Create a lovely succulent arrangement in a wooden box to use as home décor by using the thriller, spiller, filler principle. Simple, simple, and enjoyable!
Fill a small portion of the bottom of a wooden box with succulent soil, and then cover it with Spanish moss to make your own wooden box arrangement. The moss adds a little bit of interest to the wooden boxes and helps the cuttings stay steady and in place.
How should you plant succulents in a container?
I’ve been preparing my gardening equipment in preparation for spring. Now is the perfect time to create your first succulent container garden, if you’ve been thinking about it. Here, I’ll show you how to start your very own succulent container garden and provide you lots of other helpful potting advice.
It doesn’t take much planning to grow a succulent container garden, but you should take the following factors into account before you start planting:
Either utilize a single succulent plant or group a number of different plants together. Everything is dependent upon your goals. Your choice of pot should be based on the size of the plant or plants you are utilizing, and vice versa.
Does the pot’s size matter? Yes. Succulents don’t need particularly deep pots or a lot of soil to flourish because their roots are shallow. Succulents actually favor a somewhat shallow pot or just enough dirt to help the roots and the plant to spread out.
You want the size of the pot to match the size of the plant(s) you are using, whether you choose the plant first and the vessel second or choose the pot first and the plants to go in the pot later. The container shouldn’t be too big for the plant, but it should still allow for some growth.
The pot should have a diameter that is 1 to 2 inches larger than the nursery container the plant is currently in.
The decision of what kind of pot to use is largely subjective. Each of them has advantages and disadvantages. Here is a piece I published about selecting the ideal pot that you might find useful: “Choosing The Best Succulent Pot: Advantages and Disadvantages.
Your own preferences will determine a lot of the plant varieties you employ, as well as the color schemes, color combinations, forms, and sizes. Combining succulent plants actually has no right or wrong technique. When placing multiple plants in a single container, I just consider their growing requirements.
Plants with comparable growing requirements should be combined in one container as much as feasible. If a plant’s growing requirements are unknown to you and the label does not include basic instructions, you can easily research the requirements online.
The plant’s fundamental requirements for growth include:
Put plants that require the same amount of light together. Put plants with similar lighting requirements in the same container, whether you’re putting them indoors or out. Plants that require the sun together, those that require partial shade together, those that require low light together, etc. This will make it simpler to locate the ideal location for your container plants and to move them around as necessary to meet their lighting requirements.
Fortunately, the most of succulents have very comparable watering requirements, so I don’t stress too much about watering requirements when combining plants. However, you should be aware that different succulent plants require extremely varied amounts of water, therefore it is advisable to place them in different containers. For example, Lithops (Living Stones) have extremely different watering requirements from other succulents and won’t grow well if planted next to them or irrigated at the same time.
Learn about the hardiness zones of the plants and the ideal setting for that specific plant. Avoid combining plants that are cold-hardy with those that are not, or tropical cacti with desert cacti. It will be simpler for you to care for the plants in different seasons if you group plants with similar growing requirements together.
Finding these three items may seem like a lot of work, but most of the time, a fast internet search is all that is required to learn about a specific plant. Or, if you buy the plants from a garden center, they typically have a tag or label that describes their fundamental growing requirements. Additionally, you can enquire in the garden center about the requirements for the plant’s growth.
Step 1: Cut Wood Pieces
I divided the four equal-length strips into two for the bottom and two for the sides. We cut two additional 6 strips for the shorter sides as the bottom will be 8 across. That will fit properly because the lumber is 1 thick.
Make sure to cut the wood in a line that is as straight as you can. You can have the lumber pre-cut to your specifications when you buy it at the hardware store if you don’t have access to a saw or don’t trust yourself to cut it. However, most retailers will tack on a little fee for this.
I decided to sand the lumber after cutting it because I prefer features that are extra-polished. Nevertheless, depending on how precisely the wood was cut, this isn’t always essential.
Step 2: Attach the Pieces
You should start by drilling a few pilot holes on the base and on the short sides. These will facilitate even screw installation.
I joined the bottom pieces last after the four sides. Everything should fit together properly if you sized everything correctly.
Step 3: Drill Drainage Holes
You don’t want your plants to have damp feet, as everyone with a green thumb is aware of. Succulents in particular are a good example of this because they use very little water and are exceptional at retaining it.
Turn your box over and make a few small holes on the bottom to stop this from happening. Since my box is small, I just had four holes drilled. You might want 5 or 6 if yours is a little bigger. But don’t go overboard.
Step 4: Consider Your Details
Your DIY succulent planter is now complete and ready to use. But now is the time to make any last adjustments. To protect the wood from the water draining out of the bottom and lengthen its lifespan, many people may place a screen layer there. Cut your screen according to the internal dimensions, then fasten it with few tiny finishing nails.
Step 5: Treat the Outside of the Planter
It’s time to improve the planter’s appearance now. If you chose Douglas fir, as I did, you may have observed that the planter feels excellent and robust but appears quite uninteresting. I stained the box with some simple wood stain, but you may also paint it any color you choose.
You might just use some clear lacquer or leave it untreated for an au natural look if you invested in some cedar or other higher-quality lumber.
In either case, make careful to only touch the planter box’s exterior. Internal treatment could contaminate the soil and hurt your succulents.
Step 6: Add the Soil
Start with a little covering of gravel. To prevent moist feet and help the planter drain, do that. From there, you may choose from a variety of soil types, but I choose to use cactus dirt. That’s made especially for succulents and will make them flourish.
