Trash Can Planter

Just about anything that will hold soil can be used as a planter, 'tis true, but if you're tired of watering all of your container plants daily throughout the summer, you might try this inexpensive alternative to standard planters.

I've found that thirstier plants really do need a deeper container for extensive root growth, but purchasing dozens of planters made in that design was simply out of my price range, so I went container shopping for alternatives. Initial criteria for containers to suit my needs were:  at least 12 inches in height, inexpensive, reusable for many years, light enough to lift and move easily when filled, not too ugly, drillable for drainage, and available in sufficient quantity to give a uniform appearance en masse. The answer to all of the above seemed to be poly refuse receptacles. In other words, trash cans. I brought half a dozen home to try them out, and I soon returned to the store for a half dozen more!

The ones I chose were 10 inches wide, by 12 inches deep. Cost was a mere $3.50 each at regular pricing, and since they're flexible, I'm pretty sure they'll last many years. The slightly narrower width assures that when planted, the container won't be exceedingly difficult to move around whenever it's necessary to do so. The bottom is sturdy and pliant, but stiff enough to accommodate a healthy push when drilling drain holes. I chose all black because I often move blooming container plants into an in-between-blooms border. Nestled into the shadows between perennials and shrubs, the containers all but disappear, leaving your bloom-laden plant as the star of the show.

As an added bonus, the ones I chose had a form-fitting painted wire basket that could be purchased for a dollar more; very helpful for yards with nosy critters, or for placement in windswept areas. Attach the wire basket to a post, some existing fence, or wire it to a tree; slip in your planted container and overturned pots are a thing of the past. If you like cut flower arrangements, but don't care for the mess of falling blooms in your house, pick up another and don't add holes. Mine is attached to the pole of my bird feeder platform, at the edge of my deck. When petals fall, they're simply swept away with a quick swipe of the broom.

Before filling your deep planters with potting mix and plants, it's a good idea to first fill the bottom quarter to one third with empty soda cans, small plastic bottles, broken pottery or sections of tattered Styrofoam rose cones. It's a bit of a waste to add the weight of unnecessary mix in the bottom of the container. The roots of your plants aren't likely to travel that deep, but the soil that is around the filler material will retain moisture which will be wicked upward as the upper soil begins to dry.

I've found that when I utilize these deeper containers, I need to water far less often. In the height of hot summertime, containers in shady situations might need water once every eight to ten days, while those with plants that are in sunnier areas might need water every third day, to once a week, depending on the variety of plants used.