Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Plastic or membrane to line a big wooden container?

Collapse

X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Plastic or membrane to line a big wooden container?

    Hello all,
    I have just built 3 1mx30cmx30cm containers fron tanalised decking boards (though the uprights are not tanalised). Then painted them with Wilko Timbercare on the outside (water based). (They look lovely )
    I was planning to line them with plastic (from a new matress) but then someone suggested soft weed surpressing membrane (and bought me some!) and was very certain this was the best way (and said he'd spoken to 2 landscape gardeners and the garden centre man about it).

    This seems odd to me, I thought plastic was needed to keep water in the compost and keep it off of the wood and to stop any leaching of chemicals from the tanalising etc.
    Have I got this wrong? What shall I do?

    The containers are intended to have a perennial planting of herbs and other bee attractors, maybe the occasional cabbage! but not for general cropping.

    Thanks S

  • #2
    A couple of points for you. All harmful chemicals were banned from tannalised timber early in the last decade so this is no longer a problem.

    When I built 2 containers of about the same size I used plastic because that is what I had to hand, but you still have to put holes in the bottom to allow for drainage otherwise you will drown your plants.

    These two have been in use for some 10 years now

    At this time of year I am harvesting peas from mine.

    Potty
    Attached Files
    Last edited by Potstubsdustbins; 01-07-2013, 07:33 PM. Reason: more info
    Potty by name Potty by nature.

    By appointment of VeggieChicken Member of the Nutters club.


    We hang petty thieves and appoint great ones to public office.

    Aesop 620BC-560BC

    sigpic

    Comment


    • #3
      Wow they look awesome and that's encouraging that they are still going after 10 years!

      And yes, of course I would put holes in the bottom of the plastic, but I wonder if anyone has any idea how the membrane would perform? Will the container hold water well enough? or will it dry out quickly? Will the wood suffer from being always damp?
      Can anyone say why 2 landscape gardeners and a garden centre man were so keen on it?
      Given that my friend bought me some I will use it if there is a growing/longevity advantage but not if it's just convenience related for these folk who were so keen on it?

      ..and thank you for your info on tanalised timber, Potty - I wouldn't have guessed

      xS

      Comment


      • #4
        Sarah,

        Given the choice I would go for plastic, at least it will protect the sides of the containers. As to the drainage holes I drilled the timber first with 22mm holes, lined the containers and then pushed through the plastic sheet with my pinky. The theory being that this pushed the plastic down into the holes and gave the bottom boards some protection too.

        Potty
        Potty by name Potty by nature.

        By appointment of VeggieChicken Member of the Nutters club.


        We hang petty thieves and appoint great ones to public office.

        Aesop 620BC-560BC

        sigpic

        Comment


        • #5
          I used plastic (old compost bags) on mine, to protect the wood. No bottom on it either. Can't say about the designers, but the garden centre man probably just wanted to sell the stuff
          Last edited by pdblake; 02-07-2013, 08:24 AM.
          Urban Escape Blog

          Comment


          • #6
            liners to planter

            I too have just made a planter of similar size, however mine is on a concrete base which I have drilled holes into the soil below, do you suggest I put a plastic liner in to stop the soil or water runnimg out the sides?

            Comment


            • #7
              I bought a lovely planter from B&Q last year, and I treated it, then lined it with old empty dog food bags to protect the wood, and to help retain the water, as it would be against a sunny fence.

              I'd line it with plastic personally
              https://nodigadventures.blogspot.com/

              Comment

              Latest Topics

              Collapse

              Recent Blog Posts

              Collapse
              Working...
              X