A strawberry planter is a specialized container designed to maximize the growth of strawberry plants, especially in small spaces. Planters offer better control over soil quality and drainage compared to traditional in-ground planting. Building a DIY planter is a cost-effective and highly customizable solution, allowing for specific dimensions and material choices. This method organizes and elevates the crops, which helps prevent fruit rot and pest damage by keeping the berries off the ground.
Selecting a DIY Planter Style
Selecting a design should align with the available space and desired capacity. For maximizing yield in a minimal footprint, the vertical PVC pipe tower is highly efficient. This design uses a single pipe, typically 4 to 8 inches in diameter, with planting holes drilled along its height, allowing dozens of plants to grow upward. PVC is durable and inexpensive, making it a functional option for small balconies or patios.
A more traditional and higher-capacity option is the tiered wooden pyramid planter. This structure consists of progressively smaller boxes stacked upon each other, creating a stepped surface for planting. Wood offers a classic aesthetic and stability, but requires rot-resistant lumber like cedar or treated pine for longevity. The tiered design offers easier access to plants for harvesting and maintenance.
For the budget-conscious, a repurposed container system is a sustainable solution. This involves modifying items like old plastic barrels, large food-grade buckets, or cinder blocks into planting vessels. Repurposed containers require minimal construction, focusing primarily on ensuring adequate drainage holes are added. The choice of style should balance space efficiency, material cost, and visual appeal.
Necessary Supplies and Tools
Materials
A wooden pyramid planter necessitates dimensional lumber, such as 2×6 or 2×8 planks, along with weather-resistant screws or nails for assembly. For a vertical PVC tower, you will need a length of large-diameter PVC pipe, an end cap for the base, and a length of narrower pipe to serve as an internal watering tube. Repurposed containers only require the container itself and possibly a mesh screen to cover drainage holes.
Tools
Construction requires a basic set of cutting and drilling tools. A circular saw or handsaw is necessary for cutting wood planks or the PVC pipe to length. A power drill is needed for drilling, equipped with a standard drill bit for pilot holes and a hole saw attachment for creating larger planting openings. A tape measure, pencil, and safety gear, including gloves and eye protection, are also required.
Constructing the Planter
Construction varies depending on the design selected. For a tiered wooden planter, construction begins by cutting planks for the base layer, typically the largest box. Subsequent layers are built similarly, with reduced dimensions to allow for a planting ledge around the perimeter of the box beneath. Planks are secured at the corners using screws to create strong, stable joints.
The PVC pipe tower requires precise measurements for proper plant spacing. Start by cutting the main pipe to the chosen vertical height, often between four and six feet for stability. Use a hole saw to cut planting pockets, approximately 1.5 to 3 inches in diameter, staggering them vertically by 6 to 8 inches down the pipe’s length. This staggering ensures each plant receives adequate light and root space.
An internal watering system is recommended for vertical planters to ensure water reaches the lower roots. This system uses the smaller diameter pipe, drilled with numerous small drainage holes (1/8 to 1/4 inch). The narrow pipe is capped at the bottom, wrapped in landscape cloth to prevent clogging, and inserted down the center of the main pipe before filling with soil. Focusing the drainage holes on the upper two-thirds of the watering tube helps ensure uniform water distribution, as gravity carries moisture downward.
Readying the Planter for Strawberries
Once the physical structure is complete, proper preparation is necessary to ensure a healthy growing environment. Drainage is essential, as strawberries are susceptible to root rot in waterlogged conditions. The base of any planter, whether wood or plastic, must have multiple drainage holes to allow excess water to escape. In large containers like the PVC tower, placing a 2 to 4-inch layer of coarse gravel or small stones at the bottom can help prevent the drainage holes from becoming blocked.
The soil mixture must be well-draining yet retain enough moisture. Garden soil should be avoided because it compacts excessively in containers, restricting root growth. An ideal blend consists of a high-quality potting mix combined with materials like peat moss or coco coir for moisture retention, and perlite or coarse sand for enhanced aeration. Adding a small amount of lime can help balance the pH, as strawberries prefer a slightly acidic to neutral range (5.5 to 6.5).
The planter should be filled methodically to ensure structural integrity and prevent air pockets. For a PVC tower, soil should be added incrementally, settling it gently around the central watering tube. A plant should then be inserted into each opening as the soil level rises. For tiered planters, the boxes are filled to about an inch below the rim. Leaving this space is helpful for watering, allowing the water to soak in rather than run over the edge.