How To Save Money On Potting Soil When Filling Large Containers, Pots, Planters.

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Hooked and Rooted is a gardening show on KZbin. My shows & content include topics such as: Offering gardening tips for beginners, low maintenance garden ideas, landscaping for beginners, new build garden transformations, how to make your garden beautiful, sharing perennial plants and evergreen shrubs for the garden, and the best ground cover plants you can plant in your garden.
Thanks for watching - Steph (Gardening in Massachusetts zone 6b)
#gardening #homedepot
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About this video:
I recently purchased a pair of new Better Homes & Gardens Bombay Garden Vase 16" planters at Walmart. In this video I share with you my favorite way to save money when buying potting soil. I show you some tricks for how to stretch the potting soil and make it go further. Filling large planters, pots, and containers for flowers, and other plants, takes a lot of potting soil. After years of gardening I've found some tricks to make my gardening budget stretch. The more money I can save on things like potting soil, the more I have to spend on plants!! Do you have any tricks for stretching your gardening budget? Comment below! Thanks for watching! -Steph
#savemoney #budgetgardening #planting
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[@HookedandRooted]

Hi Garden Friends, Here's my Amazon Store Where You Can Find Many of My Favorite Garden Items 👉 amzn.to/49F9RTU

[@barbarafaulder9087]

Not really. It’s for draining. Very important. Better than rocks Very light. Good idea.

[@Sooner-im9qf]

Putting empty nursery pots upside down in the container is genius. Great idea.

[@HookedandRooted]

Your very welcome! Figured it was a great way to recycle them, and save on soil.

[@judyholbrook7915]

I would have never thought of that trick. Thanks . I am getting ready to pot new plants and will do this for sure!🌸

[@jwf6289]

If you live in an area that has big winds you may benefit from a rock or brick in the bottom to keep it from being top heavy.

[@HookedandRooted]

Great tip!

[@KP-gw5zv]

Good Evening. Thank you for all your information on saving money on planting annuals. That was so amazing. That being said one should not be surprised of this information as it was told to us by a very wise and amazing gardener. You are awesome. Enjoy and I am excited to see what annuals you planted in these pots. Enjoy and have a great rest of your day.

[@myeden4321]

I have seen videos on filling with plastic bottles but the garden pots are a fantastic option! Thank you for sharing this video!

[@herself5232]

I hang onto disposable mesh vegetable bags & styrofoam packing peanuts for this purpose. I fill a bag with styrofoam peanuts, staple or hand-sew it shut and drop one or two bags into the bottom of the planter. I cover them with coffee filters or newspaper for the same reason you put coffee filters into your pots. Then I fill with potting soil. Over the growing season, soil & roots will work their way into the packing peanuts, so removing them at the end of the season can be kind of a pain, if you want to re-use them next year. You can also cut up larger chunks of styrofoam, if you don't have a lot of packing peanuts. Also, a caution: too much air at the bottom of a pot will make the pot top-heavy and easier to tip over in the wind, so be aware of where you're going to place them if you use any of these methods. Or maybe add a layer of rocks to the bottom first.

[@Donna61111]

@herself5232 That was my concern I have 2 tall planters. I will put some rocks on bottom, Thanks!

[@donnabrodber8884]

Excellent tip! Exactly what I was looking for.

[@r.mcdaniel7333]

I am new to preparing planters! Thank you for the tips.

[@JohnJackson-ny7lx]

Coffee filter... Wow excellent idea to put it in the bottom of the pot so it doesn’t create water run dark marks on the ground. Great idea, thanks!

[@Shazzadut1]

You can also use a small piece of fly wire, especially if you have an old window screen you’re going to dispose of. Say one that has holes in it that you’re replacing? Save the fly screen and cut it into squares.

[@RuthKelley-wj7xw]

I have a huge Christmas pine. Every spring,lots and lots of long cones all over ground.useful in pots

[@houtysmci7832]

I just used twigs and pine cones in the bottom sometimes I use styrofoam cartons

[@kathysinclair3011]

I have been using this method every since I watched your video. Thanks so much for the tip. It works great and does save money and your back.

[@sillygirllisa]

I'm from Massachusetts too. I donate most of my plastic flowerpots to my local garden clubs. Every Saturday in the month of May their plant sale are going on so I bring them with me to drop off. Happy Gardening 🌻

[@michiganlighthouse]

Awesome tip. A good example of 'necessity is the mother of invention'. Good on you to share it.

