Landscaping Ideas With a Wheelbarrow
- 1). Find a wheelbarrow of the size, color and material you'd like to use. Your selection should be made for both decorative and functional uses. A wooden wheelbarrow might look good lying on its side in the garden, but know that the wood may rot if not protected. Plastic wheelbarrows are designed for functionality and would probably not be used in a landscape design. However, plastic will endure the elements--both sun and water.
- 2). Find a location that is attractive from several viewpoints from either the house or traffic perspectives. If your wheelbarrow will be standing upright, determine the direction of the handles. Try a few options by moving the wheelbarrow while empty to determine its final location. You can always move it.
- 3). Consider the sunlight needs of your planting when determining location. You may want to have your wheelbarrow in full sunlight in your front yard, but planting impatiens in full sun may burn them. Locate your wheelbarrow in a location that offers the appropriate amount of sunlight for your plant choice.
- 4). Select plants suitable for growing well in a wheelbarrow. Decorative wheelbarrows don't have much depth for roots, so your plant choice should be limited to plants with shallow root systems, like annuals or even succulents. Annuals, with their splashes of summer color and life, look perfectly wonderful in a wheelbarrow. Select flower colors that complement the exterior of your home.
Herbs are excellent choices for a wheelbarrow. The wheelbarrow acts as your container garden. Groundcovers also work well in a wheelbarrow and may reseed themselves and come back next year.
. - 5). Poke holes in the bottom of the wheelbarrow using a drill or nail, to provide drainage. You might need as many as 75 holes or more in a metal or plastic wheelbarrow. Drilling might not be necessary for a wooden wheelbarrow if it has adequate space between slats.
- 6). Put down a protective tarp barrier such as black nylon weed barrier sheeting. Add a good mixture of soil like Miracle-Gro Moisture Retention and add a fertilizer suitable for outdoor plants. Apply the fertilizer according to the manufacturer's directions.
