Specialty Gardening: Big Pot Planting Advice Wanted, 1 by GoldenDomer

GoldenDomer wrote:
Update #3
Here are some items I have lined up for my scheduled mid March planting.

The top pic shows what I've collected for potting day and the care thereafter. First, let me talk about the MG (shown is the 6 qt. version tho I've bought 32 qt bags). After studying the input on this thread and researching it, I found that I couldn't trust the "new and improved" Moisture Control MG mix to maintain proper drainage after six months or a year. Why gamble with a new product when you know the old one does the job? It's like leaving a good wife of 20 years for a sweet young thing. You might say that's not exactly analogous but there's a sizable grain of truth in it.

The folded piece of Visquine shown will be put down on the deck and front porch floor where the barrels will be placed with slits or holes cut so any drainage will go between the planks. Whatever I do to protect the flooring, refinishing will be necessary whenever the barrel is moved or eliminated. But that is only a possible new owner's problem not mine since I know where I want the barrels and I'll never move them.

Not shown are the much larger pieces of this heavy 4 mil thick Visquine that I will use as protective covers when necessary since I intend to plant several weeks ahead of time (at some risk) of when conventional wisdom dictates in order to help insure that the Serviceberries will have a better chance to fruit this year. At age 66, I don't have summers to waste. Also, by starting earlier I will be more certain that the plants are dormant enough that I can gently hose off as much of the unwanted heavy garden soil as possible from the root ball and may even be able to plant them bare root which is my preference. However, what will not come off with a gentle stream of water will stay on the root ball in that I won't get in it and start tearing things apart with my hands.

Also in the top picture can be seen the folded screening that will go in the bottom of the barrels and a 1 lb. bottle of Osmocote (I have 10 pound bags) that I will use. I will thoroughly mix in the 8 TLBS of Osmocote into the 55 quarts of regular MG as it's poured into the barrel. I'll be using a 4-10-3 root stimulator in addition and not depending solely on MG and Osmocote to provide the high initial nutrient boost that the Serviceberries will need to get the good, quick start I want them to have. All hand watering will include this 4-10-3 until I can see that the plants are established.

The middle picture deals with something else missing in my yard -- the requisite constant water supply the birds need. This was an item I reclaimed from the previous owner's junk pile last April just before it was to be picked up and taken to the dump. It's a pedestal from the remains of an abandoned outdoor grill which I have in the sink to get all the rust off. The bottom picture is the 16" terra cotta bowl I'm sealing with acrylic spray and will later (cleverly?) mount. I can hardly wait to see how I figure that out.

Since I realize that I'm wandering off topic, I've decided not to post again until after the potting is completed and only then if I feel I have some useful and practical specifics to share that are relevant to this Forum topic - Container Gardening.