Raised Beds in Troughs

**Holding Pattern** · 09-12-2009, 08:16 PM

Has anyone ever made or seen or heard of raised beds in livestock troughs? We're thinking...

1. decorative factor in our area it would work nicely
2. more permanent than straw bales and free of some of the problems of wood

Any thoughts, pro or con?

**Judi Dial** · 09-12-2009, 08:55 PM

How would you drain this?

Judi

**Durgan** · 09-13-2009, 06:54 AM

Originally Posted by Holding Pattern

Has anyone ever made or seen or heard of raised beds in livestock troughs? We're thinking...

1. decorative factor in our area it would work nicely
2. more permanent than straw bales and free of some of the problems of wood

Any thoughts, pro or con?

Cut drain holes and have a go. All they are is a large container.

**Brat** · 09-13-2009, 07:22 AM

I used a hog feeder for a while. It had rusted small holes in it so drainage wasn't a problem. Sprayed the thing with black paint and put flowers in it on my patio..Used this for several years until the bottom finially gave way. I had an arbor of morning glory as a back drop to it.

**Grainlady** · 09-13-2009, 07:27 PM

Here's a couple web sites that might give you some ideas....

http://www.penick.net/digging/?p=419

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/l...393518934.html

And for yet one more homemade idea... Rain gutter gardening.

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/g...-empire-083350

My brother-in-law made a stairstep-like rack to hold several layers of rain gutters and had a great little garden all summer. In the picture at the link, they screwed them to the siding, which is something I think is frightfully stupid because of the moisture from watering penetrating the siding, but the idea, as a whole, has merit.

**frugalfranny** · 09-14-2009, 12:31 AM

Sounds like a neat idea to me. If I could find a cheap one I would sure do it....beats digging in the ROCK!

And if you covered it in black plastic in the spring you could have it heated up in no time.......ready to plant. Also easy to cover in the fall for the fall frost protection!

Make sure it has good drainage.........and keep us posted!

**Holding Pattern** · 09-14-2009, 08:04 PM

This weekend's main errand is to put up signs at the local feed shops, tack stores, and gardening stores for used troughs. Maybe even try craigslist. If nothing hits in a couple of weeks we'll start looking retail. I want them to be inexpensive because we can rehab them. We will drill drain holes as a first run.

Thank you for the idea re: black plastic to warm up the soil, most excellent.