Filling large planters can seem daunting. With so much room to fill with soil, buckets of heavy potting mix come at a high cost. But you don’t have to hurt your back or your wallet when you plant your big containers. You can fill the bottom of big planters with cheap or free materials if you are creative. Then, you can fill them with potting soil.
In this guide, we’ll share plenty of innovative ideas and tips to fill your large pots inexpensively. We’ll also cover what to avoid using as planter fillers. Read on to learn the best tricks for planting on a budget!
Know Your Planter Size and Plant Needs
First, figure out how much space you need to fill. To do this, measure the planter’s height and width to get an idea of its volume.
Next, consider the root depth of the plants you intend to grow. Shallow-rooted annuals like petunias or impatiens need just 6 to 8 inches of soil. Tomatoes, coneflowers, and other deep-rooting plants require at least 12 to 18 inches of potting mix.
Identify how much soil your plants need, then you can fill the remaining bottom space of your planter with filler materials. This ensures healthy root growth while minimizing soil costs.
Use Recycled Plastics
Large planters are often filled with plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, and plant pots. Rinse thoroughly, then add upside down with caps on. Almost any plastic container will do, like milk jugs, detergent bottles, soda bottles, yogurt cups, and so on.
If you need to move the pot, choose plastics that are light and easy to move. Avoid chemical containers. Even though plastic doesn’t break down, it stays out of landfills by being recycled into planter fillers.
Crushed Aluminum Cans
Rinsed, dried, and crushed aluminum cans are perfect lightweight fillers. As an inorganic material, crushed cans don’t decompose so they maintain their filler structure. Their drainage-promoting shape makes this a budget-friendly win.
However, chemicals from soda or food residue may leach into the soil over time. Use caution when planting edibles. Sharp edges are also a minor hazard when handling crushed cans.
Polystyrene Fillers
Polystyrene packaging materials, like Styrofoam blocks, foam peanuts, or pool noodles, are incredibly lightweight. Biodegradable versions are eco-friendly options. Just ensure any foam fillers won’t dissolve when wet. Containing them in mesh bags or landscape fabric helps minimize mess.
While convenient to reuse, polystyrene filler risks compacting or shifting over time as it degrades. This can reduce drainage potential. Non-biodegradable types also carry environmental impacts when discarded.
Inorganic Materials
Rocks, pebbles, gravel, clay pellets, and rubble from broken clay pots are great inorganic fillers. They won’t decompose or impact soil chemistry. You can reuse them indefinitely in other planters too. Arrange with drainage gaps for improved aeration.
However, gravel and small pebbles tend to mix into the soil over time. Landscape fabric barriers help separate filler layers. Inorganic materials add substantial weight, making relocating large pots difficult. Their thermal mass can also overheat plant roots.
Wood byproducts
Wood chips, bark, sawdust, or straw make attractive organic filler options. As they break down, the resulting compost improves soil structure. But decomposition means volume loss over time, so periodic replenishment is needed.
Wood-based materials also tend to harbor molds, fungi, and pests. Use caution and monitor closely, especially with edible gardens. Hardy plants like shrubs or trees better tolerate the changing soil chemistry during the decay process.
Coconut Coir
The stringy fiber from coconut husks, known as coir or coco peat, is a rising superstar as a planter amendment. Coir buffers moisture changes in soil to benefit roots. It’s lightweight yet durable enough to persist for several seasons.
As a natural product, coco coir is completely biodegradable and compostable. Look for sustainably sourced coir versus synthetic versions. It does require extra watering diligence since coir repels water when dry.
Get Heavy With Bricks, Blocks and Pavers
For permanent or freestanding planters prone to tipping, weigh down the base with bricks, concrete blocks, or paver stones. The thermal mass also helps buffer soil temperature fluctuations.
Lay bricks and pavers with gaps to allow drainage and air circulation. Concrete blocks work well arranged in columns to bear the weight while facilitating water flow. But anything extremely heavy sacrifices mobility if you need to relocate the planter later on.
