Gorgeous & Galvanized, in the garden

Galvanized garden goodness

We “love galvanized everything” at Flea Market Gardening.  We like them old or new, but especially vintage, a little rusty and worn.  These durable planters, if they hold any amount of dirt look particularly well planted with blues, magentas and pinks as you’ll see below. Here are our latest stunning examples of galvanized greatness from our creative gardeners.

Jeanne Smith got a huge surprise when asking for help her making a galvanized container tipsy pot.  She says, “Here’s my Hubby’s idea of Tipsy Pots. He knew what I wanted as I showed him a picture before he went out. I do have to admit they do tip!  Whatever,…I’m betting there isn’t another around like it!”

We love his version, Jeanne, but in case you want what you exactly want, keep an eye on your ‘helper!

 

Jesse Lyons says, “These are a few of my galvanized containers that I’ve used for planters this year. I’m glad for the inspiration!”

Janice Wiseman says, “Galvanized! And it doesn’t HAVE to be old. This was actually a gift for my daughter-in-law. She doesn’t like old, but she loved this. She’s a modern girl, but I LOVE old!”

 

Cherrie Carine says, “Although this wash tub is empty now, I fill it with a pot of Geraniums or Petunias in summer… at the cabin.

So where do your get galvanized tubs and pails?

We have found the Yard sales are the absolute best since people often want to dispose of everything quickly.
Community sales in rural areas are next,…these containers are too common here to be valued dearly.  Be sure to ask your friends and neighbors and if you’re in the suburbs whre trash trucks roll through weekly, keep a sharp eye out! For heavens sake, tell your spouse that you’re looking for these,…might as well turn them into ‘pickers’ for you!

Here’s how Linda acquired her windfall, below:

Linda Gladman is delighted! She says, “One of my hubby’s friends said if I baked him something he would give me some galvanized items …. for a couple dozen cookies and a banana loaf … looky what he gave me!

This fellow works at our local scrap yard and these were the gems of the week …. You know I wondered about history of the “Beatty” one, going to look into it … I *gasped* out loud when hubby unloaded the treasures … tonight I filled one up with old water bottles and put used coffee filters on top and then covered with diapers and miracle grow.”

Then comes the fun part…Planting!

TIP: Fill very large containers with empty, but sealed plastic water bottles or similar items to displace some of the soil. Lave a good 6-8 inches of soil to plant in.

 

 

Arlene Brenneman says, “A massive hanging basket I bought today and potted in my mop bucket. I repot them so they don’t dry out so quickly. Those hanging baskets are always dry!”

Kaycee Sterling advises, “For success with my tub planter, I use my own compost when planting. We have a rain barrel my husband made me and I water all my plants with it. I also cut the petunias back because they start.”

 

Jeanne Sammons shows us, “Here’s my violas today still lookin’ so pretty on the patio Baker’s rack … the rains have been kind to them!”

Melody Hook “This is one of eight tubs I fill every summer.”

Bobbie Lynn says, “Galvanized seems to be trending out here on the east coast which makes it very expensive It’s been a hot item for a couple of years now and I have lots of it. I love it and plant it up every year. Here is just one of my groupings.”

Galvanized containers, even new ones, weather and oxidize quickly.  If you scratch the surfaces with a wire brush or steel wool and treat the surface with simple household vinegar, it will happen even sooner.

 

Bonnie Bennett tells us “My re-purposed old buckets and watering can stack up the fence for my ‘flower tower.’  I used a six foot piece of rebar and made holes in the buckets in order to stack them … only the container with the spout is hanging on the fence so you can make this any place in your garden.”

 

Arlene Brenneman says, “A massive hanging basket I bought today and potted in my mop bucket. I re-pot them so they don’t dry out so quickly. Those hanging baskets are always dry!”

 

Nancy Anne says “I was going to plant in this tub but my granddaughter enjoys her “boat” so much that I didn’t have the heart – and besides she is the prettiest flower in my garden.”

What is galvanized?

Galvanized nails are covered with a protective zinc coating. … The steel gets coated in layers of zinc oxide because this protective metal does not get rusty as easily.

If there’s a question…

Q. Will the zinc leach into my soil and poison my vegetables?

A. No, it won’t.

Ted Mooney, Process Engineer
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey

See also Getting Galvanized, in the garden