Making Your Own Home Garden Containers From Plastic Bottles

Step 3 Put in Gravel and Soil

Once the holes are in, the second half of the drainage plan goes into effect: gravel. You can use any kind of relatively light gravel--I had this stuff in a bag that was the winter weight for my pickup truck bed. Gravel from a fish tank, your driveway, whatever will work. Just make sure the rocks aren't any larger than your smallest fingernail. About bean sized is right. Layer the bottom lightly, as shown, but not too much. Just enough to cover the bottom and the holes.

Then fill the rest with potting soil. Nutrient-rich stuff can be used for seed starting or regular dirt with some nutrients added can also be used. The soil shown here is out of the bag, which I received in trade for helping a neighbor. I've also made good soil by mixing thirds of nutrient mix and dirt (1/3 mix, 2/3 dirt) in a bucket or wheelbarrow.