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Build a Garden Yourself

Last year I decided to upgrade and redesign our garden planter boxes. We inherited them when we moved in and they were not even a foot tall. The wood was rotting at the corners, and the boxes were not all that stable anymore. It was virtually impossible to grow anything in them and so we relocated the dirt with shovels and wheelbarrows, with a plan to use it as filler dirt elsewhere, and we scrapped the old rotten wood boxes. With a totally blank slate, I researched all kinds of diy planter box designs and plans, and everything kept leading me back to a stock tank garden.

Why should you choose a stock tank garden instead of a wood garden box?

1. They are affordable.

Especially if you just want to place it and start growing, there is no additional cost of time to construct or assemble. I do recommend drilling holes in the bottom, for drainage, and if you buy the taller tanks, I recommend using non dirt filler in the bottom for both cost and drainage reasons. To fill an entire 2’ x 2’ x 6’ tanks with soil and compost can add up quickly. For our tanks, I spent a few weeks collecting plastic bottles and containers (and their lids) to re-purpose as a lightweight filler. I created a layer around eight or nine inches and then filled in the gaps with peat gravel. That was then topped with a large piece of garden fabric before I started adding my soil and compost. It saved us lots of money on soil and I felt good about helping the planet. For more information you can check out my post, Build a Stock Tank Garden in Six Steps.

2. Stock tanks are a ready-made container

There are no assembly instructions and no wood working required. Stock tanks come in a variety of sizes and styles. Home Depot sells them in 1’ or 2’ heights, 4’ or 6’ length. All their stock tanks are 2’ wide, which is perfect for a planter.

3. You can have them delivered.

I ordered Behlen stock tanks from Home Depot and they arrived in my yard a few days later. All I had to do was hit the purchase button on the Home Depot shopping cart and then point and direct when they arrived. I did have to make sure their temporary location would be a place they could sit for a while because I had not yet prepared the garden area for their installation. If you are interested in How to Install a Stock Tank Garden, please check out my post here.

4. Easy Installation.

Knowing that I was the one doing virtually all the work, I liked that the hardest part of the installation would be moving the tanks around, and if needed, my husband could help me with that. I have also moved the smaller 4’ tanks by myself with a hand truck and I have also seen others with more muscle than me move the larger 6’ tanks with a hand truck.

5. They are relatively mobile.

I am not saying it would be easy, but should I decide someday to move my garden to another location, theoretically I could do that. I would have to dig out the dirt to lighten them up, but they move as a single pieces, which is way easier than disassembling a wooden planter box. I also know people who have gone so far to attach wheels to the bottom of their tanks, which takes the mobility to a whole new level.

6. They are durable.

These things are virtually indestructible and will last way longer than most wooden planter boxes will. Your big dog can’t chew on then. It will be years before the rain and moisture will have any impact on them. And if you have kids launching soccer balls and other projectiles all over the yard, these tanks can definitely take the beating.

7. They help protect your plants.

They help us keep out the vermin and the hungry animals. We decided to install the 2’ tall planter boxes and it definitely helps keep out the mice, rabbits, moles, and other vermin who are currently feasting on our ground planted delicacies. It also makes slugs and snails work twice as hard to get to the goods. And, not to be gross, but it keeps our neighbor’s and friend’s dogs from peeing in the beds. I am not saying it keeps all your pests away, (we currently have flea beetles on our eggplant), but they help keep out some of the bigger ones. As an added bonus, if you are like me and have kids kicking soccer balls all over the place, the higher garden has a better chance of protecting your plants than a lower garden bed does.

8. They are easier on your body.

No stooping, bending over, or dirty knees. I love that I can stand upright and plant. I love that I haven’t used my little dollar store knee pad all summer. And I love that I can move from plant to plant without having to get up and back down over and over again. For those of you with back or knee issues, this might be the answer to your gardening prayers

9. Less weeds.

Our stock tank garden is virtually weed free. The biggest problem we have with unwanted plants growing is mushrooms, likely growing from spores hiding in the compost we are using. Less time weeding is more time I get to spend planting, tending, and harvesting our fruits and veggies.

10. Stock tanks have a unique style.

I like the farm or homestead feeling. I like that they have a vintage feel to them. I even went so far to paint ours a vintage robin’s egg blue. If you are interested in painting your stock tanks, visit my How to Paint Stock Tanks post. I also took the opportunity to carefully design the space around the stock tank garden. It elevated the look of the stock tanks and I was able to create a beautiful and pleasing outdoor space where our family relaxes and where we entertain our guests during the spring and summer months.