Anyone that gets out enough has seen rich healthy plantlife growing in gutters. Yes, gutters. All you need is a little soil, some moisture, and the right seeds to create a garden in your gutter. Of course, you don’t want to grow plants from the gutter that encircles your home. That pretty much defeats the intent of running rainwater down to the ground and keeping your home dry.
There are several different ways to build a gutter garden, and the benefits of doing so clearly make the method a hit among homeowners. If you have limited space to grow plants and produce, a gutter garden is for you.
The question remains, how do you make a gutter garden?
Tools and Materials that Help You Build a Gutter Garden
You don’t need a king’s ransom to build a gutter garden. In fact, you might already have the following tools and materials.
Tools
- Level
- T-Square
- Handsaw
- Tape Measure
- Eye Protection
- Permanent Marker
- Cordless Drill and Drill Bit Set
Materials
- Potting Soil
- Steel Cables
- Hand Shovel
- Galvanized Eye Hooks
- Feeney Steel Rods
- Feeney Cross Clamps
- PVC Rain Gutter
- PVC Rain Gutter End Caps
How to Bring a Gutter Garden to Life
The size of a rain gutter depends on your space limitations, as well as your planting plan. First, you decide on the center of the gutter and create a reference line to ensure the gutter hangs straight. Second, mark the reference line holes and drill into each hole for the steel cable rods. Make sure to create drill bit holes in addition for the steel cable rods to allow for rainwater drainage.
The key to producing a vibrant gutter garden involves hanging the garden in an area that receives at least four hours of sunlight daily. Many homeowners prefer to hang gutter gardens on cross beams that face the sun. For screw holes, drill holes into the gutter than are smaller than the screw diameter to ensure snug screw fits. Cross clamps and half circle steel rods connect gutter pieces to form the foundation of your gutter garden.
Whether you hang your gutter garden or simply place it on the backyard deck, you must fill it with nutrient rich organic potting soil to ensure your shallow rooted plants thrive. Otherwise, your plants might end up in the gutter.
