Get all dirty in the bath...
Unwanted tubs are great for giant container planting
AT THE start of this year, here’s a lovely project I’d like to show you which encompasses a recycling theme.
Last summer I found myself on a restoration job – very old houses were being restored with all their innards being stripped out.
I spotted a series of empty baths destined for a skip and asked the builders if I could hold on to them.
Behind each house was a cobbled courtyard and I figured it might be nice to create a few gardens in these baths. In effect because of the large volume of these tubs I was able to make a huge container garden which could be filled with seasonal colour.
The big decision that needed making was where to site the structure – because once installed I knew something like this couldn’t easily be moved.
I set upon the location against the house and in one case against a landing window.
This would allow the planted bath to be viewed from both sides, creating a picturesque scene inside and out.
Planning was key. The beauty of using a bathtub is that it has an outlet – a plug hole.
This would mean if I set the structure at a slight tilt, there would be no need to drill drainage holes down the length of the bath.
I propped the tubs off the ground with old bricks and then I was good to start filling.
I put in a fabric membrane over the plug hole so only water would drain away after regular irrigation. Then I spread out a few bags of gravel to ensure that the roots of the plants would never lodge on a damp bed.
After that I added soil from the garden – about 15cm – and the final crowning layer was good quality peat-free compost.
In effect I was left with a giant window box. And an extraordinary joy – look at the amount of space I had to fill.
I could assemble a range of great plant performers such as Verbena bonariensis, Achillea, grasses, Salvias and the little daisy Erigeron.
I chose many for their summer flowers, some for their foliage and others to drape around the edge of the bath itself.
The overall effect was a pure delight – it was as if a little cottage garden had been raised up, almost to waist height.
The unconventional nature of the container added to the sense of whimsy and it ensured that all who saw it smiled. And that’s all you can ask from any new garden project!
You could also use an old sink or loo – I’ve seen these done successfully. It might be rescued from a skip (just ask the owner’s permission first) or great value can be found in salvage and reclamation yards.
My baths happened to be in full sun but think of the beautiful fern and hosta garden you could successfully grow if you sited this in a shady area.
If you wanted to grow plants that may otherwise be invasive this could also be the perfect environment.
You need not be restricted to herbaceous as the bath could easily accommodate a beautiful Japanese maple for example.
In these challenging times, look again before you throw something out – with a bit of imagination it may be treasure.
It was as if a little cottage garden had been raised up to waist height