Can I plant flowers in a wooden box?

Choose a wooden crate that is at least 12 inches deep if you would like to grow herbs and annual flowers, and ideally 18 inches deep for veggies and perennials. Look for sturdy wooden crates that, if recycled, are in good condition. Avoid crates that are painted or chemically treated when using them for edibles.

Keeping this in consideration, can you plant in a wooden box?

A wooden box may need drainage holes, depending on how porous it is without them. You can also use plastic to line your pots—a preferred method for planters used indoors—but make sure you punch holes through the plastic at the drainage hole locations. Choose plants suitable for the depth and size of your wooden box.

One may also ask, should I put rocks in the bottom of my planter? Rocks aren't all bad. Rocks added to the bottom of large pots will reduce the volume of potting soil required to fill a container. So, while they won't increase drainage they will help to save a few bucks on soil.

Thereof, how do you prepare a planter box for planting?

How to Prepare a Wooden Planter

Prep the Wood. Before picking out plants and opening a bag of potting soil, prepare the wood itself so it will last out in the elements.
Consider Drainage. A wooden planter should have drainage holes in the bottom to prevent water-logged soil.
Use Proper Soil.
Add Plants.

How long will untreated wood last in raised beds?

Type of Wood It will warp and begin to rot within three to five years. Cedar and redwood are naturally resistant to both rot and insect infestations, which is why they're often used for decks and fences. These materials will generally last 10 to 20 years in a raised-bed garden.

32 Related Question Answers Found

What do you put in the bottom of a planter for drainage?

Put a layer of gravel in your plant's drainage tray, or down inside a decorative planter, then sit your plant pot on top. The gravel will hold water and increase humidity, while keeping your plant's roots up out of the puddle. Gravel comes in handy when sitting a plant inside a decorative planter.

What should I line a wooden planter with?

Line the entire planter with a sheet of plastic, trimming it so that it reaches but does not go over the rim. Staple the plastic all the way around the rim. Using a screwdriver or sharp stick, poke through the drilled drainage holes to let excess water drain out of the plastic liner.

Do I need to line my raised garden bed?

You can line your raised bed to make it more durable and to prevent toxics from leaching into the soil. For lining, use landscape fabric found at garden supply stores or cloth fabric from clothing. Avoid non-porous plastic, as it can retain too much water and discourage beneficial insects and worms.

Does water penetrate landscape fabric?

Moisture Matters

The felted side helps water move through the fabric into the soil. If you lay it down upside down, moisture will still penetrate the fabric but at a slower rate than expected. Not all landscape fabric has a shiny side.

What to fill large planters with?

If you have an especially big planter to fill, light, bulky materials are your best bet. Examples include plastic drink containers, milk jugs, crushed soda cans, foam packing materials and plastic or foam take-out containers.

How do you fill a large wooden planter?

Choose a high-quality potting soil for your planter box; don't use garden soil. Potting soil is sterile, free from weed seeds and diseases and blended with a material such as pumice or perlite to provide good drainage. Fill the planter box to about 1 inch below its rim. The extra 1 inch allows space for watering.

How do I make wood waterproof?

There are three surefire ways to waterproof your wood for years to come.

Use linseed or Tung oil to create a beautiful and protective hand-rubbed finish.
Seal the wood with coating of polyurethane, varnish, or lacquer.
Finish and waterproof wood simultaneously with a stain-sealant combo.

How do you treat wood for planter boxes?

You can isolate pressure-treated wood by lining the inside of a bed with heavy plastic to prevent leaching of chemicals from the wood into the soil. Top your bed with boards of untreated lumber to make a flat top to sit on and to avoid contact with the wood, particularly if you have CCA-treated wood in your garden.

What kind of wood do you use to make a planter box?

Wood options for Raised Garden Boxes

Redwood or Black Locust – Definitely the best option for raised garden boxes in terms of longevity because they are naturally rot-resistant and have been known to last up to 20 years.
Cedar – Another rot-resistant wood, cedar can last 10-15 years and looks gorgeous.

Do I need to seal cedar planter?

For the best results, use wood planter boxes made from cedar or redwood lumber, which are naturally water resistant. Using a waterproofing caulk and waterproofing sealant on naturally water-resistant wood creates an almost impermeable environment.

How do I keep my window box from rotting?

Use a peat-based commercial potting mixture. A mixture of peat moss combined with other ingredients such as vermiculite, perlite or sand will drain well, keep plants from drying out too quickly, and it will be lightweight. However, avoid using peat alone, as it won't hold water and will become compacted.

Can you use treated wood for planter boxes?

Yes, the "new" pressure treated wood is safe for use for raised garden frames with a few precautions! Up until 2003, the most common preservative used for pressure treated wood was chromated copper arsenate (CCA), a compound using arsenic as its primary rot protectant.

Can I use potting mix in a raised garden bed?

Soil taken from your yard or a garden bed is too dense to use in a pot or raised bed. Instead, for containers, you'll want to use potting mix (also called potting soil), a lightweight and fluffy alternative. Potting mix is too light for use in raised beds, while garden soil is too heavy.

What is the difference between topsoil and garden soil?

Garden soil is compost enriched and is a higher quality soil. Garden soil is topsoil enriched with compost and organic matter to make it better suited to actual plant growth. High quality screened topsoil is blended with 100% organic compost, producing a soil that is perfect for sod, seed, gardens, and raised beds.

How much soil do I need for a 4x4 raised bed?

For example, if you have a length of 5 feet, a width of 4 feet and a depth of 2 feet, the volume would be 40 cubic feet (5 x 4 x 2 = 40). This is the amount of dirt you will need to fill your raised planter box. This would equal 20 bags of soil sold in bags containing 2 cubic feet of dirt each.

Should you line a wooden planter box?

A wooden box may need drainage holes, depending on how porous it is without them. Line your planter boxes porous landscape fabric. The goal here is not to prevent the wood from getting wet—that's impossible in outdoor settings—but rather to prevent the potting soil from directly contacting the wood.

Is Pine good for planter boxes?

Pine. Natural, untreated pine can also be used to build planters, but it must be sealed to make it resistant to weathering, rot and fungus. Pine is also soft, which makes it vulnerable to nicks, gouges and other damage.