The Wooden Barrel Planter features a handcrafted, poplar planter with handles and iron banding.  Once a mainstay of country life, the barrel motif has evolved to decorative status.  The Wooden Barrel Planter comes with sufficient growing material for two seasons and is ideal for a sunny spot on your patio, porch, or deck.  As always, a little extra care will insure you have maximum results from your Instant Flower Garden® product.

Varieties - Ageratum (Ageratum houstonainum), Alyssum (Lobularia maritime), Calendula (Calendula officinalis), Dahlia (Dahlia variabilis), English Daisy (Belis perennis), Geranium (Pelargonium hybrida), and Johnny Jump Up (Viola cornuta).

General Set-up and Watering – Fill the container with potting soil to within 1" of the top.  Place the seeded mat sections (as described in Special Considertions below) over the soil and water liberally.  See Garden Basics for detailed information about Soil Preparation for Containers, How to Store Unused Mats for Next Season, and other helpful tips.
 
Special Considerations – For two seasons of beauty, follow these instructions.  Cut the seeded mat square in half diagonally.  Store one section for use next season. Cut the other section in half again so that you have two equal triangles.  Arrange the triangles on top of the soil in the planter so that they form a square.  Note that the mat material will only partially cover the soil allowing plenty of room for the plants to mature.  

Where to Plant – Full sun.
 
What I Can  Expect – The flowers chosen for the Instant Flower Garden® Barrel Planter will provide a spectacular display in lavender, white, yellow, and pink throughout the summer and well into fall.  The plants will germinate in 2 to 3 weeks depending upon conditions and soil temperature.  Patience is necessary in this phase.  Cool evenings and overcast days can delay germination.  In addition, soil in container gardens such as the Barrel Planter may warm a bit more slowly than in-ground conditions.  After the second set of leaves unfold, some thinning may be necessary to eliminate crowding and allow for stronger mature plants.

Be sure to visit Garden Basics for more helpful tips and techniques.

In order to achieve optimal growing conditions, it is best to plant this product after the last frost of Spring 2008.