Prep Tips for Using Wooden Planter Boxes

August 25, 2019

For the gardening enthusiast, flower pots, planters, and related stuff seem to excite more than you can imagine. As a result, as a gardening enthusiast, you may always be looking to get the best equipment for your garden needs. Wooden planter boxes are one awesome pick in this context. They are hardy, look fantastic and offer a neat finish to the garden area, moreover, these boxes are a great way to convert even the smaller space into a gardening bliss.  However, just grabbing wooden planters will not be enough. These need to be perked up and made planting worthy before you realize and tap their inbuilt potential.

Wooden Planter Boxes
Merely having the right wooden planter is not enough, you need to work on preparing it well, such that it supports the growth of the plants in it. You can use these planters for growing flower, vegetables, shrubs, etc.

Begin with the Cleaning Bit

The first tip to implement in case you are getting new or used wooden planters is to disinfect these before use. This is because if you skip this step, there can arise the risk of plant disease. The wood planters if mot disinfected, will rot over time and will not be helpful in the growth of the plant. Additionally, the wood surfaces deteriorate over time and need to be maintained properly.  Therefore, with disinfecting you take the step to make wooden planters durable and protected. If you are converting a wooden box into a planter, don’t forget to add sealant that will keep the moisture away and will also enhance the life of a wooden planter.

To begin with, if you are refinishing or revamping your existing wooden planter boxes, make sure you do not leave behind any mud or slush residue. Bleach the inner surface and rinse with a vinegar solution. Leave for maximum effect, overnight. You can also scrub or scour with a hard spring sponge. Air-drying is recommended before using the planter. At this stage, you can also start the disinfection process and keep it away for a day before you use the same.

Waterproofing Worry

The next thing to do with wooden planters is to waterproof these. Use waterproof paint or liquid and also are safe for plants. This is an important step and you must use good quality waterproof paint so that it keeps the moisture away from the pot.  Once the waterproofing solution is painted on and inside the wooden planter boxes. While wooden planter boxes are not easily damaged, but waterproofing these make them last longer without any extrinsic damage.

Lining Issues

Well, there is a small trick which can help you make the best use of the planter. You can use the wooden planter as an accessory and have a plastic or ceramic pot placed inside it. You can just waterproof the planters to prevent damage against seeping water. However, this spares heavy finishing and too much time investment onto the planters directly.

A key point to note is that you must not keep the wooden planter directly on the mud or grass. Instead, add something beneath it as a base. Direct connect with the ground may damage the planter. This causes rotting from the base area. Therefore, commercially available planter bases, wrought iron rod structures, hanger hooks or even pebbles can be fixed around the wooden planter boxes to prevent such decay.

Your wooden planter must have a hole at the bottom. It allows the water to seep down without clogging, thus creating the right moisture level for the plant to grow. Ready planters have holes but DIY ones need to be made, keeping in mind the need for holes. Make sure you line the planter on the inside using plastic paper. Trim off at the outlines and edges for best looks. This step helps protect the inner surfaces form staining. Constant exposure to mud can cause indelible marks on the same.

Wooden Planter Boxes
Summing Up

With these tips related to wooden planter boxes, you can rest assured that the planters will last years to come. Depending on the area, you want to keep the wooden planters in, choose the shape and finish or color. You can find myriads of options online, or else you can also convert old wooden boxes into a planter by painting it and adding sealant.   change the look of all your garden area and even double as indoor plant setups.

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