Many people use WATER TROUGHS to make raised beds. And it's something I have WANTED to do for several years but I never had a real NEED so it always got put on the back burner.
When we moved last year I lost my large dream garden. And the need became very REAL.
I got my 5' x 2' trough from a rancher. It was rusted out on the bottom and no longer useful to him. I traded an apple pie for it and we were both very HAPPY!
Last Fall I filled the trough up with sticks and large branches. We had a tree with several broken branches which I was able to use to fill the trough. I was happy to fill it with the branches because it meant we didn't have to haul them off and they were going to compost and give us good dirt AND make it so we didn't need to add as much compost in the Spring. To the wood we added a layer of dirt and some other organic material like rotten apples.
This Spring we topped it off with compost and planted Albion strawberries.
Another effect of loosing my big garden is I am very thoughtful about what I plant. For this trough I wanted to take advantage of the planting bed or horizontal space as well as the vertical space above the planter so I installed a trellis.
I planted anasazi beans in the open section at the back of the bed. I picked them for multiple reasons.
They love to climb AND they have pretty, prolific flowers that produce a unique, edible dry bean!
The lower bean leaves at the back of the trough which were blocked from the Sun began to turn yellow.
In an effort to keep both the strawberries and the beans healthy and happy I removed those yellowing leaves and any others that were the same height as the strawberries.
Air circulation is an important part of healthy plants. I may be pushing my luck with the trellis up next to a wall. But so far so good. I am counting on the numerous healthy upper leaves to help the beans thrive.
The BEANS are growing tall and blooming profusely. My next concern is the trellis is not nearly tall enough... But I have great hopes for them.
June 23, 2019
Thanks Leeann for sharing. I love your idea of small space gardening with the trough. Maybe I can find me one as well. Your strawberries look wonderfully healthy and delicious. Keep on posting your ideas.
June 24, 2019
Thank you Sharlene. I spied my trough looking forlorned and after several months tracked down the owner. Good luck in your search!