Making Pond Planting Baskets?

Question:

Any ideas of how I can make my own pond planting baskets?

Hardiness Zone: 7a

Liz from Portsmouth, England

Answer:

Hi Liz,

This is a great question. I am not sure how plants are packaged for sale at nurseries in the U.K., but here in North America, almost all of our nursery-grown plants come in plastic pots. Finding places that will accept these pots for recycling can be difficult so reusing them is always a good idea. With a few holes drilled into the sides, it seems like they would make the perfect pond planting baskets. If your greenhouse seedlings are packaged in the same way, I would think plenty of gardeners would be more than willing to have them taken off their hands.

Another idea is to use stackable plastic milk crates, small wastebaskets, and juice or soda bottles. You might also try gallon-sized condiment or salad dressing jars, or 5-gallon pickle buckets (inquire for empties at local restaurants for both of these). Just about any plastic container will work fine, so long as you are able to perforate the sides with holes to allow water to pass through. Depending on how thick the plastic is, you can use a hammer and nails to create the necessary holes.

Other ideas include cat litter containers, bleach containers, plastic laundry baskets, milk jugs, and detergent containers. You could also use cut down aluminum tubing, because it will not corrode as fast as other metals when submerged under water.

Stick with plastics coded 1,2,4, and 5. Avoid PVC piping-it is known to leech chemicals-and to try to avoid using plastics coded 3 (Polyvinyl/chloride/vinyl), 6 (Polysterene/Styrofoam), and 7 (Polycarbonate and others).

Good luck!
Ellen