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Hi All -

I've started to build a planter on a concrete slab to finish creating a perimeter around a section of my yard. I plan to put gracilis bamboo in it.

Looking at it from afar, I'd prefer it be shorter for aesthetic purposes. It is currently 33in tall. Would it be detrimental to take it down 6 inches (one 2x6 board)? I've read that roots go to 2-3ft deep.

Thanks


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I'd say take it off it should be fine.

Just to give you an idea what I'm talking about




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6 inches? I would be concerned about maintaining the moisture level, unless you have a reliable source of water.

pokenei wrote:6 inches? I would be concerned about maintaining the moisture level, unless you have a reliable source of water.

I'm pretty sure he means to reduce the height of the planter to roughly 27" from 33' inches by removing 6". AKA not reducing it to 6" only.

I agree -- remove that board and don't fret it.

I removed the board. The plan is to have about 24inches or fresh topsoil/compost mixture, 4 inches of mulch (50/50), and the remaining space to catch litter.

I'll post a picture once the plants are in. Now time to install the moisture barrier and start wheelbarrowing....


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The mistake I made with my raised beds was to mix too nice of a soil mix - too loose, I needed more clay or those crappy bags of $2 top soil would have been a nice addition.

needmore wrote:The mistake I made with my raised beds was to mix too nice of a soil mix - too loose, I needed more clay or those crappy bags of $2 top soil would have been a nice addition.

Was it a mistake because of stability or because they turbo-grew?

cole wrote:

needmore wrote:The mistake I made with my raised beds was to mix too nice of a soil mix - too loose, I needed more clay or those crappy bags of $2 top soil would have been a nice addition.

Was it a mistake because of stability or because they turbo-grew?

I'm not sure what brad's conclusion is but mine opinion for planter soil is that:

a) light soil tends to drain quite quickly and needs more watering
b) a substrate with a lot of inorganic components such as expanded clay , sand or perlite tends to keep its structure much better over the long run.

I plan to line the entire planter with pond liner as a moisture barrier to extend the life of the wood (and seal the outside). Will that help retain moisture?

Also I do have drainage lines with the ability to cap off e.g., during normal watering in dry weather months


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cole wrote:

needmore wrote:The mistake I made with my raised beds was to mix too nice of a soil mix - too loose, I needed more clay or those crappy bags of $2 top soil would have been a nice addition.

Was it a mistake because of stability or because they turbo-grew?

Stability, and read Nicholas' post, the soil broke down quickly and needed topped off.

I am not sure the pond liner is a good idea, you do not want water to stay in there too long either.

Rhizomes will destroy that pond liner in short order. I assume the liner is not on the bottom but regardless they do a number on it wherever it is.

Staying cool, P. atrovaginata just starting to shoot & more new ones on 'Beijing'.

john - +13c and rain as Hurricane Colin passes by to the south.

needmore wrote: Stability, and read Nicholas' post, the soil broke down quickly and needed topped off.

Gotcha. Thanks.

johnw wrote:Rhizomes will destroy that pond liner in short order. I assume the liner is not on the bottom but regardless they do a number on it wherever it is.

I also should have mentioned that the ultimate goal of the liner is to help prolong the life of the wood as much as possible. If the container's life is prolonged an additional year by preventing the soil from sitting directly against the wood (until the Rhizomes break through), I'd consider the $20 pond liner investment to be worthwhile.