City council has decided to add about 40 moveable ("self-watering") tree planters at Riverfront Festival Plaza. CBC
via www.cbc.ca
With all the hoopla about so-called "urban agriculture”, I've lost sight of my original contact with sub-irrigation (aka "self-watering"). It was in the interior plantscaping business back in the late 1970’s.
Not only is there a lack of educational leadership regarding growing food in sub-irrigated planters (SIPs) there is even less about the benefits of SIPs for decorative outdoor plants.
There is no way that I would grow plants in traditional outdoor drain hole planters. Ubiquitous drain hole planters waste water, plants and time. Conversely, SIPs save water, plants and time. If you have an open mind and you doubt this, you can easily prove it to yourself.
If I lived in a Brooklyn row house, I would cover both the front and rear yards with brick pavers, and create a designed SIP container garden using a variety of decorative planters. There would be no exposed soil. No exposure to any possibility of contact with contaminated soil.
If anyone is interested in doing this, contact me (urbangreenscaper [at] gmail.com) with your details. You provide the labor; pay for the materials and I will provide free consulting regarding a design, plant selection and sub-irrigation.
The project must include a front yard that is viewable by the public. The objective here is to create demonstration gardens for the edification of neighborhoods.
Incidentally, if there is a block out there that would like to win the “Greenest Block in Brooklyn” contact me. Using SIPs, your block will be a sure winner.
via www.cbc.ca
City council has decided to add about 40 moveable tree planters at Riverfront Festival Plaza. CBC
Downtown festival-goers can expect more shade coming to the Windsor Riverfront Festival Plaza, as city council has decided to add about 40 moveable ("self-watering") tree planters.
In addition, planters with flowers and other plants in various locations in the downtown area are being transformed to accommodate trees.
Don Sadler, Executive Director Parks and Recreation, said the planters will have a self-watering reservoir in place.
"We expect we're going to get trees to grow to about six inch diameter and maybe 30 to 40 feet high before they become root bound in that planter," said Sadler.
The planters are about 1.5 m in diameter and 1 m high, and can be moved to different locations with a forklift. Many will be set up in front of the stage to keep concert-goers cool, he said.
Similar planters are already in place at Charles Clarke Square. The Festival Plaza trees should be in place by next month, Sadler said.
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