Container Gardening Complete

Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

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Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete
#175 Dtp: 229 Page: 129

Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

#175 Dtp: 229 Page: 128

700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 129 5/24/17 11:14 AM

MATERIALS NEEDED

2 plastic storage bins of

the same type

and size

1 old cotton hand towel

Enough 50/50 potting

soil and compost blend

to fill one of the bins

Old bricks or blocks

Plants

TOOLS NEEDED

Utility knife

Work gloves

Scissors

Purchasing manufactured self-watering containers is expensive,

especially if you want more than one or two. The following step-by-step

plan lets you make five or six self-watering containers for the cost of a

single manufactured one. Use large, 50-gallon storage bins like the ones

in the photographs, to grow tomatoes, zucchini, and other big veggies,

or choose smaller bins for smaller plants or smaller spaces. Simply

follow the steps to turn a pair of plastic storage bins of any size into an

inexpensive, self-watering planter.

SELF-

WATERING

PATIO

CONTAINER

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HOW TO MAKE A SELF-WATERING PATIO CONTAINER

STEP 1 Use a utility knife to cut a 2-in. square hole in

the middle of the bottom of one of the storage bins,

near the center. Cut the cotton hand towel lengthwise,

to make four strips of the same approximate width.

STEP 2 Position the second bin wherever you’d like

your planter to be located, then stack columns of

bricks or blocks 4 to 8 in. high in the bottom to create

a water reservoir. For larger bins, make three columns

of bricks; smaller bins will only need two columns. Do

not place a column in the exact center of the bin, as it

could restrict the movement of water. Use the utility

knife to cut a 2-in. square hole into the back of this bin.

The top of the hole should be the exact same height as

the top of your brick columns. This hole will be where

you fill the water reservoir, but it will also serve as an

overflow outlet.

STEP 3 Fill the reservoir with water up to the bottom

of the fill/overflow hole. Place the first bin into the

second, nestling it securely inside and making sure

the bottom of the inside bin is resting on top of the

brick columns.

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Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

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Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

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