- A bulwark against moisture - this is the task of foil in the flower box
- Lay out flower boxes with foil correctly - this is how it works
Creative balcony gardeners leave mundane plastic boxes behind and simply build their individual balcony box themselves. Under certain conditions, foil is an important part of the construction plan. Here you can find out what function the material fulfills, when and how it is installed.
If you plant in wood, a foil is required
A bulwark against moisture - this is the task of foil in the flower box
By covering a self-constructed balcony box with foil, you protect the material used from moisture. This applies primarily to natural materials such as spruce, larch, Douglas fir and other types of wood. If the walls of the container and the bottom are exposed to permanent moisture, rot and mold will form. Not only the balcony box suffers from this. Planting is also not spared from the pathogens.
If, on the other hand, it is a flower box (€16.99) made of water-repellent material, you can do without the use of foil. This applies, for example, if you have given a disused gutter a second life as a balcony box.
Lay out flower boxes with foil correctly - this is how it works
There are several options available for the appropriate slide. The weight of the planting largely determines the ideal quality. For a small herb bed in the pallet flower box, a cut open garbage bag is sufficient. If small shrubs or larger perennials are on the planting plan, we recommend tear-resistant weed fleece (€21.70) or pond liner. How to correctly install foil in the balcony box:
- Drill several holes in the bottom of the box to drain water
- Cut an aquarium hose into pieces that fit perfectly and insert them into the holes
- Lay the film in the flower box and cut along the edges
- Fasten with a tacker all around without slipping
Finally, use a sharp knife to cut a cross in the foil over the bottom holes. In this way you ensure that rain and excess irrigation water can run off unhindered. The hose pieces in the bottom holes reliably protect the wood from moisture at this point.
tips
If you fill your self-made flower box with substrate, drainage to protect against waterlogging should not be missing. This premise holds true whether you use foil or not. Lay out a 3 to 5 cm layer of expanded clay, pebbles, potsherds or a comparable inorganic material on the bottom of the box.