by eggyannie 29 Sep 2015

I have found that many folk who go camping will purchase a cheap BBQ and then toss it away rather than take it home when they leave.

I found two of them in the hedges and decided they would make great planters so bought them back and cleaned them out and using the lasagne method planted them up.
OK . How to do that is easy simply use good soil and place some pebbles over the bottom to aid with drainage then put in a layer of soil followed about two inches deep and follow that with a layer of bulbs and then another layer of soil. About four or five layers is good. The secret is to select a variety of bulbs that will flower a at different times of the year following on from each other. Starting in January,February and continuing till around May June time and the top of with some bedding plants for instant colour.
The bulbs that flower last must go on the bottom layer and then going up in successive months of flowering with those that will flower first on the top under the bedding plants.
Do not worry about them being on top,of each other as they will twist and turn to reach the light when they are due to flower . This will give you continuos plants and all you need do is change the bedding plants and remove dead leaves.
Leave them in place and they will return again next year . Just remember to feed them now and again .

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by Patricia109 01 Oct 2015

Well, now I know what to do with the one we just bought if we don't like the BBQing!
Good job of re-using.

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by killiecrankie 30 Sep 2015

Great idea ,did the legs come with them as well ? You could drill holes in the bottom to help with drainage if you have a drill. We often find empty flower pots ,out with the garbage bins on garbage day .

1 comment
eggyannie by eggyannie 30 Sep 2015

Yep the legs came with them and no need to drill holes in the bottom as they are allready there for the ash to come out.just put in some gravel to stop the holes getting blocked by the soil

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by noah 29 Sep 2015

Way to go love your idea i saw a few of these in the dump at our camp lol hugs

1 comment
eggyannie by eggyannie 30 Sep 2015

Next time you see them you can grab a few. Just take the legs of for transportation and pop the drums one inside the other re assemble when you get home .

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by harleysville 29 Sep 2015

I love what you did. Mother earth and I both think you are pretty darn smart.

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by toogie 29 Sep 2015

Love your bright idea! Smart thinking!

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by theduchess 29 Sep 2015

adding small chucks of charcoal (after the first soil layer)also helps. Keeps soil fresher.

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by mops Moderator 29 Sep 2015

I love the idea of using those barbecues.
I have planted bulbs in layers in other containers but my way of doing it was by required planting depth and not by flowering time (unless those depths were equal). Usually a bulb package states the required depths, which can vary a lot: crocus 5-7 cm, muscari 6 cm, snowdrops 6-8 cm, tulips and narcissus 8-10 cm, fritillaria meleagris 6 cm and its big brother frittilaria imperalis 10 cm..

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by crafter2243 Moderator 29 Sep 2015

Thank you for the detailed instructions how to layer bulbs. I have just the item I would like to try this. One more of my busted lawn chairs needs to be recycled. Sorry about the sideways

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by jrob Moderator 29 Sep 2015

What a great idea.

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by sdrise 29 Sep 2015

Great Idea !! they are so cute!

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by spendlove Moderator 29 Sep 2015

So much better than using them for cremating food! (I hate the smell on campsites.)

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by laffma1 29 Sep 2015

Your flowers look lovely. This a great recycling idea, and the "pots" should last for many years. Well done.

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by lbrow 29 Sep 2015

Beautiful and a great tutorial on how to do it.. Great job in salvaging some nice free planters. /Lillian

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by carolpountney 29 Sep 2015

Very nice

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by gerryvb 29 Sep 2015

they look great as flower basket !

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by sandralane 29 Sep 2015

Unusual type of recycling but will work perfectly. Great idea for planting bulbs, thanks for sharing with us. Sandra.

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by michemb 29 Sep 2015

thanks for the great information, your recycling idea is terrific and the look very nice. You could always paint them as well I imagine.

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by pennifold 29 Sep 2015

Mum and I went out this morning and she bought some more Pansies and Petunias (only purple ones). I love your Pansies and Cyclamens. They add a splash of colour and what a great idea about the planting system. Love Chris

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by mrskiki 29 Sep 2015

Very cute. Love the idea to repurpose. Hugs. Nan W

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