Secrets

Its a start...

So you have all these LARGE pots—say ten. And you have all these bags of lovely organic potting soil with built in moisture control—say twelve. And you have exactly ten million, four hundred and eighty seven bedding plants that desperately need a new home. And the wedding for which you have promised to provide beautiful flowering pots is IN LESS THAN 100 DAYS. And these pots will need to be planted in one place, live in another place, and then be moved into place for the wedding.

And did I mention they are LARGE pots? With moisture control potting mix? And that these suckers are going to be H-E-A-V-Y? And I am puny when it comes to upper body strength? Not puny enough that you should worry about me in the event of a zombie apocalypse---trust me, I’m strong enough to fight zombies—but puny enough that people often feel obliged to come lift heavy things for me. So how do I make these pots light enough for me to lift by my little puny self?

I have a secret: Recycling.

Yes. Really. Take your ten pots-- hopefully you have had the foresight to either buy pots with drain holes, drill them yourself or (and this is my favorite method) get your favorite brother-in-law to drill them for you. Anyway, ten pots with drain holes. Some people advocate filling the bottom of the pot with gravel for drainage but I say gravel is expensive and HEAVY and if your pots are LARGE---fill the bottom third of your pots with your recycling.

Recycling: its not just good for the planet
It's also good for your back

 Empty gallon milk jugs--or any clean plastic container with lids on tight—empty aluminum cans, bulky Styrofoam; any bulky, light, non-biodegradable item will do. Fill the bottom ¼ - 1/3 of your pot with your recycling. If you have styrofoam peanuts add them to fill in the cracks, otherwise a few compacted beer cans will work. 

Top it all off with a layer of landscape fabric to keep the soil from washing down into the recycling. Now fill with potting soil. Easy. Peasy. DONE.