You might also think about scattering pebbles on top of the dirt to improve aesthetics. These, in my opinion, add a nice touch.
Does a wooden planter box need to be lined?
My favorite plants may flourish on the balcony of my flat thanks to a planter box. However, I was curious as to whether I should line my planter box before using it.
If your planter box is built of wood or metal, you must line it. The planter’s lifespan will be extended by the liner. If the planter is made of plastic, ceramic, or concrete, you don’t need to put a liner because such materials are already extremely robust.
You may learn more about utilizing a liner for your planter box by reading the information I’ve provided below. You may learn more about the various materials and my suggestions there. I’ll also demonstrate how to use the planter box liner for you.
Step 1
To ensure a clean finish, measure and cut all of the wood pieces to the appropriate lengths, cutting the ends as squarely as you can. Make a hole with a 3mm drill bit about 2.5 cm from the end of each length to prevent the wood from breaking when you drive the screws.
Step 2
To create the frame, spread out two lengths of 100 cm, 60 cm, and 40 cm. With the holes on the side, butt one end of each length to the following one. Before attaching a screwdriver attachment and fastening the frame together with 7.5cm screws, check the angles using a try square.
Step 3
For the planter bottom, cut treated gravel board to the proper lengths. The bottom boards should be put on the frame. The planter will be lined, thus it doesn’t matter if there are spaces up to 5 cm wide between the boards. Drill pilot holes in the bottom boards, make sure the frame is square once more, and then fasten them to the frame with 5 cm screws.
Step 4
To make the bottom boards rest on the ground, turn the frame over onto its other side. Alternate the corner connections as you lay the following course. Verify that all ends are flush, then secure with 7.5 cm screws.
Step 9
Place two 40-cm pieces at an angle to the 45-cm piece to complete this layer, and then cut the remaining length to match the remaining space. Until the raised section of the planter has four layers, keep adding courses of 40 cm lengths of timber, alternating the joints.
Protecting the wood
Line the interior of the planter with plastic, such as used plastic compost bags, and secure it with little nails to preserve the wood. Before adding compost, create drainage holes.
Does a wooden planter box need a plastic liner?
Yes, wooden planters lined with plastic will endure a lot longer. Plastic liners shield the wood from ongoing contact with moisture. In turn, this keeps the wood from deteriorating before its time.
How do you waterproof a planter box?
Depending on the liner, how. If it’s a pot, just set it inside the planter of your choosing; if it’s a piece of plastic sheeting, secure it with glue or staples. You can either paint it on or spray it on if you choose to go with the liquid option.
What should I line the bottom of a planter with?
You can cover the drainage holes with coffee filters or fine wire mesh to stop soil from draining out. Newspaper or cheesecloth are other options for this use.
Which plants should I put in a wooden planter?
Why not fill your planter with herbs? It will give your landscape a purpose in addition to making it look even more lovely and adding more amazing tones of green. When it comes to the kitchen, adding some fragrant mint, rosemary, thyme, or basil can all be quite useful. For a more striking appearance, we advise placing some lemongrass in the centre of these herbs.
If you enjoy vibrant colors, we have what you require. We advise azaleas, rhododendrons, begonias, and dahlias for vibrant pinks. Want to go over and beyond for that pink hue? Why not grow a cherry tree for yourself? The standard flower for yellows is the sunflower, which looks lovely on its own but can truly give your garden the light and airy summer vibe it deserves when combined with daffodils and tulips. We suggest delphiniums and hydrangeas for flowers in cooler hues like blue and purple.
Keeping everything green can improve your garden and the grass you do have, giving your garden a “full” feeling. For a simple and adaptable southern garden feel that looks nice and tastes delicious, try planting some collard greens. Try planting some additional vegetables and leafy greens like cabbage, leeks, potatoes, or cauliflower to really get your green thumbs going. You can’t go wrong with greens because they go great in practically any container!
Do you have a specific item that you adore and wish to use to symbolize the colors in your garden? Embrace it in your garden style while setting up your planter, whether it be a favorite color scheme, a sports team (such as football or another team), a pride flag, or something else entirely.
A succulent plant like an agave and smooth stones, pebbles, or sand on top of your container can definitely liven up your garden and give it a slightly desert vibe! This kind of plant is especially beneficial if you live in a hot, humid region because it doesn’t need much water or upkeep.
Using your wooden planter to add something straightforward, like a single tree or even a rose shrub, is excellent. For a basic yet elegant cottage type look, you may even add enormous daisies or another plant from the meadow. A single yucca or cordyline if you’re searching for something more modern.
Is it all about using bees to power the garden? Why not completely fill your wooden planter with wildflowers? These annual plants are excellent for bees, butterflies, and garden pollination. Additionally, seed packets are inexpensive and yield a wide range of blooms and a profusion of color.
Want something chic and audacious? One of our top sellers and a great option for any landscape in need of a makeover is the Kensington planter. Our Kensington planter is the best option for individuals who wish to experiment with their garden’s aesthetic because it looks great with any flora. Searching for a modern touch? Our tall, slender Riddings planters are perfect for holding delicate flowers, miniature trees, or rounded bushes. Go for the throne with our Regency planter, a stunning option for any patio and ideal for rose and lavender bushes.
These are only a handful of the numerous possibilities we offer here at Taylor Made, and any of our planters may hold whatever you choose. Visit the section on our website to see our whole selection of wooden planters.