BATHTUB GARDENS: I've got a few planted bathtubs in my garden.

» Jojo - I've got a few planted bathtubs in my garden.

I've got a few planted bathtubs in my garden. Drainage can be a real problem. The single hole at the bottom of a tub must be kept clear, and a few inches of gravel at the bottom is a good idea too.

With the very wet weather we get here this is absolutely essential! In other areas this might not be the case.

There is one tub here that was planted with a small contorted hazel (Harry Lauder's Walking Stick) about 10 years ago. The tub is very old-fashioned, made of concrete, and the hazel is now a perfect specimen, with bergenia and ferns underneath. It seems like the soil has become exhausted, and is very full of roots. The hazel is just beginning to suffer. This summer I will need to root-prune and replace some of the soil.

Good luck with your tubs!

-- posted by Jojo