
Here are 9 filler ideas for items you can use to fill your large planters!
- Cans
- Nursery Six Packs
- Rocks
- Plastic Milk Jugs
- Soda Bottles
- An Inverted Smaller Pot
- Plastic Containers With Lids
- Packing Peanuts
What can I use as a filler for my planter?
But thanks to the advice of experienced gardeners, I found that I could use a filler instead. To fill the bottom of a large planter you can use plastic materials like milk jugs, water bottles, or grocery store bags. You can use reusable materials like styrofoam or packing peanuts.
How to use a pot filler?
So, filling up a large pot can take a decent amount of time. This is especially true because kitchen faucets often have a very low flowrate. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about that with a pot filler. Just put the pot on the stove and fill with water. Obviously, you have to keep an eye on the pot, but you won’t hog the sink.
How to fill a large garden pot?
How to Fill Your Large Garden Pots 1 Choosing Your Pot. Make sure the pot you’ve chosen has at least one hole in the bottom to allow for adequate drainage. ... 2 Soil. Of course plant roots want to be surrounded by potting soil, but using it to fill the whole pot is not recommended. 3 Plants. ...
What is the best wall-mounted pot filler?
Next on our list is another wall-mounted pot filler, the Avola Pot Filler. It’s made of 304 stainless steel, so you’ll get plenty of durability from that. Plus, it will look good for ages. The reach is good at 23 inches, and it should still get the job done. Our favorite part about this is the price.

What is the best filler for a planter box?
For extra large planter boxes that are meant to be more permanent fixtures and secured against theft or intense weather conditions, heavy fillers are probably the best choice.
What to do after filling bottom of planter?
After filling the bottom of your planter with any of these materials, consider placing a landscaping barrier fabric between the filler and soil. This keeps the dirt and filler separate, and makes potential removal and transplants easier.
What to do before putting something in a planter?
Before putting anything into a planter, make sure it is equipped to allow for proper drainage so plants don’t suffer from excess water and root rot. If your planter is going outdoors, you’ll want to make sure the bottom of the planter has holes to allow moisture to drain.
Living With Fibromyalgia And Arthritis
Before too long I have talked myself out of the entire idea. Why? For me the thought of lifting large bags of potting soil to fill the planter is something I have to consider when I garden. If I have to handle too heavy of anything, it could send me into a Fibro Flare.
There Has To Be A Better Way
Then it happened. A neighbor blessed me with a large planter. I wasn’t able to put it to use last season but wanted to now.
Large Planter Filler Tutorial
The following is step by step how I was able to put this new idea to me to use.
Why add water to bottom of pot?
Even when adding materials to the bottom of your pot to help improve drainage it’s still necessary to have a place for the excess water to go . If not, that water can easily become stagnant and create a perfect environment for mold growth and root-killing bacteria.
Can you use large pots for a garden?
Using large garden pots can be a dramatic accent when added to the right space. But, the issue of size and weight may create challenges to think about. There are ways to have the look you desire without breaking your back. Here are a few tips to help you with large pot projects.
Does water retain water in a pot?
The more soil your pot has, the more water it will retain, although in a huge pot it may take a fairly large amount of water just to moisten all the soil. Weight is the other consideration. The weight of the soil can compress and compact the soil, thus affecting drainage and root growth.
What is the best filler for a plant?
Herbs are nice filler choices. You will have them handy for harvesting and the more you pinch them, the fuller the plants will get. Basil gives you the choice of rich green or many shades of burgundy and purple. 03 of 16.
What is the best plant to plant in a container?
Fuzzy leaves and subtle variegation and patterns make Plectranthus a popular choice for containers. They will fill your container with texture and color, with no effort on your part, other than planting them.
How to make a container garden look balanced?
After selecting your tall, eye-catching "thriller" plants, and your trailing "spiller" plants, fill in the gaps with shorter filler plants. Your fillers will help to create a full, pleasing arrangement without taking away from the showier blooms.
Is perilla basil or basil?
Perilla often gets confused with basil, probably because they are both in the mint family. Perilla is an annual and won't spread as quickly as mint, but it does self-sow profusely. In a container, it adds lush green or purple color and a spicy scent.
What is the best pot filler?
Lightweight Pot Fillers for Containers. If you want to keep the pot lightweight, these are the best pot fillers. Happily, many of them can be reused and recycled from your trash, saving you money. Aluminum Cans (make sure the opening is pointed downward, otherwise the can will fill up with potting soil as you add it)
What is the best material to move a pot?
Lightweight plastic or fiberglass pots (many that resemble porcelain or concrete) are easier to move. Again, once they are filled with soil and pot fillers, they can be difficult to easily pick up. So plan ahead for your needs.
What to put on top of container to prevent tipping over?
If you choose to use lightweight fillers, but are concerned about the container tipping over, it is wise to add a heavy rock or a brick on the bottom first. Then add lightweight fillers on top.
What to do with styrofoam blocks?
Again, it’s best to wrap this in a plastic grocery bag first so that the small bits of Styrofoam don’t break down and get into the soil.) Cut up pool noodles (the kind that are sold in the Dollar Tree and used for water play)
How to make sure your pot doesn't move?
If you want to make sure that your pot doesn’t move at all, choose a heavy weight pot filler. This is smart if you are worried about animals knocking over your container or live in a very windy area. Or are worried about theft of the pot.
Can decomposing pot fillers change soil pH?
Keep in mind, these decomposing pot fillers could change the soil pH as they break down, too, which could affect the plants in the long term.
Can you use natural filler for seasonal plants?
If you are planting a seasonal flower container, you can use natural pot fillers that will decompose over time. By the time you change out your seasonal plantings, the fillers will likely not have decomposed. However, for long term pots, the fillers will decompose, leaving you with holes in your base which can cause air pockets for the roots or cause your potting soil to cave in.
What kind of material is good as a filler?
You know the type of material you can use for your filler. This could be plastic, reusable material, organic material, or heavy material. The type you should pick depends on your needs. And there are certain criteria that can help you decide what material works well as a filler.
Why use filler in planter?
The biggest benefit of using a filler is that it will save you a lot of money. Potting soil is expensive and if you have a large planter you’ll need a lot of potting soil.
How to keep potting soil from flowing out of planter?
You want to keep this space empty so that when you water the planter, it does not flow out from the top along with the potting soil . This will help you water the potting soil deeply as the water slowly gets absorbed in the potting soil.
What to put on top of potting soil?
If you’re using materials like rocks, sand, or pieces of ceramic make sure to place a layer of landscape fabric on top of the filler material. This will keep a barrier between the potting soil and filler. And it will prevent the potting soil from falling out through the cracks.
What to do if there is no drainage hole in a planter?
If there are no drainage holes, you’ll need to use a power drill and make some yourself. Also, ensure the base of the planter can be kept at a little height so the drainage holes do not get blocked by the ground.
How to keep a planter from falling over?
If you want to place the planter outdoors in a location that is visited by people or vehicles, you want to use heavy material as the filler. This helps prevent the planter from falling over in case a person or car accidentally pushes it.
Why is plastic used in planters?
Plastic materials. The benefit of using plastic materials is you may already have them or get them for cheap. The material is lightweight and will make it easier to move your planter around. You need to be careful that the plastic is not toxic because the chemicals can harm the plant.
