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Nov 14, 2019 1:03 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: kathy
Michigan (Zone 4b)
near St. Clair MI
Cottage Gardener Dahlias Garden Art Heirlooms Lilies Organic Gardener
Zinnias
This idea has worked for me for many years. I started with one but now have over a dozen !
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Buy a sturdy tomato cage & vinyl coated chicken wire fencing & coco coir bowl shaped liner. Drive the cage into the ground in your chosen area (a permanent spot for this year's growing season). Form a bowl out of the vinyl chicken wire and fold over the top of the tomato cage to secure firmly. Line the bowl with coco coir or cloth or landscape weed barrier fabric. Plant your annuals of choice.
Tips:
Push that tomato cage into the ground accurately & deep, those prongs will be supporting the planter surprisingly well on windy days.
When forming the chicken wire bowl-make it deep rather than shallow, it will retain moisture better.
The planter & bowl can remain fastened together for off season storage (I hang mine, prongs facing up, on nails way up on the shed walls)-they last for years if you buy a well made tomato cage.
When buying the tomato cage double check the welded joints.
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This next picture shows two planters in full shade located in an otherwise 'no bloom' area of the garden. Begonia corms were directly planted into the soil of one planter. The planter in the foreground (hard to see the planter!) was planted with a well established lofa plant. See how nicely it cascades over & down? So...when buying tomato cages - think big & little, tall & short cages.
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Succulents seem to really love being in these planters. A real showpiece when you add a few sparkling rocks or fairy ornaments.
Oh, I can already tell your gardener's brain is smoking with ideas !
"Things won are done, joy's soul lies in the doing." Shakespeare
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Nov 14, 2019 2:37 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: kathy
Michigan (Zone 4b)
near St. Clair MI
Cottage Gardener Dahlias Garden Art Heirlooms Lilies Organic Gardener
Zinnias
Thank You! Craw ! A thoughtful gift that I will plant !
"Things won are done, joy's soul lies in the doing." Shakespeare
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Nov 17, 2019 7:54 AM CST
North Central Massachusetts (N (Zone 5b)
Life & gardens: make them beautiful
Bee Lover Butterflies Garden Photography Cat Lover Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Region: Massachusetts
Region: Ukraine
What an absolutely FABULOUS idea! Especially great for small spaces where the only direction you might have is up! Love it! Thumbs up
You don't kick walls down, you pull the nails out and let them fall.
AKA Joey.
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Nov 17, 2019 8:03 AM CST
Central Florida (Zone 9a)
I recycle, reuse, repurpose!
Composter Region: Florida Enjoys or suffers hot summers Birds Annuals Cactus and Succulents
Zinnias Organic Gardener Cottage Gardener Frugal Gardener Dragonflies Butterflies
That is a very good hack for repurposing tomato cages. I use my tomato cages upside down as topiary forms in my large planters. I bet a whole lot of people who have container gardens would really love this idea. Sometimes I have not had good luck with the wire hanging baskets with a coir liner. They seem to just leak too much, but adding the chicken wire will make it more secure. Love it! Great job! Hurray! Hurray! Hurray!
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Nov 17, 2019 9:18 AM CST
North Central Massachusetts (N (Zone 5b)
Life & gardens: make them beautiful
Bee Lover Butterflies Garden Photography Cat Lover Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Region: Massachusetts
Region: Ukraine
slowcala said:That is a very good hack for repurposing tomato cages. I use my tomato cages upside down as topiary forms in my large planters. I bet a whole lot of people who have container gardens would really love this idea. Sometimes I have not had good luck with the wire hanging baskets with a coir liner. They seem to just leak too much, but adding the chicken wire will make it more secure. Love it! Great job! Hurray! Hurray! Hurray!


