Trough advice!

Hi All

I'm totally new to gardening and seeking some advice please!

I'm looking to get a few free-standing troughs which are quite deep.

My questions!
1. Am i correct in saying a trough like this (that has a flat bottom) will mean that the grass beneath it does not grow? and will it kill the grass forever if the trough left there for a long period?

2. This is a deep trough - i assume it will need A LOT of soil. What sort of soil should i use?

3. Should the trough be filled to the top, or nearly to the top with soil?

4. One trough i plan to put in an area that has virtually no sunlight - what types of plants could i plant in this one?

Many thanks!

 

Hi @collinsc , great plan- throughs can look wonderful and are easier to manage than separate pots.

First some questions back if I may:
How big are the throughs and are you after permanent planting or just a summer display?

1: Yes, if you place a container on the grass the grass will die. However, the roots will survive and the blade will re-grow over time, in the meantime the patch will look awful It's possible to somewhat mask the damage by transplanting tufts of the same grass, I grow my masking grass in a washing up bowl (with drainage holes).

2: Depends on how deep is deep and what you plan to grow. In general some garden soil plus multipurpose compost and some gravel or grit is a good starting plan for large containers.

3: Leave some space to allow for watering. Otherwise the water will overflow and take some compost with it, creating the watering space all by itself, leaving your plants wobbly with exposed necks. I do that all the time.

4: Great- shade plants can be very attractive and lush and the throughs will not dry out as quickly as in full sun. Ferns spring to mind, but there are a lot of options. Here are some links for inspiration:
RHS
Jacksons nursery
Gardenersworld

Summer bedding flowers in general like sun, but begonias and tobacco plants (Nicotiana) should do well.

One thing to keep in mind when gardening in containers is that you will need to water them quite often. Rain will not be enough. Carrying heavy watering cans is great exercise

 

Thanks very much for the detailed response!

I clearly need to learn more before i go ahead with this plan - many things you've mentioned i'd not thought of.

Unfortunately im not able to post a link of what i had in mind (i have 0 rating), but the name of it is (googlable on etsy): Black Extra Large Metal Garden Planter Pot Trough.
measurements:
Metric Dimensions - 1200(l) x 300mm(w) x 350mm(h)
Imperial Dimensions - 47,25" (l) x 12''(w) x 14'' (h)


Re 1 and the masking grass - will i need that if i leave the planter in situ or only if i then move the planter? i.e. will the grass around the planter die?

Thanks!

 

That size planter will take about 110 ltrs of compost, so you will need 2 or 3 bags of multipurpose compost depending on their size eg 40 lts, 50 ltr or 60 ltrs
You always need to leave a small gap from the top of any container to the compost to allow for watering.

If you place anything on grass it will start to die off in a few days as @Selleri has mentioned, so after a week or more most of the grass under the planter will have gone, any grass around the planter will continue to grow as normal.

With a planter that size , full of compost and watered it will be heavy, why do you want to move it around ?

You do not say if you are using the planter for flowers, small or climbers or fruit and veg ?

Growing in total shade is always a challenge as most plants do need a good few hours of sunlight.

A pic of the site /lawn can sometimes help us see your problem better.

Lots of planters on etsy etc, heres just one, though without knowing your garden, do you really need an expensive planter, could you remove some turf and plant direct into soil or are you restricted by what you can do in a rental property ?

 

I have just liked your messages so hopefully you can now post photos and links. A picture of the situation would be great

30/ 35cm planter is quite narrow and will need watering daily during the summer. Cancel that gym membership now

What would you like to grow? Flowers? Herbs? Strawberries? Evergreens?

And for the grass, it will grow just fine around the container, and it will be impossible to mow neatly around it. The longer, unmown grass around it will look lovely but if you are more into a neat bowling lawn look, scissors it is.

 

Thanks all!

We own the property. We used to live in a flat, so my first forage into anything gardening!

I wouldn't necessarily want to move the planter .

The property is a new build, built on a farm field, so just looking at the turf type i made an assumption it wouldn't be suitable for turf planting (all my neighbours have artificial grass - so i have no reference).

The higher planter was just a thought that it would be easier to water.
I have no worries about daily watering; that said, i don't want too high a maintenance garden.

Photo of garden attached with 3 rectangles for where i might put planters.

Here are 2 other ideas:
Two Tiered Garden Level Steps Wooden Timber Decking Planter Trough (Large - 4ft (122 cm), Natural) : Amazon.co.uk: Garden

Lechuza BALCONERA Color 80 Self Watering Planter Indoor/Outdoor Flower Plant Pot Table and Window Box with Drainage Hole and Plant Substrate Poly-Resin H19 L80 W19 cm Slate : Amazon.co.uk: Garden

Thanks!

 

If you are looking at 3 rectangle planters, why not purchase some decking board and build some. You could probably build 3 of those wooden troughs like those in the first link for the same price for one already made. I would also fill them with a Multipurpose compost that has added John innes.

 

Yes that is an option. i think having some height to make watering easier may be an advantage. i will think on it though as that actually was my initial plan.

thanks for tip about john innes.

 

Oh, amd looking to plat flowers - potentially wild flowers.
Obviously behind the garage could be tricky as don't get too much sun there

 

The grass does not look that bad apart from by the garage, but is that due to shade or more folk walking to the back of the garage ?

Doubt that will be the original field turf, typically some new lawn turf will have been laid, so some regular moving should improve it over the summer.

Assume the garage wall we can see is North facing ?

To us it shouts put some climbers or pouches etc up me, there are some which will tollerate shade.

Also a path of some description down the side of the garage but a few feet away from it and then make a bed of soil for the climbers, much better for them than a planter.

Any reason for wanting planters against making a normal flower bed ? which need far less watering than a planter and looks much more natural as a planter would probably not look right having wild flowers in it ?

Choosing the right plants will give you a sense of height you may be looking for though it will take a season or to for them all to grow up fully, but worth the wait...

 

Looking at the plan I'd say just dig out the grass and make a border to plant into.
I dont really see where the use of containers comes into it.

If it really must be higher than the grass level you need to build raised beds.

Containers are going to be more work that involves watering and possibly feeding every day during the summer.

 

Thanks all.

Food for thought especially re a normal flower bed... but i wasnt convinced my garden was suitable.
yes we want a bit of height - but we are happy to wait for that.
Certainly lower maintenance is an advantage.

Why would a planter need more water than a normal flower bed?

The back fence faces North, so the garage side you can see faces South - i would add that we moved in at back end of summer last year so i may have underestimated the sun!

re state of soil by the garage - it was like that when we moved in circa 8 months back - it certainly isnt due to us walking down that area... i just assumed that it was like that because it might not be getting much sun and has dried out.

 

With a planter the roots have limitations, they can only gain moisture and food from the amount of compost/soil in the planter, in a border or bed the plants will always have more root space and therefore a reserve for when you forget to water.

 

Super- thanks for clarifying.

So…. From the photo can you tell if my garden is definitely suitable for a bed or border?

would it help with close up photos?

I’m still suspicious of the ground- it looks very hard to me and I have made the assumption it’s not suitable- but hey I may very well be wrong (and hopefully so!)

 

There is no such thing as a garden that isn't suitable for flower beds.

Soil could well be hard and compacted and will probably need improving etc.
But once the job is done it gets easier every year.
A lot depends on how much effort you want to put in as the first year will be the most labour intensive.

I'd tackle one area at a time and see how you get on.