[@nicholasryan5401]

Greeting's from Ireland, Great video and great idea's, We have fifty seven pots in our front garden six of those pot's are planted with annual's and placed on the front windowsill's. The other pots have perennial's in them. I used to buy compost but haven't done so in year's. I use homemade compost and the annual's love it.

[@urbansurvivor360]

All I can say is thankyou !!!! You gave the problem the solution and the reason why with the extra drainage bit. Hug! Can't thankyou enough!!

[@HookedandRooted]

Your very welcome! Glad it was helpful.

[@larrybruce4856]

This is a great idea. I've done this for years while planting flowers, ferns, or artificial plants in large containers. I use foam packing that comes with items I ordered online. Anything will work but I find foam blocks or packing beads or bubble wrap works great as well. The idea is to take up space to cut down on the use of potting soil and help with drainage.

[@jasminelouisefarrall]

Excellent idea Steph 🌸💕🌸

[@bunnsongmeas847]

Thanks you for sharing this with us ❤️

[@bdiana690]

Yesss 💚 💚 💚 learning new things thanks for info w annuals vs larger plants 🥰

[@janeneill9129]

Thank you for the great idea I really needed I'm tight budget but I love my plans I am so happy I got to see your video thank you so much

[@LaMaiStyle]

Great idea! I needed this since I’m on a budget

[@hannahfox5670]

Great tips! Thank you!

[@mumuzeze]

New subscriber from NYC- loving your content~more budget ideas please!

[@caroltrego1379]

Great idea and excellent video. You explain everything perfectly. Hope you show these pots filled with plants in a few weeks.

[@ahmedbandukda3439]

You should drill on the side of the bin about 11/2 " from the floor so if the water get plugged it will easily escape from the side.

[@lauriecapps614]

great tips! can't wait to get started

[@Evelyn-vs3fk]

Great idea. Thank you😊

[@Thisismyyoutubehandlle]

This was amazing!!!!!

[@richbishop7896]

Hi! It's Bonny. I do that on my tall containers too. Some I insert a hanging basket with geraniums that I overwinter for the following year.

[@rogerbrandt6678]

Thank u so much for making this video.

[@janebentrott5984]

I use the coffee filters as well! It works well!😊🌸😊

[@jennhanna8126]

i do same thing but use all my broken clay or ceramic pots, when i break one i thow it in a giant broken pot storage bin than use as needed! it works awesome.

[@williamtaylor2412]

love this

[@patriciaterry5539]

Excellent video!❤❤❤Thank you!

[@Inrpeace1111]

Great tips. Thank you.

[@edflowers7456]

We were starting a container garden and my wife said to fill the bottom with peanuts, then she left for work. So i bought 4 cans of peanuts. When she got home she clarified she meant styrofoam peanuts. I NEVER HEARD OF STYROFOAM PEANUTS.

[@HookedandRooted]

Lol great story. Hope you made good use of those 🥜 🍻

[@judyholbrook7915]

😂😂😂

[@conniebrumfield414]

😂

[@rogerbrandt6678]

Lmfao thanks.

[@veronicamontemayor2122]

Thanks for the info. I'm trying this for the first time. Wish me luck.😊

[@user-eu2ul2tt7x]

Thank you so much for inspiring me with your great ideas

[@angelgardener2748]

Have used rocks and gravel in bottom for years with great success. Also empty water bottles and soda cans. A lot of my pots are large and all soil in bottom is cost prohibitive for me. Good video.

[@mapndo2337]

Bravo girl! Why oh why did I just find this one?

[@crissebee8207]

Love your hanging planters! Real Madonna vibe!! 💚

[@HookedandRooted]

Thank you! I had to think about that for a second 😉🤣

[@gardenofdeedensub_confirmation]

Great idea,

[@LillianGreenHiLilly]

Great tip. I can use my spare pots now. Thank you

[@davidhalley9795]

Good idea using the nursery pots. I just bought some inserts for mine. My containers were pooling with water every time it rained due to the soil being too dense. Thank you for the tips.

[@HookedandRooted]

Your very welcome David, I'm glad you found this tip helpful.

