3 Easy Mistakes to Make With Dollar Tree Stackable Planters
I'm going to show you how I failed at growing strawberries with Dollar Tree stackable planters. I was able to grow lots of strawberry greens in the planter, but what you don’t see are strawberries. I have been able to get tiny strawberries. I’ll go over the issues I have with my Dollar Tree stackable three-tier planter.
Mistake 1: letting them dry out
These planters dry out way too fast. And, it didn’t help that we haven’t had much rain, either. From what I understand, strawberries need lots of water.
Even though I was watering the planter in the morning, afternoon, and evening, and watering it really well, it still dried out way too fast. I even added peat moss on top to keep in moisture. It wasn’t enough.
Mistake 2: stacking them too high
I stacked the planters 12 high. I thought that bigger and taller would be better. But after taking care of my neighbor’s plants that are grown in the same Dollar Tree stackable plant system (shown here), I see my mistake. They only stacked them three or four high.
There are more benefits to shorter stacks. The short stacks are easier to water each level and they are easier to rotate so each side gets sun. My 12-high planter is so heavy, I can’t rotate it so some plants don’t get much sun.
The plants would grow better and more evenly if I had the flexibility of rotating the towers. Next year I will put lower stacks on a palette and rotate them throughout the day.
Mistake 3: poor accessibility to a water source
I put the tower too far away from my water sources. I forgot to water the planter a couple of times because I put it at the end of my 400-square-foot garden space. My sprinkler and my garden hoses just didn’t reach far enough.
I recently put one of my stackable planters in a place that’s much easier to water in between beds (in the photo to the left) so the water can reach it easily.
Dollar Tree stackable planter
Though I’m disappointed in how my strawberries turned out in these Dollar Tree stackable planters, I learned a lot of lessons for next year. I hope you can learn from my mistakes and grow more food than I am in these planters.
Let me know if you are able to grow strawberries by sharing your tips. Also, let me know any tricks and tips for successfully using the Dollar Tree stackable planters.
Comments
Join the conversation
I have used those stackable planters and tried to grow stawberries for 2 years-the second year was worse than the first year. Both years little tiny strawberries. What a joke. I never tried again after the second year. Don’t waste your time.
I also tried to grow strawberries in these little stackers without any success. They just are too small. I bought larger stackers (triple the volume for each pot) from Aldi, planted strawberries in them last spring and this year I got 12 lbs of large, delicious strawberries!