Very beautiful and very professional looking containers! I love all of them! Thanks for sharing with us!
Hope you win!
Marilyn
Garden Hose Containers
Just finding this threard. please tell what is a Garden Hose container? My entire courtyard is packed with about 250 containers. I need to know what this containes does.
Thanks
Sylvia
Sylvia, it's a container w/a large hole in the bottom so you can connect your water hose in that end and coil it up for when you're not using it. Basically, a pretty and safe way to keep garden hoses out of sight. They tend to be quite "fat" in diameter and you can get a lot of soil in them. It gives more room for the roots to spread out and when you cram so many plants in there, that's an advantage.
hilary
Oh IC Hillary! she is just using the Hose Container for a pot! lol
Congrats RCN48 ... its nice to know a famous gardener!
Sylvia
Hilary, you beat me to it - LOL - and yes it holds lots of plants! When I finished up the container, I think there were 8 Heuchera 'Silver Scrolls' around the border and I had to squeeeeze them in!
Steve, if you don't get it planted this summer, wait until next spring - you're right, it would need time for the plants to establish themselves before the winter.
Finally got a few pics of my new container in its early stages. Going to post them on a new thread, here's the link: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/616340/
I just saw this and I love foliage plants also. It is very nice.
Hey, look what I just found! We had told Gordy of Shady Oaks about my container and he had asked about using a photo on his website so he could encourage people to use Hostas in containers. And here it is :) http://shadyoaks.com/GeneratedItems/Pages/Cultural.html
I still think that is the most fabulous pot I have ever seen...You should have won first. edited to say I just put this as my screen saver.
This message was edited Jun 19, 2006 7:17 AM
rcn48, I love, love, love your containers! They look soooo beautiful!!! Tamara
This message was edited Feb 28, 2007 9:32 PM
Tamara, thank you :) I just responded and clicked for something and lost it all :( Let's see if I can "repeat" myself!
I saw on another thread where you were looking for ideas for containers. One of the things I've done since working with the containers above is buy the Container Gardening books that Fine Gardening issues every year
http://www.taunton.com/store/pages/044010.asp Last year they had a special price for the three previous years, think it was sometime in the spring. If you don't receive Fine Gardening magazine, there are some great articles on their site http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/index.asp - just search for Container Gardening.
When I try to plant a container, I gather all the plants I 'think' I might want to use and then just "play" with them - arrange, rearrange, eliminate, etc. until I get the look I'm happy with. Everyone's taste is different, but I'll admit to copying ideas when I see them - in magazines, on the web - but add some of my own favorites.
Debbie
I am so glad this thread was bumped....I love that pot. Show us some more Debbie.
Thanks for the tips, Debbie! Too bad you don't live closer...I want to be your apprentice! ;-) Tamara
LOL Tamara :)
Levilyla, I'm hoping to create a few more this year - I've got some huge pots - the plastic ones that are supposed to look like clay pots? I've never used them because I really don't like the color but heck they've been kicking around for here forever and they're free! I've actually been thinking of them the past few weeks and wondering how I could paint them so they'd be a little more appealing. I've been watching too many Curb Appeal shows on
HGTV! LOL
Debbie
Oh Goody...can't wait to see them so I can copy LOL Don't see how they can be any more appealing than they have been.
Does anyone know of a paint that will adhere to the plastic pots? The pots aren't smooth like some, they have just a little texture to the finish. Read somewhere about "plastic paint" but have no idea what it is??? I spray painted a similar container 3-4 years ago with the "stone look paint" - can't remember what the exact name of it was, that seems to have held up well but is expensive - took me 2 cans to get it completely covered :( I'm looking for paint that I can use in a two layer effect - like sponge painting? These containers will be outside so it would have to be an exterior paint as well - any suggestions?
I just saw some yesterday at HD in the paint aisle. It is in spray cans and says it is specifically for painting plastic. Tamara
In our area, the "spray paint for plastic" only came in very bright, mostly primary colors and I wanted earthier tones. So I tried regular latex paint in a very dark rust color and a sage-green and painted 2 trial pots after giving them a good sanding with coarse sandpaper. Then I sponged on some paint I had gotten for another project - browns, black grey, very dark green till I got the "look" I wanted which was old rusted iron with a touch of "algae" and old chipped paint. It took a little while but it was fun. So far there has been no flaking and I have used them the last 2 summers. They are left outdoors all winter. The pots I started with were plain plastic with a slight texture on the outside. I don't think this would work as well with the shiny plastic. If you don't have leftover latex paint, craft stores have lots of great colors in small bottles for sponging over the base color.
Hope this is helpful
Pat in PA
This message was edited Mar 5, 2007 10:46 AM
OK - rcn - I just put a note in the Garden Talk thread. I use min-wax gel (gotta be the gel) to stain the fiberglass and resin pots. Looks great. I'm not sure if it goes on plastic though. I'll have to check the label.
Tamara and orchid923, thank you - I'm going to look at the plastic paint next visit to Walmart.
Pat, your process sounds exactly like the "look" I'm going to be going for - thank you! I was trying to avoid the sanding process, but guess if I want to make sure that the paint will adhere, I won't have a choice :( Will be searching for techniques so I can get this project started - I know what I want it to look like when I'm done, just don't know how to make it look like that :)
Pat,
Do you have any pictures of your pot?