[@faith4390]

Same problem here.

[@lousstylingplace4179]

Yep, the inner containers, genius!

[@HookedandRooted]

Hi there!! Its a great soil saving hack and helps drainage! win/win. Thanks for watching!

[@RennieAufdemstein]

Won't the plastic bottles leach plastic? Maybe I wouldn't not use this on edible berry shrubs?

[@JP-zn9dw]

I put a few inches of weeds and leaf litter on the bottom. Worms love and it breaks down by end of summer. Usually so hot in summer drainage is less of a problem then pot drying out.

[@HookedandRooted]

Great suggestion, Thank you!

[@susanrand512]

Thanks so much for sharing

[@yesidtac7863]

Muy buen aporte

[@melicanpelican8962]

awesome vid! thank u so much for also going into why not to use cardboard & also the drain hole addition. u r so careful about the details, really sweet & knowledgeable share

[@kingskid4804]

Good ideas 👍🏾

[@roserizzo3094]

So smart!

[@HookedandRooted]

Thanks Rose, I hope it was helpful.

[@karenray5603]

I never thought to do this. It's hard to lift a full large container. Super idea! Thank you Steph : )

[@HookedandRooted]

You are so welcome! Exactly, the weight is tough. Another reason I'm sticking to good quality looking plastic or lightweight planters these days. The ceramic/pottery type are gorgeous, but my back does not appreciate me lifting them ;)

[@naturalgardeningart9614]

Beautiful

[@laurasoftheart]

Lots of great tips! I put newspaper to cover the drain hole. It’ll decompose too. I subbed.

[@HookedandRooted]

Great tip! Thanks Laura!

[@JAYNEmM1962]

I bought two of the same containers last yr. I decided to used broken brick for weight because we get wind. Worked terrific. And they took up that volume.

[@JettaTDI2005]

Rocks in the bottom of containers do not contribute to better draining soils and healthier plants. Instead plant roots encounter saturated soils that don't drain efficiently. It all has to do with something called a perched water table. For containers and raised beds, use between 1/3 and 2/3 peat moss into your potting soil mix or compost. To use for starting seeds, you can mix it 50/50 with perlite, or 1/3 each of peat moss, perlite and a soilless mix such as Quickroot.

[@rogerbrandt6678]

I don’t agree with this, 50/50 peat would not work in my climate, very dry, if I did this big pots would have to be watered every 2 days.

[@colliemummy]

Peat moss: chance would be a fine thing! Here in Europe and the UK, gardeners cannot buy peat or peat-containing potting soil any more, it's banned. Only professionals can still buy it for a little while longer and it's being phased-out for them too. It's tragic because there is NO peat-free commercial potting soil that works as a true replacement.

[@dianacarr5515]

Thanks for the tips.

[@annshyno8489]

Thank you very much for this ❤

[@HookedandRooted]

You're welcome 😊

[@user-nd2ur7wi2r]

Another tip I have is when using really small pots to plant seeds I put used tea-bags in the pots good drainage😊

[@Detroitmamma]

❤❤❤❤thank u Detroit Mamma loves thos!!!

[@llllllllllilillii]

Thank you. I need to put my pomegranate tree in a big pot and this will help me not use up all my soil. The guy in the comments who bought cans of peanuts made me laugh so much hahaha

[@dustyflats3832]

My FIl use to fill large pots with solid foam insulation. You really only need 6-8” of soil for most flower plants. And he also used old pots inside as you have done. Was just thinking if the pot needs more weight to prevent tipping over a rock or two on the bottom would help.

[@explodingorder]

So many great tips here, thank you! I’m new to gardening. Would I want to leave lots of space for root development for a vegetable plant? Or would something like what your upside down pot gave you be sufficient for me?

[@HookedandRooted]

Hi Carrie, If your growing somethign longer term in these containers, it might be worth your while to fill them all up. But I mostly grow annuals in these so I don't need them to have supper long root developement. Since the plantings are temporary, I don't want to "waste" too much potting soil filling these large containers. If I was planting an evergreen/shrub, or even vegetables or say blueberry/rasberry for example in a pot, I would fill it all the way. Just be sure to have drainage, and place the container in its "permenant spot" before moving as larger containers get quite heavy filled all the way with soil. I've learned this the hard way, and my back reminds me often! Hope this helps. Take care!

