Produced by
Patti Moreno
Contributor to:
Making Drainage Holes in a Metal Container
I love the weather-proof shine of galvanized metal containers! These simple vessels add an urban feel to my garden making it instantly chic and sophisticated. I have also found that these containers work perfectly for planting delicate edibles like Mint and Arugula. I leave them out on my patio and both grow back in the spring with no work from me!
Surprisingly, metal containers like the ones you see here, are ultimately reliable in the New England winter and are actually better and much less expensive than terracotta or glazed containers, which need to be moved into the shed or garage when the weather gets too cold. If you don’t, they’ll crack.
What about plastic containers? It’s true, plastic containers are very inexpensive, they don’t rust and they withstand colder temperatures – what’s not to like? However, I just don’t like the way they look. Hate to be shallow, but they just don’t look as cool!
As you can see here, metal containers look great, but their only problem is that they come without drainage holes. But, I have the solution that will transform a blah garden to a hot garden.
How do you put holes into metal? It’s easy. All you’ll need is a hammer and a nail which is about ¼” thick. Turn the container upside down on the ground. You should plan on making about 10-20 small holes around the perimeter of the container’s bottom depending on the size of container. Put the nail in and tap the hammer gently on the head of the nail. The metal is soft enough that you don’t have to tap too hard, or your hole may be too big and jagged. The idea is to make 10 uniform holes that will allow water to drain out and allow your plants to thrive. It sounds easy because it is! But if you have any questions, just watch my video…
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