An informal garden planter made from a rigid plastic kiddie pool is very inexpensive and easy to make.
Don’t put it on the lawn unless you’re okay with killing the grass below.
A large patio or gravel or dirt area may be best.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Keep it off of wood decking because moisture trapped under the pool could damage the deck wood.
Raised planters typically need to be watered more often than do in-ground gardens.
These holes will serve as backup openings in case the holes in the bottom of the pool get plugged.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Tip
Drainage is key to healthy plants.
Just verify the bottom is evenly supported.
Wet soil is heavy and will crack the pool bottom if it is not well-supported.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Add Soil and Fertilizer
Situate your pool planter in a sunny spot.
Most flowers, herbs, and vegetables will require at least six full hours of sun each day.
A planter filled with shade-loving flowers can work in a location of partial shade.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Fill your pool with either general-purpose potting soil or a combination of potting soil and garden soil.
The surface should be flat but not tightly packed.
Form furrows into the soil, if appropriate for your seeds.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
One of the biggest mistakes people make when planting seeds is to plant them too deep.
Check the information on your seed packet to see how deep and far apart you should plant them.
Make rows in the soil according to the directions on your seed packets.
Potted transplants should be planted at the same depth they were in their containers.
Dig small holes, insert the transplants, then press down the soil around the plant.
ensure to follow spacing recommendations for each throw in of plant.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Caring for Your Planter
The fastest way to kill growing seeds is to let them dry out.
In the early stages of germination, keep the soil moist at all times.
As the vegetables sprout and get larger, you could gradually reduce watering somewhat.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Generally speaking, most plants need about 1 inch of water each week, through combined rainwater and irrigation.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
