Garden barrels are traditionally used for storing fruits and vegetables in the kitchen, but you can also use them outside.
What is so astonishing about garden barrels? They are cheap to buy, sturdy enough to keep and produce fresh and take minutes to assemble.
The best part about garden barrels is filling them with dirt or gravel to create planters of varying depths.
The garden has become an essential part of our lives. The beautiful summer days and fall foliage are just a few of the many reasons that people enjoy spending time outside.
Even during the colder months, the garden is not just for decoration but also a convenient storage place. But what about the waste this creates?
The garden barrel is an ingenious idea that allows you to collect your garden waste and turn it into compost. If you want to use this idea, then this blog is your resource.
What is a garden barrel?
Garden barrels are great to hold flowers, veggies, and herbs in your balconies and gardens. Barrels elevate the plants above the ground, making watering and harvesting more effortless, and they can be used in full sun or partial shade. They’re also reasonably priced and can last for a long time.
A garden barrel is a container that can be filled with soil or potting mix to hold plants. The purpose of a garden barrel is to provide an easy way to carry, assemble, and maintain plants on balconies or patios without the need for large planters.
How to Make a Garden in a Plastic Barrel?
- Drill or poke drain holes in the bottom of a plastic barrel or container. In a circular pattern, make six to eight holes.
- Fill the barrel with potting soil that has been sterilized or a non-soiling medium. Make a mixture of one part of the soil, coarse sand, and peat moss if you’re using garden soil. Between the top of the soil and the top of the barrel, leave at least an inch of space. Make sure the soil is maintained and well-watered.
- Add a water-soluble fertilizer to the irrigation water or mix a balanced time-release fertilizer into the soil. Place the plastic barrel in a sunny spot for eight to ten hours each day.
- Find vegetable kinds that are suited for growing in a container. Look for plants that are lush and compact. For tall types or vines, use a trellis or a support structure. To keep the pots from blowing over, keep tall plants away from windy locations. In a barrel, you might plant a variety of flowers.
- In the early spring or late summer, sow cool-season vegetable seeds such as broccoli, lettuce, radishes, green onions, spinach, and turnips. After the risk of frost has passed, plant cucumbers, eggplant, green beans, peppers, squash, and tomatoes. When the weather is warm in the spring, it is good to plant flower seeds or transplant seedlings.
- Once a day, water the pots. Allowing the soil to dry up is a bad idea. Avoid getting water on the leaves to reduce the risk of sickness. Cover the soil with mulch such as compost or straw to assist and prevent water loss. Plants with a lot of foliage may need more water.
- Move the pots to make the most of a sunny or shaded spot or keep the plants safe from the elements. Plant the seeds for 90 days or more before harvesting the peppers or tomatoes.
- Place the perennials in a protected area through the winter. In temperate coastal regions, cool-season vegetables such as turnips or spinach can grow most winter.
What to plant in wooden barrels?
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Flowers
They make lovely containers for draped plants or growing tall flowering plants even when split in half. Sweet pea plants blossom throughout the year and gently hang from the pot. Your barrel will look dramatically more elevated if you use Snapdragons or Delphinium.
The barrel’s wide top allows you plenty of room to mix and match flower species, with tall plants in the center and lesser plants like pansies or marigolds in the corners. Petunias, for example, can be used to drape flowers around the edges.
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Herbs and Veggies
Vegetable planting in wooden barrels is convenient, especially in tiny yards or condos with patios.
Many greens grow nicely in containers, such as kale, Swiss chard, and mustard greens. Bell peppers, tiny tomatoes, and summer squash are some other options. Because many of these vegetables require a lot of light during the day, make sure your planter is well-lit.
Place it before filling it with dirt because it may be too heavy to move once it’s loaded with soil. Fill wine barrels with herb plants like basil, parsley, and mint in an indoor sunroom or outside for fresh herbs all year.
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Green Plants
Non-flowering plants are a fantastic alternative for filling your wooden barrel in the winter months. The leaves of Coleus are brightly colored. Indeed green plants should be included, such as foxtail fern, draped sprengeri, or a licorice plant.
Because these plants can also survive the summer, you can mix and match flowering and green plants. You can either replace them with flowering plants or remove them to sow vegetables in the spring.
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Dwarf Trees
Wooden barrels can accommodate a variety of dwarf trees because they are wide and deep. These trees provide shade on a hot patio or the height you need to add to your little yard’s landscaping. Kumquat, essential lime, and Japanese maple trees thrive well in pots.
Final Thoughts
Using a garden barrel can be a fun and creative way to show off your skills as a gardener. In addition, the barrels themselves are very durable and will last for many years with minimal upkeep.
There is no such thing as a bad idea when considering a garden barrel. It is like the Renaissance period in the arts, an unlikely time when anything was possible, and new ideas flourished.
There is not much to say except get outside and start making your masterpiece because you never know what might happen until you try it out for yourself!
There are many ways to utilize your garden barrels. From simply planting flowers to storing rainwater, there are many possibilities for these simple containers. Whether you are looking to save money or beautify your home, our tips here will help you get the most out of your garden barrels.
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