I agree !!! I have very little garden space so this is just the thing! Also, I'm thinking that it's a great fix for places where I have summer-blooming plants but would also love to have something in there for the spring! These will be great to have while those summer-bloomers are just starting to peek through the soil. Plus, all the parts are available at our local box store! I can pick up decent tomato cages for only a dollar or two! Thumbs up
You don't kick walls down, you pull the nails out and let them fall.
AKA Joey.
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Nov 17, 2019 1:29 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: kathy
Michigan (Zone 4b)
near St. Clair MI
Cottage Gardener Dahlias Garden Art Heirlooms Lilies Organic Gardener
Zinnias
Craw, Joanna Thank You!
Also, I cut out a square of fabric weed mat and place it in the bottom and partly up the sides of the coco coir bowl before adding soil. It slows down the pass-through of water.
Bonus- even though the fertilizer water eventually drains through the planter, the understory plantings enjoy the benefits.
"Things won are done, joy's soul lies in the doing." Shakespeare
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Dec 30, 2019 6:05 PM CST
Name: Christine
North East Texas (Zone 7b)
Shine Your Light!
Heirlooms Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener Hummingbirder Bee Lover Herbs
Butterflies Dragonflies Birds Cat Lover Dog Lover Garden Photography
This is a great idea! Thumbs up Lovey dubby

Also, I'm wondering what the plant with the pink flowers is in this picture.? I think you mentioned "lofa" but I don't know what that is. It's very pretty!

katesflowers said:

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May your life be like a wildflower, growing freely in the beauty and joy of each day --Native American Proverb

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Jan 2, 2020 8:36 PM CST
North Central Massachusetts (N (Zone 5b)
Life & gardens: make them beautiful
Bee Lover Butterflies Garden Photography Cat Lover Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Region: Massachusetts
Region: Ukraine
Yes, that is some beautiful gardening! And I still really love the idea.
You don't kick walls down, you pull the nails out and let them fall.
AKA Joey.
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Jan 2, 2020 8:44 PM CST
Name: Tara
NE. FL. (Zone 9a)
Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Organic Gardener Garden Sages Birds Frogs and Toads Dragonflies
Butterflies Hummingbirder Orchids Container Gardener Garden Procrastinator Foliage Fan
Just happened across this thread....
What a great idea!
Love it, and I'm determined to put it to use! I've got several cages that are "taking up space", not being used....
Thanks so much for the inspiration!!!
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Jan 2, 2020 8:49 PM CST
North Central Massachusetts (N (Zone 5b)
Life & gardens: make them beautiful
Bee Lover Butterflies Garden Photography Cat Lover Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Region: Massachusetts
Region: Ukraine
I agree Tara! And I've got several spaces that need something to take them up! I hope I'll remember this as spring approaches!
You don't kick walls down, you pull the nails out and let them fall.
AKA Joey.
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Feb 11, 2020 12:37 PM CST
Name: Vickie
southern Indiana (Zone 6b)
Bee Lover Garden Photography Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Daylilies Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Region: United States of America
Region: Indiana Garden Art Annuals Clematis Cottage Gardener Garden Ideas: Level 2
Just saw this and think it is an awesome idea! Kudos to you Kathy!
May all your weeds be wildflowers. ~Author Unknown
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Feb 11, 2020 2:52 PM CST
Name: Lin Vosbury
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)

Region: Ukraine Region: United States of America Bird Bath, Fountain and Waterfall Region: Florida Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
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Kathy, your garden is really beautiful and what a creative idea for planters! Lovey dubby
~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt!
~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot!


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Feb 11, 2020 7:55 PM CST
North Central Massachusetts (N (Zone 5b)
Life & gardens: make them beautiful
Bee Lover Butterflies Garden Photography Cat Lover Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Region: Massachusetts
Region: Ukraine
blue23rose said:Just saw this and think it is an awesome idea! Kudos to you Kathy!


I agree !!!
You don't kick walls down, you pull the nails out and let them fall.
AKA Joey.
Image
Feb 11, 2020 7:55 PM CST
North Central Massachusetts (N (Zone 5b)
Life & gardens: make them beautiful
Bee Lover Butterflies Garden Photography Cat Lover Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Region: Massachusetts
Region: Ukraine
plantladylin said:Kathy, your garden is really beautiful and what a creative idea for planters! Lovey dubby


I agree !!!
You don't kick walls down, you pull the nails out and let them fall.
AKA Joey.
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