Planting help please

[trai]

I am hoping someone can help me please. This year we are going to have our own planters in the garden and i am hoping someone can help with what to do. Do we have to put a layer of gravel at the bottom for drainage or do we just fill them with compost?

Any help or tips would be gratefully received.

[lizardfan]

:luck: ""cutey""b hello yes im sure you just fill it with compost my mum also uses gel crystals they absorb all the the water so it last alot longer than just dripping outbefore its had a chance to sink in they are really good and make watering alot easyer for you they will be sold in most garden shops like homebase hope that helps
emma
xxxx

[Lemon]

Hi Trai. Do the planters have drainage holes in the bottom ? If not, then it is a good idea to put a layer of gravel in for drainage otherwise the water will just fill up in the compost and rot the roots of the plants. Hope that helps x

[Azzi]

I would put in a layer of gravel or broken pots and make sure it has a drainage hole as well so the water can escape

[Patti odoors]

I would put in a layer of gravel or broken pots and make sure it has a drainage hole as well so the water can escape


:yes: best to have drainage holes or the roots rot and an old terracotta plant pot smashed into smallish pieces will allow the water to drain out.

[Katiequiggle]

Hi, I'm no plant expert but I have lots of pots. I always put some broken crocks, or a few large stones or small chunks of polysterene in the bottom of my pots even though there are drainage holes in them, (drainage holes are a must really otherwise stuff will just rot) The gel as mentioned before is a great thing, i've even lined hanging baskets with (new) disposable nappies having poked holes in them to allow some drainage.

If you have a really large pot, ie a very tall one but are only putting bedding type plants in them a great thing to do is to put chunks of polysterene in the bottom of the pots to save on compost.

Hope this helps.

[trai]

thank you all for your help, the pots have got drainage holes but i will put some stones in the bottom for drainage as well.
Thanks again as i wasn't sure and didn't want to kill my plants off.

[Easties]

sorry hun i cant even look after my houseplants but good luck :D

[Bunny]

i always put broken up polystyrene in my tubs, doesn't make them as heavy so you can still move them

[Patti odoors]

i always put broken up polystyrene in my tubs, doesn't make them as heavy so you can still move them


Yes just managed to get some done here. We had loads of polystyrene because of packaging from new tv etc, garden looks like a snowstorm hit it and I am covered in little white balls :hysterica