I'm making some large containers (SAY: 12" deep x 18" wide x 10 feet long). Several of these will be on the second floor, so I want to minimize the weight by not filling them full of potting soil.
My idea is to fill them about half full of plastic packaging peanuts (instead of gravel), then cover the peanuts with some kind of plastic mesh. The potting soil would be above the plastic mesh. The peanuts are to provide drainage and the mesh is to prevent the potting soil from filtering down into the peanuts. (I'm thinking the mesh has maybe 1/8" openings).
The peanuts can be pushed aside for deep-rooted plants, and piled up for shallow-rooted plants (again to minimize weight)
1. Does this sound like a good idea?
2. Does anyone know a source for cheap plastic mesh?