Suzy
I checked out the paint isle at WalMart yesterday... Krylon Fusion does come in some more subdued colors, including a burgundy and a dark green that I liked (look for the satin or matte finishes too if you don't want a shiny surface)... They also had a couple of new colors that are supposed to come out looking like hammered metal, with a textured finish. I think I'll be trying some of those... :-)
I did use some craft paint (acrylic) to add some color to a pair of foam planters a couple of years ago, and I sealed the surface afterwards with a couple coats of spray polyurethane.
thanks critterologist, a friend found these for me yesterday - even though the burgundy and green aren't the right hue, I figure I could probably use the darker colors for a base coat and then paint over them with an exterior paint and polyurethane for outside protection? I found another old container yesterday - mimics a wicker basket with the same terra cotta color! Looks like one more to line up for my next project. When I get started I'll have to start a new thread from beginning to end - i.e. painting to planting :)
An update for anyone still following this thread. After pricing the Krylon Fusion paint, decided I needed to find something a little cheaper because of the number of pots I wanted to paint. Found it! Sherwin Williams sells a latex primer - Prep Coat, that is specifically for priming glossy, metal or plastic! A quart costs $14.99, although until the end of March, I think, it's 15% off - you can have it tinted - on advice of SW saleswoman, tinted mine a medium gray color. So far so good! Painted almost 20 plastic pots in different sizes - the stone color only needs two coats (gray primer and one coat of stone) but the darker colors (burgundy and green) need three coats including the primer. A few of them looked so good I gave them a final coat of glossy polyurethane and now they look like more expensive ceramic pots - I'm psyched!!! Now I just need to figure out what I'm going to plant in all of them :)
Debbie
Awesome, Debbie! thanks for the tip! Tamara
Debbie, Thanks so much for the tip -- BUT, we want pictures!!!
Suzy
Suzy, ask and you shall receive - http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/704141/
Figured I'd start a new thread because I'm planning to add pictures of the containers and their progress through the season :)
Debbie,
Are the hose containers plastic? Would you show a picture of it unplanted if you have one? Thanks, Jeanette
Debbie,
I bought a can of the stone Krylon today, am anxious to try it. I also sent for one of Fine Living's container gardening books. Am super anxious to get it. Also, Krylon had a gorgeous coral color in the fusion. That is next.
I am going to use cement blocks for container plants in my hoophouse. Am thinking of painting them with a latex. Do you think they will absorb so much of the paint that it will cost too much?
Jeanette
Jnette ~ We built a shop using cement blocks and it took a lot of paint to seal the first time. You might see if there is a sealer you can use first. That would make attractive planters wouldn't it?
I think it might Podster. I made a raised bed out of the cement blocks last year and planted trailing nasturtiums in just one hole of the blocks and those went crazy. grew about 10 feet up and over the hoophouse. I didn't paint the blocks then, but I took the bed apart and am going to use the blocks just for planters. BTW, the nasturtium roots grew out from under the block and into the raised bed. They were pretty tough. LOL
nice container design
Jnette, I tried to find a picture of a garden hose container - this is the only one I could come up with quickly and what people normally associate a garden hose container with http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.akro-mils.com/image_library/images/gardenacc.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.akro-mils.com/lawn_garden/category_display.asp%3FID%3D33&h=200&w=200&sz=16&hl=en&start=93&um=1&tbnid=iQ3pnPwg-XVmxM:&tbnh=104&tbnw=104&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgarden%2Bhose%2Bcontainers%26start%3D80%26ndsp%3D20%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rls%3DGGLD,GGLD:2005-14,GGLD:en%26sa%3DN. I've seen some similar to the one I used at Lowe's this year - about the same size but different design. Mine feels like it's fiberglass or something like it versus a hard plastic or ceramic. As for painting the cement, I agree with podster, you should probably look for a special paint to seal the cement as a base first - otherwise you might have to use numerous coats of paint to get the look you want.
Thanks pheitmeyer, as soon as this blast of cold weather moves out of here, I'll be planting up this year's containers and will start a new thread.
Debbie
I saw two of these hose containers used at a flea market... Thought about them and went back to ask a price and d#&g it, they had sold them. Not meant to be but I won't hesitate next time.
Has anybody looked at Walmart? We are 40 miles from them so we don't go very often.
Debbie,
I looked at that adobe site, Akro-Mills I think it was. Their catalog. They have some beautiful planters but no prices. I have a feeling they only sell wholesale. By the carton or pallet. Come to think of it, they had other mfg. in the catalog so it must have been a distributor.
Jnette, yes Akro Mills is a wholesale distributor - just wanted to show you what a "hose container" looks like (normally). I checked Lowe's site and nothing is showing up for hose containers - although I know they have them because I saw them last week. It's possible that Walmart may have something similar or even Home Depot. They're not cheap :( When I bought mine in 2005 it was only like $18 or $20 - recently I've seen them selling for anywhere from $30 to $40!
Debbie
Regarding plastic paint. I think there is something called H2O paint that is available at hobby stores. I think Michaels also. Is suppose to paint anything from styrofoam to plastic. Haven't tried it.
Debbie, like anything else, if people find a better use for them they will charge a higher price.
Linda, I imagine there are tons of things out there that I am unaware of. I live pretty rural, a long way from stores, so don't get to them very often. When I do get near them it is normally for a doctor's appt. etc. Never enough time. LOL
Jeanette
Hi guys! New to the container forum, and I have a question for Debbie.
Debbie, first off, your containers are beautiful. You have a knack for putting them together, that's for sure!
But do you do this planning for the container to only be a planting for that year? Surely, for example, a sambucus alone would not thrive in that size container for long, not to mention squeezed in with those other plants. So do you go into this knowing that the container will be good only for a year or two? Or do you plan to prune and possibly root-prune, and if so, is that okay for the plant to be pruned so often and so heavily?
I'd love to do a container like yours, but I'm just not sure how to plan for it for the next year and forward from there.
Thanks!
Dee
Dee,
Are you going to put a Sambucus in a container? I have a Black Lace and wanted to put it in a container but was afraid more that the roots would freeze in the winter here.
Or are we talking about 2 different plants?
Jeanette