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Drainage slits in new wooden planter?

Wild_VioletWild_Violet Posts: 221
edited September 2020 in Problem solving
Hi, hoping someone can advise.  I bought a lovely big wooden planter lined with heavy duty polythene for a new crabapple tree “Aros” which should only grow to 3m tall and 2m wide.  The planter has slats at the bottom and feet so it’s off the ground but I’m just not sure where to slit the polythene for drainage.  The tree is currently about 1.5 metres tall and about 40cm wide.
The planter is 65cm wide, deep and high.

Thanks in advance for any advice.😊
WV 🥀


Posts

  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    I would space out several slashes  between the slats. Test by partial filling with some soil and water well and see how well it drains.
    They look very posh!
  • Wild_VioletWild_Violet Posts: 221
    Thank you @K67 😊

    They were handmade by a young chap during lockdown and are beautifully finished.

    I will do a trial run but was going to put some crocks and gravel at the bottom before putting in  earth. Maybe that lot would be too heavy for the polythene.  Would polystyrene be better I wonder 🤔


  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    edited September 2020
    Personally i wouldn't put anything at the bottom, just your John Innes no 3 mixed with some top soil and multi purpose compost. 
    No need for any fertilizer this late in the year but you could add a layer of mulch.
     Just a thought they look like softwood so have they been treated or did he use tanalised wood? 
  • Wild_VioletWild_Violet Posts: 221
    Thank you for this! I’m going to need quite a few bags to fill the planter and it’s good to know what to put in to give the tree the best chance. 
    Thank you again @k67 🙏😊
  • Wild_VioletWild_Violet Posts: 221
    @K67 He said the wood was pressure treated but I might put something on it anyway. 🥀😊
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