Think Twice Before Using:
- Loose shredded paper or cardboard – Decomposes too quickly into a dense mat that blocks drainage
- Untreated wood – Invites termites and rotting
- Metal items – Rust over time and negatively impact soil chemistry
- Bagged organic matter like mulch or topsoil – Moisture retention causes decomposition and soil contamination
Expert Tips for Success
- Always allow proper drainage by not blocking holes or bottoms of planters
- Add a landscape fabric middle layer to separate filler from potting mix soil
- Monitor soil moisture levels closely and adjust watering practices accordingly
- For permanent installations, use inorganic materials to maintain stable soil conditions
- Research plant root depths and water needs before selecting filler materials
Get Creative Filling Your Planters!
Hopefully these ideas sparked your creativity for inexpensive ways to fill large planters! Raid your recycling bins or take inventory of materials lying around your home and garden.
With a little thought, you can transform what would normally wind up in the trash into functional planter fillers. Your plants will appreciate the improved drainage while your wallet appreciates keeping a few extra dollars. Happy planting on a budget!
So what should you use to fill the bottom of a large planter?
First, research the plant or ask your local garden center what kind of depth the plant or tree’s roots need. That will give you an idea of how much potting soil you will need. We suggest that you use good potting soil instead of garden soil because soil outside can be full of weeds and other things that are bad for plants.
You will be able to choose a filler once you know how much space you will have left over after adding the soil.
Broken Ceramic, Terra Cotta Pieces and Stones
- Pros: It makes planters more stable, helps water drain, and lets you reuse things that you might have thrown away otherwise.
- Cons: Can add significant weight, making planters harder to move.
How To Save Money On Potting Soil When Filling Large Containers, Pots, Planters.
FAQ
What do you fill the bottom of a large planter with?
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YouTube · The Gardening Channel With James Prigionihttps://www.youtube.comHow to FILL Raised Garden Beds CHEAP and EASY – YouTubeMar 16, 2024 — if I were to fill the whole bottom of our bed with native soil it would be too dense. and wouldn’t drain well and the soil would lack oxygen. and po…
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Pots Planters & Morehttps://potsplantersandmore.comHow to Fill a Large Planter: Effective Tips and TricksMay 23, 2024 — Pot filler First, add filler materials at the base of your planter to improve drainage and prevent waterlogging. Common filler materials to consider…
What is the best thing to put in the bottom of planters?
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Pros:Provides good drainage by allowing excess water to flow through the gaps, preventing root rot.
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Cons:Can create a perched water table, where water sits at the bottom of the pot, potentially harming the roots. Some experts recommend against using gravel altogether.
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When to Use:If you prefer to use rocks, make sure they are large enough to prevent them from falling through the drainage holes and that the drainage holes are not blocked, according to Primrose Garden Club.
What can I fill my planter with to take up space?
Milk jugs and juice bottles with he lids. Most planters get filled with plants that require less than 5” for rooting. Just put clean capped milk jugs or plastic juice jugs in as tightly packed as possible. You can add a layer of landscape fabric then top with soil.
How to put soil in a big planter?
Which should you use to fill your container garden? Pine Cones nice and dry and some are open up. Select your large planter. Outdoor large planters. Make sure there is at least one drainage hole. Add the pot filler. Place landscape fabric over the filler. Put in your potting soil. Place the plant. Herbs and Vegetables.
What can I use to fill up a large planter?
You can use reusable materials like styrofoam or packing peanuts. You can even use biodegradable material like wood chips, leaves, newspaper, and cardboard. Here is a list of 46 low-cost things you can use to fill up the bottom of a big planter.
Can you fill a planter with potting soil?
It can be hard to resist adding even more beautiful greenery to your home, but sometimes the plants you want just don’t fit the planters you already own. Instead of putting a lot of soil in your planter to make up for the extra space, @kellybazzle on TikTok showed us a simple (and cheap) way to avoid buying a lot of potting soil.
How do you fill a planter with plastic?
If you used cans, bottles, or other plastic items as your filler, you should add a layer of newspaper, landscaping fabric, or cheesecloth between the filler and soil to prevent too much soil from falling down into the bottom of your planter. Remove your plant or flower from its original pot.