[@ushapatel1011]

Very good but i ask you from where you got your sweeng please let me know

[@rogerbrandt6678]

Also tape the drainage holes on the upside down planters.

[@cr3062]

This year, I used packing peanuts in my pots. I saved them from the delivery packages I received the past couple of years.

[@verenamaharajah6082]

I use polystyrene packing, I break it up and drop it in, making sure it’s not blocking the drainage hole/s.

[@paulsmith9341]

I use old t shirts cut a little bigger than the bottom. They rot away in a season, the cotton part anyway.

[@elizabethpugh2685]

Dryer sheets also work to keep soil in pots

[@saintzk123]

I heard coffee filters but decided to cut a piece of cheap felt from the craft store & it never breaks down

[@Coco-zu9ob]

So i save aluminum cans and use those to fill up most of the pot when i have large deep planters. The roots and soil can fill in around them.

[@shanageddins1694]

Wow!! I love this idea! I haven’t planted in a large container yet. So these tips are awesome.🩷

[@deelittle2206]

A good tip I heard of is to add cat litter (clean of course) to your potting compost - it bulks it up and improves drainage. 👍

[@HookedandRooted]

Thanks for sharing Dee!

[@ithacacomments4811]

I think breaking up sticks to fill the bottom might work also.

[@HookedandRooted]

It sure would, like the Hügelkultur method!

[@hedykarim3614]

You can use plastic milk jugs for flower pots

[@bonniemccormack1361]

Great idea. So for more growing room, use a smaller inverted pot, right? ☺

[@HookedandRooted]

Hi Bonnie, Yes, correct.

[@bonniemccormack1361]

@@HookedandRooted I cheated and just set the basket in the planter lol it looks convincing 😜

Look up hugelpots a much healthier viable method for creating soil diversity in containers. Weathered twigs and branches create a wicking effect so plants don't need to be watered as much

[@cynb.347]

Why cant the pots be put in recycling?

[@deborc2705]

I have used small logs.

[@pennisauer2121]

I love the idea of putting plastic pots inside planters. My local nurseries recycle all those pots, so that's another idea.

[@nohemigutierrez1826]

👍😃

[@mc7685]

Any issues with air pockets causing problems with plant growth?

[@HookedandRooted]

Hi, I only use this method with annuals, which generally aren't in the container longer than a growing season, so it wouldn't matter. Howevever, if you are growing something in the container longer term, you might want to use soil all the way down. I do believe that this it would still work in larger containers that you are growing plants in longer term. As long as you use plastic that doesn't break down to create volume at the bottom, and pack soil in really well around it.

[@Rina-rs6up]

Great idea.I use topsoil .Then it can go back into flowerbed. Is this a good idea?? I use broken clay pot pieces or broken pretty China broken pieces. . In bottom of pots.Also pot in black nursery pots and put into decorate pots . Saves good pots .Really enjoy your gardens.

[@HookedandRooted]

Hi Rina! yes those are great options to take up volume in your pots. Thanks for watching, and for your comment.

[@DW...]

​@@HookedandRooted Is it ok to use mulch as a filler before placing the soil in the pot? Thx you!

[@MedEvil1c]

the weight of the soil and watering plants on top could crush alot of these alternatives (i.e. upcycled hallow plastic)

[@gigi77d60]

If you’re putting plastic bottles in the bottom, why do you need more drainage holes?

[@HookedandRooted]

The water needs a way to escape. Without drain holes, it would just puddle in the planter. Over time, the soil would become saturated and kill the plants.

[@ytallowskids2seedepravityb219]

I have 23" pots and cant find any old pots to fill them in. Any suggestions?

[@HookedandRooted]

Hello, You can used some plastic bottles if you have any for recycling. I have also seen others fill the bottom of their pots with sticks/twigs, and other garden debris, and then using a cardboard cutout in the shape of the pot/container to serve as a riser, and where you can begin putting your soil. Hope this helps.

[@ytallowskids2seedepravityb219]

@@HookedandRooted Thank you!!

[@silviamaria1000]

Doesn't the coffee filter disintegrate with time?

