Container Gardening Without Containers

 Hello Readers. I am not a master gardener but I do like to have a little veggie garden every year. I only grow things that are easy to grow like tomatoes, beans, and this year, lettuce. I am trying a new method for the lettuce. This idea won't require me to buy containers, because containers can be expensive. I want the fresh veggies not big expenses. I only had to buy the bags of garden soil. And the seeds of course. 

Sometimes we need easy inexpensive ideas. 

This plan started to form in my head when I saw these shelves that my neighbor was getting rid of. (Yes, I am the neighbor looking over the trash before the trash truck comes down the street.)

 

These shelves were similar to this set of shelves. The parts all pop together to build it. My neighbor was getting rid of 2 shelves and that was what I wanted for this project.

 

 The 2 shelves would raise the bags of soil up and save me some back pain. (I hoped anyway.)

 

Before I could really set it all up the way I wanted, I had to do some prep work. You can see what happened when I got some rain. The water is just sitting. I needed some drainage holes. 

 

To make holes I got the power drill. I drilled small holes in the low areas of my shelf. The size of the holes isn't that important, but having some drainage is necessary.

I wanted to cover up my shelves because they were not cute. This vinyl/plastic tablecloth is totally optional. My lettuce seeds won't care about how this looks whole table lookls, but I will. 

 

I spread the table cloth over my 2 shelves. I am sort of pretending the shelves are some kind of side table. This plastic tablecloth will make the whole thing look a little better. It is also safe to leave in the weather on my deck all summer.

 

I used rubber bands to secure the tablecloth to the legs. The bags of soil will hold the tablecloth down, it won't blow away. I just don't want it blowing around and flapping in the wind.  

 

I also poked a few holes in the plastic tablecloth so water won't collect in it. I felt around for the low areas and poked holes where I had drilled holes in the plastic shelves. This will allow excess water to escape.

Now it is time for the bags of soil. These are really the most important part of this project. I can't plant seeds at all without this.

 

I set the bags in place on my little garden table and poked a couple holes in the bags themselves. Then I flipped the bags over so those drainage holes would be on the underside.  Water can run out of the bottom of the bags, and through the tablecloth and shelf.

 

After I made sure the holes were on the underside of the bags I carefully cut the top sides of the bags open.

I wanted to used the bags as containers. I cut them open but made sure the sides were intact and tall enough to hold the soil in. I added water to moisten. 

I got my lettuce seeds. I wanted lettuce because I like salad. These seeds do not need to be planted very deep. These bags are 4-5 inches deep so they won't be big enough for larger/deeper plants. I think for my lettuce or maybe small herb plants this is going to work fine. 

I planted my seeds as the packet directed. And kept the soil moist. 

Look at this! They sprouted! I can't eat them yet but I wanted to show you my bargain garden idea. Thanks for reading along, I hope it inspires you to try and find a garden spot where ever you are.

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Making the Garden Pretty in Day & Night

 Hello Readers. Fall is here and the trees will turn colors soon and look glorious but my flower garden looks dry, dead and depressing. I wanted to have something pretty to look at it the garden but what can survive the fall weather? What could look good like day and night? It might sound unusual but what about a vintage bike? Don't close out the tab! Let me show you what I mean.

 Day and night.

The current state of my flower garden is not good. There used to be tulips and daffodils, peonies and day lilies, a cherry tree and a butterfly bush. But now everything has gone dormant and it looks dead and empty.

This sad tired peony has seen better days. It won't look better until spring when it comes back and blooms.

The garden will never look pretty with all these dead looking plants.

 

I cut the stems down to ground level with some pruning shears.The cuttings can be composted over the winter. (My son's soccer goal was in my flower garden for some reason. I put that away too.)

 

  I used the kiddie pool to hold all the cuttings. It was easy to throw them all in there and drag the whole thing to the compost pile. It was a big help.

 

I hung a small string of solar powered lights I had from the low tree branches.

 

Using solar powered means I can put these lights anywhere. No electric outlets needed! I made sure to put this small solar panel at the end of the string in the sun. It needs to get the sunlight to charge itself everyday. (As you can see my lights are getting old but they still work great.)

 

I wrapped the string of lights around and between the branches so it would stay up in the tree even on a windy day. I know fall will blow in with some cold weather and I don't want to have to rehang this.

 

I found this vintage bike on the side of the road a long time ago. (It had a sign that said "FREE".)  It is going to make a really fun focal point in my garden.  Instead of a bike you could also use items like a child's wagon, a tree stump, or old outdoor chair or table. Anything to set the plants on or around.

 

I added a basket to the front of the bike. I wanted to put something pretty in the basket.

 

I had 2 ideas for flowers and I decided to show you both ideas. I put some artificial white flowers in a basket and put the basket into the bike basket. I know some people do not like to mess with real flowers. And I know fake flowers really bother serious gardeners. 

I put a rubber band around the end to hold the stems in a bouquet position. 

I separated the flowers to make the whole bouquet look big and full.

 

I also went to a farm stand and bought a real living white mum plant to go with arrangement.

 

I put both my floral choices on display. Make the floral choices that works best for you. I like the white combination and it fills in my empty garden nicely.

When the lights start to shine at dusk the whole arrangement looks very sweet. It is nice to have some soft lighting in the backyard at night too. I have to water the mum plant but otherwise I don't have to tend to this at all. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.

***Year End Update- I don't like gardening that much but I enjoy this lovely little spot.