Using livestock water troughs to grow plants is a great idea. You can grow just about anything from food crops to flowers, shrubs and even small trees or bamboo. Livestock water troughs, also called stock tanks, come in various sizes, and many have plugs along the side to allow for drainage. And you can always improve the drainage by drilling several one-inch diameter holes in the bottom. Painting the troughs can help reflect the heat and the color can blend in better with your outdoor decor. And, of course, you can custom mix the soil for a watering trough, to fit the exact needs of whatever you might be growing. An acidic soil for blueberries, for example. We’ll have a recipe for that today.
Retired college horticulture professor Debbie Flower and I explore livestock water trough gardening today, on episode 108 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots.
And we will do it all in under 30 minutes. Let’s go!

Pictured:
Water Trough with Blueberry Plants

Links:
Smart Pots
Water Troughs
Tractor Paint
Blueberry Soil Mix for Containers/ Dave Wilson Nursery

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