I failed to mention that (yesterday) I dumped rocks out of the bottom of previously used planters. I spent hours (yes, hours) washing rocks!! They were scattered on the patio and I hosed away the excess planter soil around them. They are now stored for some future project, or for eventual give-away. (I plan to have a “yard, ‘yard’ sale” this Spring to eliminate the excess stuff!!) Subsequent to filling the bottom of planters with rocks (for drainage), I learned it is preferable to have an air space at the bottom of planters. Remember, being a backyard gardener is quite new to me. I spent over forty years on the desert of Southern California. ~~ My faithful electric drill got a workout drilling holes in plastic snack trays, plastic bowls, etc. ~~ Remember my satellite dish squirrel baffles? One needed repair!! (Those adorable but destructive squirrels!!)
- Comment
- Reblog
-
Subscribe
Subscribed
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
Three Quarters & Counting 
I would have thought rocks would also give air space. So what do you do instead? You mentioned a drill, but that would only drill holes in the pots themselves…the soil can get air from just that?
Debbie, there are several blogs that illustrate the plastic “gizmo” that creates the “air bottom.” A recent blog shows a blue Tupperware snack tray that I drilled holes in. In an earlier… a red snack tray with holes drilled in. It sits two or more inches above the bottom of the large planter (and large planter has holes drilled in the bottom.) One blog has a web link to the expensive, retail product (bright orange in color). ~~ . Yes, I would think rocks are good for drainage. In fact, I believed it enough to buy two large bags of river rock (from Lowe’s) last year!! ~~ I continually research information for my backyard garden and am willing to make changes if I can improve the health of my plants.