Advice Please? I hold a 2 untreated pine storage chests that I presently want to fit to planters for the garden? could any one tell me if its ok to paint/stain them...
could any one tell me if its ok to paint/stain them and not mar the plants I put in, also where on earth would I start?
ie what do I fill them beside, soil gravel, drainage etc,
Thanks for any advice surrounded by advance.
Answers: Paint or stain on the outside of the boxes will not hurt the plants, but disappear the inside untreated. You can paint the top couple of inches on the inside to make it look neater. Oh, and manufacture sure to get an outdoor level paint or stain - it will last longer and protect the wood more.
For any container, you obligation drainage. The best option is to drill holes within the bottom of the chests for excess water to drain out. If you don't want marine to drain out, you have to be immensely careful going on for over-watering and excess rainfall - it's better to have the holes contained by the bottom. You can also line the inside of the chests near plastic, again, making sure there are hole within the plastic as well. The plastic will comfort the pine last a bit longer. Fill the bottom of the chests next to an inch or two of gravel - more or less depending on the size of the chests. This will relief with drainage. Then crowd with worthy quality soil mix - try one beside a slow-release fertilizer, or you will have to fertilize the plants regularly. Then put within your plants! the soil level should be an inch or so beneath the top of the chests - leaves room so hose down just doesn't run bad.
Pine is not the best outdoor wood but if you treat them inside and out, including the bottom, with a suitable linseed oil basis preservative and let it dry thoroughly it will work for awhile.
Drill plenty of drainage holes within or near the bottom, put a few inches of gravel contained by the bottom and top off beside good garden or potting soil. You are in a minute ready to plant.