Alpine Trough

Well done thats a great job

That is brilliant Scottish!!

Very well done,Scottish..go to the top of the class ! I think it is brilliant,as well..you should be very proud :o)

I`m impressed Scottish, well done....

That is lovely. We found the paint was very expensive too but it is a very easy way of camouflaging the fish boxes. This looks great. I'll look forward to seeing it next spring.

A very methodical job with very impressive outcome,love the colour mix fits very well with your existing slabs.
Just a case of waiting for the end result wont be long.
B

Hi Angie ..Interesting blog.
Good clear photos to fit the descriptions.
Well done :o)

Hi Scottish, I think you made a great job of your alpine trough. I was surprised at how stone-like the effect is in the end...not because of your work...but because I couldn't imagine it when you said you were going to do it. I suppose you have to be careful where you site the finished article as it would be very difficult to move without damaging once filled? I look forward to seeing it next year, so don't forget to put some more pics on, and I do hope the poppies flower in it, as it will be such a great place to see them :)

Bother ! lol :D I wish you had written this last year, because I threw a nice polystyrene box away LOL !
It would have made a lovely alpine trough.

It looks lovely with you Scottish, and I hope you'll show it again when the plants are flowering next year :o)

Thank you all for liking my work -
Drc and Paul - I'm very pleased first time I've ever tried anything like this.
Bloomer - Cheers - I'll go to the top of the class should it survive winter and grace me with flowers :)
Lincslass - thank you x
Sheila - thank you for liking - I found your blog whilst doing some research for this - so thank you for that too :)
Snoop - there will be no lettuce!! :)) We are not big veggie eaters therefore I find growing my own just isn't worth all the time and effort. It was good too save some baubies - those stone troughs are expensive.
Brian - thank you too - spring isn't too far away, so just hope the plants survive.
Meadowland and TT - thanks so much for liking.
Karen - TBH - I wasn't sure I was going to be very impressed with it either - that fact that it has cost me nothing is a bonus. A tip I found on the web for lifting is to slide planks underneath for support. It is very light compared to the real thing.
Hywel - sorry I'm 12 months late - maybe you'll find another and give it a go.

I'll have to look for one Scottish :o))
And the thing was, I'd had the one I threw away, for many years before I threw it ... lol :o)

Sods law eh!!

Yea :o( Just the sort of thing that happens lol :D

Goodness me that is really clever, one would never believe it was made from polystyrene, excellent project, and very clear instructions and photos, looking forward to seeing future photos, well done you.

Hi Scottish
Great blog- I love it! How creative!
Will you have to take care to only lift/move it when empty, as it may break with the weight of grit & soil?
I like the stones on top and love the flower choice, please post a pic once they bloom!

I tried to get hold of a poly box last year and gave up but will try again now after seeing yours. Great step by step blog and the finished trough looks brilliant :o))

thanks DD2, Sarah and Annella...
Sarah - got a tip from internet about putting a coulpe of slats of wood below to lift - that should work. It isn't very heavy but your observations are right.
Annella - Try your local fishmonger or Morrisons - one of my neighbours works for Morrisons and I was asking him yesterday how they get their fish. He's told me they still use polystyrene, so you may get one there.
I managed to source a really large one the other day - only trouble is that it is absolutely stinking!!!!! I haven't yet managed to sweet talk one of the drivers to take it home in a van for me - I don't want to put it in the car :))

Do what I did Scottish and take along black bags to put it in to. As soon as you get it home turn the hose on it.

Thanks Scottish, I will ask in there :o)

What a fantastic job Angie, want also to do like that:-)))

I've enjoyed reading this again, how's it looking now? Still had no joy with finding a poly box but I keep looking.

It's still looking great. The Meconopsis died back and I worried for a wee while - but new growth has started, so obviously just needed settling in. So far it doesn't seem like it's been affected by the frost either.
I managed to get another 2, quite square shaped, I've done one already and planted it up - when I get a spare afternoon or two, I'll do the other.
I do hope you find one.
You can buy boxes on the likes of Amazon - but then that defeats the purpose of recycling - but still the cost is much cheaper than a stone trough!

Well, aren't you a clever girl. I would love to do this but have a 'thing' about touching polystyrene - that squeaky noise goes right through me! I have to say though, it looks great. I do love recycling/upcycling.

Thanks TB - it's cotton wool that give me the heebie jeebies ;)

Yes, that can be funny stuff too and I don't like chalk squeaking on a blackboard or under my nails, or silver paper touching a filling! Ugh!

Annella try your local fishmonger or the fish counter in a supermarket. Take along a black bag (bin liner) as they can be a bit whiffy. A good wash with washing up liquid and plenty of water should get rid of any smells.

Better still try the butcher they don't smell as bad and they are are twice as thick and strong.