What to do with a wrought-iron wheelbarrow in my garden?

[EmilyGB]

My DH loves it, I don't but I suppose it's kind of OK with our Victorian cottage garden. I tried putting small pots of bedding plants in it but they all died because the base is pierced so when I watered them the water drained away immediately and they dried out. So I tried again and put a tray under the pots and they all got waterlogged and died just to be annoying. Any suggestions as to what I'm doing wrong and how I can make it an attractive feature? I can paint it any colour.

Line it and just make a few small holes in the liner. Fill it with lovely herbs.

I think your small pots of bedding plants may need to be potted onto larger pots. Or you could put a perforated liner into the barrow, fill it with compost and plant into that. The plants' roots need to be able to expand and wiggle.

Grow clematis or ivy through it

I'd use it as a wheelbarrow.

sadly it's absolutely useless as a wheelbarrow - but I like the other ideas! Herbs sound gorgeous and very cottagey, but in my 'brown fingers' I suspect they would look like a lot of weeds! If I make it into one giant planter, is there anything particular I should put in it or just potting compost?

So - it seems to be meant as an ornament? If so, as said, line it (empty compost bags are fine) but need a few snips - the water does need to drain through. Then some crocks - also to help with drainage.

Multi-purpose compost fine for most things. Feeding - slow release is good for containers. Why not bedding ?? (smile] Nice splash of colour!
Water them about an hour ahead of planting (to keep the rootballs together), tap them out of the pots and plant. Water in well. Good luck!

Monty Don made a creeping thyme miniature garden in a shallow basin on the most recent Gardeners World episode on the BBC, think you could do something similar