The Answer Is...a Child’s Plastic Pool and an Old Drawer

Susan K Mullins
by Susan K Mullins
9 Materials
$30
3 Hours
Medium
This week‘s challenge was to help out a fellow DIYer that asked, “How To make a small garden?” Hence the answer by using ...a child’s plastic pool and an old drawer. I want just a few tomatoes and peppers to pick as we needed to complete meals. If my hubby plants a garden, it is always too big. Yes, we share, but the time it takes to weed it, is not the way I want to spend my time in the summer.
We buy a small child’s pool for our dog every summer. Usually we have to place the pool in a recycling bin after summer is over, because it is too damaged to use the next year. Last year, we must have purchased the queen of plastic pools because it held up very well. So, last year, I saved the pool and actually used it to keep some Monkey Grass in I wanted to replant. Since I kept the grass in the pool all winter, it was stained and looked really dirty. I thought hmmm...this would make a nice little place for some tomatoes and peppers.
This had been sitting all winter. Such a hot, little mess! I have a plan. So glad I saved the old pool.
I began by using a shovel to remove the mucky mud surrounding the Monkey Grass. I will replant the grass in a flower bed edge later.
Now, I was left with the pool of stinky water. I used my drill and drilled holes in the pool, many, many holes to allow the water to drain out. I drilled around the sides first, then as the water drained out, I tipped the pool over and drilled holes in the bottom of the pool. This will also be useful in helping keep my garden drained.
Once the water was totally drained, I drilld more holes to allow for proper drainage for my small garden.
I positioned concrete blocks in the spot I wanted my garden, to lift the pool off the ground and to provide better drainage for my small garden.
In this photo I was checking to see if I needed more drainage holes By spraying water in the pool.
If you look closely, you can see the water drained well on the sides and from the bottom of the pool.
I placed cardboard boxes in the bottom of the pool to hold in moisture during the hot summer days,
Next, I added the potting soil and leveled the soil with a shovel. I used three bags of soil.
Ready to add the plants. The nursery provided popsicle sticks for labeling the plants. They only had ink pens for writing the names. I will redo mine later and use a Sharpie to go over the pen writings.
I scooped out a small hole in the soil and planted the tomatoes and peppers.
The pool garden is finished, but I still have plants. Well, it so happened that on my way from the nursery, I made a roadside discovery. There were several wood drawers at a stop sign and they were free. You know “the rest of the story”, I came home with four drawers to add to my stash. Shhh don‘t tell hubby. Lightbulb! I knew how I could repurpose one of the drawers.
Yep, a tiny garden. I followed the same steps, drilled holes, placed the drawer on concrete blocks, laid cardboard in the bottom of the drawer, poured in potting soil and planted the reminder of the plants.
Here is my tiny garden (s), all labeled with popsicle sticks. To my fellow DIYer, you can plant vegetables or flowers in this tiny garden. Hope this helps or maybe helps spark some ideas for your tiny garden. Happy gardening!
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 2 comments
  • Wendy Wendy on May 09, 2018

    Ooh I love em! There's a home in my neighborhood with a magical garden, they have used a suitcase, fish tank, and some old sinks as planters!

  • Susan K Mullins Susan K Mullins on May 09, 2018

    Thank you Wendy. I can’t wait for some fresh, home-grown tomatoes and hot peppers to enjoy with pinto beans and cornbread. Yum!

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