I Need Some Help

I have two half whiskey barrels to plant and don't want to spend a lot of money on the potting soil, can anyone tell me how if there is a mixture that I can use with the potting soil to fill them,I don't want to use top soil.
Any ideas?

Have you thought about filling the bottom with rocks or pinecones to take up space?? that helps cut down on the amount of soil that you need to fill them. Or have you thought about laying them on their sides and giving them the spilled over affect?? you know like lay them on their sides and put the soil only in part of it and then out on the ground, then plant the flowers so that it looks like they are pouring out of it onto the ground....Just a thought.

Yep. You can save on potting soil by adding a filler to the bottom of the barrel such as those styrofoam peanuts (don't use the kind that dissolve in water tho). Also you could use gravel, or rocks that are just laying around the premises. I'm also wondering how a half-bale of straw would do, stuck in the bottom.
Anyone else have some advice on this?

We have two whiskey barrels. We filled them halfway up with rocks and broken pieces of brick, then the rest of the way with potting soil. We had to use such a small amount of soil that it only cost about $5 to fill them both.

Of course, we'll need a crane if we ever want to move them. :-)

dave

Packing peanuts work great, as do empty coke cans, and even old plastic grocery store bags (in a pinch - I did it one year as a temporary measure.)

I really recommend using the packing peanuts - they're light weight (no cranes needed to move the planters) and they let the water drain easily. You might want to place a few sheets of newspaper on top of the "filler" material you use, to keep the dirt from seeping down right away. The newspaper will still let water through, and will eventually break down, but by then, the roots of your plants will help hold it in place.

Thanks you guys, it is so nice to get a quick response because I have to plant them today before it starts raining again here. It's suppose to start raining tomorrow and end Tues. Hey do you need any rain? I'll be more than happy to share some or all of mine with you lol.

I had some large planter pots and I didn't want them to be really heavy. So I put some rock in bottom, so they wouldn't topple, stood soda cans up around the edge two deep. filled them with water and then a layer of good potting soil. The roots will work between the cans and they will supply moisture to the plant withpout causing rot. I have my orange mint in one and catnip in another. you would never know the cans are there. They won't breakdown for a while. mine have been there two years and haven't sank any. the plants look good.

Tink I had forgotten all about that trick, you see the mind is the first to go lol, thanks so much.

Just thought I would add my two cents - I also use packing peanuts. I wouldn't be able to move any of my large pots if I didn't. I assume it helps with drainage. I also use them in my hanging plants.

Thought you might enjoy this. A few weeks ago a co-worker had several large bags of packing peanuts and she was trying to get rid of them. So I said I would take them. As I was driving home, with the windows open a few peanuts floated around the car. At a stop light I tied the bag tighter. As I picked up speed I looked in the rear view mirror and there were peanuts flying around and out the windows. I was thinking it must have looked like the Jiffy Pop car- I can't imagine what the person in the car behind me thought. When I got home the entire floor of the back of the car was full of them. One of the tied bags was in another larger bag. That bag was half full of peanuts and it wasn't tied at all. I'm still finding them in the car - I think they're under the front seat.

I have some columns and I used concrete blocks and newspaper to fill up to planting level...worked great and the newpaper helps hold mositure.

LOL Elsie, I loved your story and laughed my head off, now should I call you the peanut lady lol.

Thanks Dale, do appreciate the info.

Windsurffer: We discussed this very subject in another thread, and I mentioned that there is a shallow pot that is made to fit over the top of your whiskey barrel. The darned thing was about $10, but it would certainly eliminate the need for filling the barrel up with anything. It would also make fall cleanup much easier. I think I saw these planters in Wallmart, or somewhere like it.

Thanks Weezie

lol Elsie - snowing peanuts - what a laugh!! I like to use them too but didn't have any on hand!! I planted up my half barrel last week and filled the bottom with small plastic pots, sea gravel and sand!!

Guess what I found in the shed today...a big box of peanuts that I have been saving. Elsie I am going to use these and pop cans thank for reminding me, it will make it a lot easier to move them if I have to.

Windsurffer - glad you liked the story. It just dawned on me could you use a few empty gallon milk/water jugs with the cap on tight? I don't know how much space you need to use up but I was thinking that would be so easy. Good luck with your barrels.

I have just finished planting my herb garden in one before the thunder storms ran me in the house. I still have to get more potting soil, I haven't decided what I'll plant in the other one yet. I am still planting a lot of seeds and I have a lot to choose from.

windsurffer;not knowing your money situation or anything but here are a couple of ides for the other barrel.

Plant a dwarf Peach tree in the middle;and then around the tree plant;
3 strawberries 'Sequoia'
4 Marigolds of the 'Safari Queen'
2 Nierembergias (sp)
3 Gazanias
2 Dahlias
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OR
just plant 1 'Washington Navel' Orange tree
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OR:
1 dwarf Crabapple planted in the center and surround the whole base below the Crabapple with pure white pansies or petunias
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OR;
1 Lemon Tree "meyer"
12 Zonal Geraniums (choose the Cherry hues to enhance the vibrant fruits.)
can also surround the container with swatches of fuchisa blooms
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Or
Plant your favorite color of rose with Allysum cascading around the base

Thanks CoCo but I have reached my limit on buying plants, I have a lot of seeds that I can plant but I was hoping to find something unusuall but I guess I'll just end up putting one of my plants from one of my smaller pot in it.