[@Sooner-im9qf]

Yes, the filters will rot over time, but in this video she is planting annuals. The filter would only have to last how ever many warm months the annuals last and be replaced with a new filter when planting the next bunch of annuals the next Spring. I think the filter would last one season. I also used damp coffee filters to start seeds years ago.

[@lotlot]

But surely if you are using a large pot, it suggests u r either planting a large plant, or a plant that will become large, so how is it going thrive with nowhere for the roots to spread because there’s a load of plastic in the way?

[@franceswatts4001]

Exactly what I am wondering. Until I watched further and she gave the explanation at 5:50

[@Shazzadut1]

I agree. I still think that’s too little soil and space for annuals.

[@cindypatrick785]

I’ve been filling the bottom of the large pots with water bottles and other plastic bottles to save money on potting mix and my annuals do just fine. I plant sun patiens, impatiens and caladiums and they do great! 9:55

[@bevfrench3496]

Just watched a garden professional and she right out and vehemently told us DO NOT PUT ANYTHING in your pots except soil. The soil holds the fertilizer and less chance of spaces.

[@HookedandRooted]

Hi Bev, while I'm certainly not an expert, this method has worked really well for me over the years. Particularly for annual plants that won't be in these containers long term. However, if you were growing something in a container longer term, ie. Perrenial, shrub, or evergreen, I would say to fill with all soil to avoid air pockets and to have plenty of soil for the plants root development.

[@mercedesdaye2931]

I bought this soil at Lowe’s prior to viewing your video. I used it to repotting my indoor plants and I definitely do not recommend it. I do not recommend it. Too dry. Though a bit expensive, I will stick to quality such as Miracle Gro and upwards.

[@eliedutra5343]

Can you use egg cartons cardboard

[@HookedandRooted]

I would say it's probably not great to use those as they will break down and create sink holes in your soil. If you want to continue to add soil as those materials break down, you could use them.

[@serendipity1237]

This is a bizarre question I realize! 😛 Could I use old phones? I HAVE A TON OF OLD LAND LINE PHONES that were given to me when a business updated their system. I tried to sell them, with no luck. I tried to GIVE them away, and no one wanted them… Sooo…..next step is just throwing them away, and I hate to do that. I don’t know a lot about stuff leeching into the soil, so don’t yell at me…I’m asking if it would be safe. 😛

[@HookedandRooted]

Hi there! In my opinion I wouldn't recommend it. I do commend you for trying to salvage or recycle them in some way. Perhaps the internet might have some ideas. How about ebay? could be a collectable vintage item. Thanks for watching, and for your comment.

[@calicali7767]

Putting 2 liter bottles in the bottom is a bad idea if your pot is not on a covered area. I did that to fill whiskey barrels and the winter rain made the bottles float to the top.

[@HookedandRooted]

That's very interesting as I find it could be difficult for any plastic bottles to float up once they are weighted down by soil. I found the upside down empty plant containers to work well and a good way to recycle them.

[@franceswatts4001]

I was considering filling the bottles with water and capping them. This would create weight (but not too much) and prevent the container becoming too heavy and getting blown over.

[@kellybadea5315]

Im guessing these blew over on you without weight. I always need to add a couple large rocks for weight

[@chicago5041]

I use cut up pool noodles

[@HookedandRooted]

I've heard others do this as well. Thanks for sharing.

[@Joan-kl9qh]

Thanks for sharing!

[@naturalroots]

Hi I wanted to let you know that I mentioned you in my first upload. when time permits would love for you to stop by thanks.

[@HookedandRooted]

Hi there! Thank you so much! I'll stop by soon! 🌱

[@rwarner1803]

Do you have any concerns about using Recyclable plastics to fill pots when you are planting vegetables? 🤔

[@HookedandRooted]

Hi there, I use raised beds for my veggies. I think that if your growing annual flowers It would be fine. But if you're growing food, they need more space for root development and soil for nutrients. In that case you could fill the bottom of the pots with twigs and sticks, as well as yard debris (grass clippings), maybe even cardboard and items that are biodegradable that will take up volume, but also will feed your soil as it breaks down.

[@user-yv8rx8rg1u]

I would not use plastic, I would rather use egg cartons, cardboard, or cut up branches more natural.

[@user-go8ft8dm3g]

I tried the styro peanuts, it was a mess to deal with later. Your idea is great, but what about ceramic pots and drilling holes? Thanks for the tips.