Rock garden, herb garden, flower bed, vegetable patch - all of this, only in mini format, you can create in a nice zinc tub, like the one grandma once used for bathing or doing laundry. This is especially perfect for small gardens, where it needs to be useful and decorative at the same time, but also compact. But of course anyone can plant a zinc tub if they like. Need some ideas?
Nothing is easier than that. But it's not just planting ideas that are important. A few helpful tips will also ensure that your plants really do well. This is particularly important if you are planting a zinc tub without holes to prevent waterlogging.
Planting a zinc tub: general tips
- You can design the tub seasonally or all year round.
- Drainage holes that you drill into the ground are advantageous, but not necessarily a must. Drainage can also be provided in other ways.
- Flowers,edible plantssuch as herbs, vegetables and strawberries, but also green plants and small trees can thrive wonderfully in these rustic containers.
- If the soil is acidic, the coating on the zinc containers can release zinc, which then gets into the plants. This confuses many people when it comes to planting edible specimens. Since this metal is also a trace element that our body needs and the amounts in this case are quite small, you don't need to worry about it. If you still want to be on the safe side, you can also line the tub with foil.
- In addition to the plants, you can also use other elements and yourDecorate zinc tub.
If you don't want to drill holes
How you proceed correctly in this case depends on where the plant container will be located in the future. A canopy protects the container from flooding when it rains, which would quickly lead to root rot and the death of your plants.
If the planted zinc tub is covered or indoors:
- Spread a generous layer of expanded clay on the bottom of the tub. Granules are also suitable, as are pebbles, pottery shards and the like.
- Only then does the potting soil come.
- Plant the selected plants.
- Always water them moderately so that you don't end up causing backwater despite the lack of rain.
Or choose this variant:
- Plant the selected specimens in separate pots or flower boxes with drainage holes.
- Put enough soil in the tub and place the planted pots in it at the appropriate height.
- Fill in with more potting soil until only the plants are sticking up.
- This protects the roots from stagnant water as it can drain out of the pots/boxes.
- But be careful: Even if you plant your zinc tub in this way, it must not be left in the rain afterwards.
- You can also simply place large/tall plants in the tub without filling them with soil (see example below with foxgloves).
If there is no protected space available, draining holes in the zinc tray are mandatory! Vegetables in particular usually need a sunny location, so extensive watering is mandatory. This only works properly if the excess water can drain away.
Zinc tub planting for the garden: you are spoiled for choice!
A great fact when it comes to zinc tub planting is that you really are spoiled for choice as pretty much anything feels at home in this container. The only requirement is that the selected specimens do not form very deep roots. In addition, the plants must of course be chosen according to the location and you should only combine those with similar requirements.
Plant zinc tubs: all year round for an easy-care arrangement
The tub should tooin the cold monthsstill decorate, winter-hardy and evergreen specimens are of course in demand. Matching perennials and varieties with decorative foliage are a great option, as are grasses and succulents that can withstand our winter temperatures.
Make sure you have something in the zinc container for each season: a few flower bulbs that you already haveplanted in autumnand provide color in spring, as well as summer flowers, which ideally have a long blooming period. Autumn flowers, ornamental cabbage, heather and dwarf trees are ideal for the last months of the year, some of which still provide liveliness in winter. If you want it to still bloom, you can choose Christmas roses and even try pansies.
Take a look hereto find a list of suitable winter flowers.
Seasonal planting ideas
If you have the desire and time, periodicallyReplace plants, then it can be seasonal. This means nothing other than that every new season you take out the faded specimens and replace them with those that are now in season. Since it would be a shame to dispose of perennial plants in this way, we recommend annual species (or you leave the perennial in the container so that it continues to decorate with its greenery).
Examples:
- Spring: bulbs, pansies, primroses, columbines
- Summer: dahlia, sage, delphinium, bluebell, hydrangea, lavender
- Late summer/autumn: tuberous begonia, star thaler, chrysanthemums, autumn gentian, purple bells, spurge
- Winter: spurge, purple bells, foam blossom, Christmas rose, golden pennywort, sedge, blue fescue
Grasses such as blue fescue or creeping, evergreen species such as ivy, hardy trees, can always be included.
Create a herb tub
The tub can be made entirely of herbs and represent an original herb garden or combined with ornamental plants and even vegetables. This creates a great mixed culture in the pot, which you can perfect by choosing flowers that protect the crops from pests (seePost about student flowers). Pretty much all known herbal plants are suitable for cultivation in pots.
It's best to combine herbs of different heights to create a beautiful variety on several levels. Basil, lovage and oregano, for example, are quite tall and can be combined with the wonderfully blooming lavender on the same level. Thyme grows low and also provides color through its flowers.
Herbs are generally drought-loving. They absolutely cannot tolerate waterlogging. Good drainage is all the more important here. Also, since they thrive best in the sun, holes in the zinc tray are a better option.
A few combination ideascan be found here.
Also read:Vertical Gardening with Native Plants: Helpful Tips and Beautiful Outdoor Plant Types!
