You can make a lightweight container garden with less soil when you use one of my favorite gardening accessories- the Ups-a-Daisy planter insert.

 

 

Watch garden video: "Make a Lightweight Container Garden Using Less Soil"

 

When you see huge containers at the mall or in public spaces, you can bet that they aren't filled from top to bottom with potting soil!

Designers have many tricks for filling large containers with all kinds of material to avoid filling pots with soil!

 

This is mine.

 

Materials Needed for Lightweight Container Garden

             

Potting soil

 

 

 

Select a lightweight container such as this fiberglass faux ceramic pot.

 

This 15-gallon container cost me nine dollars at Ralphs Market! 

Look for blow out sales at market floral departments after any holiday.

Many of their "gift" plants are planted in pretty containers and since your goal is to purchase a pot, don't worry if the plant looks as though it's dying!

 

Read about my other gardening "steal"  for some more inspiration!

 

I find that the best values are for containers that are larger than  five gallon size. 

I'm usually not concerned about the weight of my smaller planters.

The larger ones are the challenge!

 

Generally, faux pots are less expensive than their "real" counterparts and are available in a variety of finishes including simulated stone, metal, wood and cement!

Many faux material containers are very convincing- I've been "fooled" a few times.
 

 

Instructions

Insert an Ups-a-Daisy planter insert into your container. 

The planter insert should fit about 3/4 of the way down the pot.

Notice that the insert has drain holes to keep water from ponding around roots.

 

 

 

The plastic  Ups -a-Daisy inserts are used instead of gravel or broken crockery for  drainage, so don't add any other material to your container.

 

Push insert down into planter until it wedges itself and can't be pushed any lower.

The insert should sit low in the pot, but afford enough depth for roots to grow and spread.

 

 

Fill the planter with a lightweight potting soil.

Never use "planting soil" which is heavier and made to mix with your garden soil in the garden!

Add your plants. 

 

 

I discovered these gorgeous, Golden Cypress  in a small 4"-inch size.

Golden Cypress sports a lime green color when indoors, but turns to a rich golden color when outdoors in the sun.

 

 

Done!

 

Now that your container garden is half-filled with soil, it will be easier to move around in your patio.

The Ups-A-Daisy planter insert makes an unexpected and very welcomed gift for the gardener in your life.

More gardeners should know about it!

 

What do you use to make your container lighter?

Comment below!

 

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Low priced gardening containers found in supermarkets?

Keep your eyes open and you will find super deals for gardening products in unlikely places such as your local grocery store.

This is one of my favorite stories of how I "stole" some garden pots from my grocery store!

 

To the left of the entrance doors of  my local Pavillions supermarket  is the floral department.

It's offerings are nothing special, just your typical mini roses, gift azaleas and "foliage plants."

Oh yeah, they have balloons there too.

 

On the day I "stole" the garden pots, there was a big box jutting into the entrance area.

I had to walk around it to enter the store.

A young, lanky clerk was busy moving the box and I could tell he was exerting himself.

Whatever was in that box was HEAVY!

 

The young mans forehead was dotted with sweat and he spoke in short sentences as he tried to conserve his energy for the laborious task before him.

"What's in the box?" I asked, typical of my nosey self.

 

"Ah, I don't know…some stuff for gardening," the teen answered with dispassion.

 

"What kind of stuff for the garden?" My curiosity was piqued.

Anytime I hear the word "garden," I'm all ears.

"Some garden pots..I'm not sure. It's a special shipment for a sale we are having." he continued.

 

 

"A sale on pots? Since when does Pavillions sell garden pots?

Can I see them?" I asked

 

"Would you mind waiting until I take them out of the box?

If you are shopping for stuff, why don't you come back in 20 minutes?"

The young clerk seemed to be running out of patience to continue the conversation with me.

There was no preciseness to his language, everything was just "stuff."

 

 

 

 

The pots that were on sale are a glazed terra cotta and large enough for my container-planted tomatoes!

 

The clerks impatience with me just made me more curious!

The words "pots" and "sale" in the same sentence had a lot to do with it.

 

"Here, let me help you. I have to leave soon and want to see what you have."

I started pushing the box out of the way before he could accept my offer.

 

The clerk froze in silence  as I had my way with the box of mysterious gardening "stuff." 

A cardboard sign that read, "$39.99"  sat on top of a stack of garden containers?

I picked it up to see what was underneath.

Bingo!

There were some huge glazed terra cotta pots that provoked a closer look.

 

I asked him to help me take a pot out of the box.

He agreed but was not happy about it.

 

As the container was lifted, I could see that it was a beauty and not a bad deal for $39.99!

I started sweating…not from the heavy lifting, but from excitement!

 

 

 

I spoke with bated breath.

 

"Wow, this is gorgeous!

Such a  deal for $40 dollars.

How many do you have?"

I was willing to take the whole box full.

 

 

"I have six of them but the price is wrong, I have to make a new sign."

 

"Oh, great," I thought to myself, the price did seem too good to be true.

 

The clerk continued, "They are supposed to be $9.99, not $39.99"

 

I couldn't believe my ears!

There was no way these pots could cost only $9.99.

I buy pots all the time at wholesale prices and I never paid $9.99 for pots of this size and quality!

It had to be a mistake.

 

I knew I had to move swiftly and with purpose before any of the other shoppers  saw them.

This was the steal of the century!

 

"Don't take them out of the box, I'll take them all!  

(There was no way I was going to pass up this opportunity).

 

"Let me get someone to help load these to your car.

Do you need to make a couple of trips for them?" He asked.

 

"No, I can take everything now. I have a truck.

"I can help you," I said with a smile.

 I'm used to heavy lifting, this is no big deal."

 

The young clerk thought I was weird.

He didn't say a word but his baffled expression revealed his feelings.

 

Maybe I had a deranged look on my face.

The kind of expression someone has before they are about to commit a crime….like "stealing" some garden pots from the supermarket!

 

Explore More!

Read my post on "How To Make A Thriving Container Garden With Less Soil" on SnapGuide.