2011 Polystyrene Trough contents

18 comments

Some of you may remember last Summer i made myself a Trough made from Polystyrene and planted it up mainly with miniature Hostas.
The following is an update of how they have settled in.

This one is Hosta ‘Lemonade’ and was planted through a hole I made in the side At the same time I put the compost in.
They have all leafed up very quick a month ago the Trough looked bare.
Over the winter months I prepared a second one this time finished grey which i find more restful than the cream ,this at present is being planted up more as an Alpine Trough useing a lot of stone to create sharper drainage around the collars of the plants.

Although I have a number of Stone troughs this for me will be the way forward as they are so much lighter and of course the insulation properties should help equal the tempeture at the roots Summer and Winter.

2 May, 2012
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Comments

Stickitoffee

it looks just delightful!

put it on favourites ~ inspirational!! i love these miniatures.

2 May, 2012

Motinot

Me too.....Lovely Bjs....:>)

2 May, 2012

Cinderella

They look very good Bjs.

2 May, 2012

Lincslass

The Hostas are loving their home, no doubt the Alpines will do just as well for you...

2 May, 2012

Niverdeen

love the miniature hostas..... such a good idea the polestyrene boxes well done Bjs:))

2 May, 2012

Sheilar

All look great. I didn't know you could get miniature hostas. I saw a giant blue one yesterday for sale in a greengrocers, about 3' tall and apparently slug/snail proof!!

2 May, 2012

Stickitoffee

there are a vast array sheilar and they are gorgeous ~ just difficult to find!!!!

2 May, 2012

Willinilli

Great idea.

2 May, 2012

Franl155

lovely! do you have, or could you do, a how-to for preapring the troughs to be ready to plant? I've got a couple of polystyrene boxes and not altogether sure how to turn them into proper troughs.

3 May, 2012

Junna

I'm sure you have an incomparable talents in gardening ,BJS:-))))

3 May, 2012

Terratoonie

Hi Brian.. those are progressing nicely.
Well done :o)

3 May, 2012

Bjs

Fran
I did a blog last Summer on the trough but don't without looking it up remember if i went into detail on construction.A lot of people coat them with a Hypertufa mix which is basically cement and peat,mine I have used a masonry Paint to finish the ones you see .
However My Grandson wants me to make him a trough so could take photos as I do it .may be a couple of weeks time.
B

3 May, 2012

Terratoonie

Hi Fran ..
This might help also ...
http://www.growsonyou.com/Owdboggy/blog/19519-a-hypertufa-trough

3 May, 2012

Marigold6

Hello BJS What a good idea to make a trough out of polysterene - I shall be watching out for your instructions - the miniature hostas look quite charming - what is the tiny blue flower is it a gentian?

3 May, 2012

Annella

Fran look at Brian's blog from last year. You gave great instructions on how to make the trough Brian, I am still on the hunt for a poly container.

3 May, 2012

Bjs

Marigold
Yes 'Gentiana Verna' Kindly provided my a GOY member In fact 3 others also planted but not in flower came in exchange for other plants.Would give him credit but not sure if he wants his name printed.If he does I will edit it.
B

3 May, 2012

Franl155

thanks, Bjs, I'll check your blogs, and no rush for the how-to, the boxes have been sitting there about a year already!

Thanks TT for the pointer, great stuff!

I got my boxes from the pavement outside local mini-sipermarkets, but they can be bought: there's a couple of "polystyrene box" blogs on GoY, one is http://www.growsonyou.com/scotsgran/blog/15958-fish-boxes-recycled - it gives a link to where boxes can be bought

3 May, 2012

Bornagain

They look wonderful Bjs, what a good idea. i made a hypertufa planter using two cardboard boxes many many years ago...looked fine, but took a crane to move it...I exagerate of course, but wouldn't make one again. These are much more sensible:-)

14 May, 2012

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