Home-garden expert Tammy Algood of the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service offers suggestions for creating a wheelbarrow planter. You can plant in just about any container that has adequate drainage and will hold potting soil. But it's best to avoid dark-colored objects because they retain heat and may cook your plants' roots on a hot day. For this project Tammy used an old rusted wheelbarrow. Cover the drainage holes with pottery shards or window screen to prevent the soil from washing out. Use a light-textured, well-draining potting medium--not garden soil. In a single planter you should combine only plants with the same requirements for sun and moisture. Fill the wheelbarrow--or other container--half full of soil, and add plants. Loosen each one's root ball if necessary. Put taller plants to the back and shorter ones in front. Fill in with soil to cover the tops of the root balls. Don't plant too deeply or the stems may rot. Add a slow-release fertilizer such as Osmocote or cottonseed meal. To cover the rim of the planter, lay plants along the edge at an angle. Now wheel the colorful container to a sunny location and water well. Roll your new container garden wherever you need color. This is a wonderful project to help dress up your garden for a party or a wedding.
GUESTS :
Tammy Algood
UT Agricultural Extension Service
5201 Marchant Drive
Nashville, TN 37211-5201
Phone: 615-834-5162
Fax: 615-832-0043
Email: Talgood1@utk.edu
Website: http://www.utextension.utk.edu
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