 8 hours is a lot of sun for a container in my opinion. I would think about asking in your own post about these questions, because I have little experience with that much sun and most people are not reading this thread having already read it before.

Succulents like sedums and hens and chicks might enjoy eight hours of sun more and not mind drying out a little. Lantana is another one that stands up to the heat but that is the extent of my knowledge on the subject. It also could just be more cloudy weather this year over last?

Sorry I couldn't be of more help. Try posting here and/or on the Annuals forum for better input.

Good luck...
:-)