Ideas for a butler’s sink?

Discussion in 'NEW Gardeners !' started by Siennamiller, Mar 13, 2018.

  1. Siennamiller

    Siennamiller Apprentice Gardener

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    I have an old butlers sink, I was thinking of putting it next to my front door. It gets lots of sun there. What could I put in it to have all year round growth? It would be nice to have flowers, but can I plant a mix of late spring/summer flowers, or maybe foliage?
    Any ideas please?
    Thanks :)
     
  2. Verdun

    Verdun Passionate gardener

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    I have 3 of these old sinks and they now look like stone troughs since a cement/peat mixture was applied to them.
    Anyway, mine are used for annual displays, at least so far
    One will be used for succulents......echeverias.....and dwarf alpine plants.
    Diosma is an excellent plant for a sink. The variety Sunset Gold grows well here in a pot in a very free draining compost in full sun. Evergreen, tactile,, low maintenance, (hardly ever watered) aromatic foliage and pinky white flowers (mine currently flowering). Bulbs like blue anemone blanda, dwarf iris or dwarf daffodils can be added.
    Convolvulous cneorum is an evergreen with silver foliage and white flowers in summer. Cascading and mounding habit. Very attractive. Ophiopogon nigrescens ....a black "grass".....would go well with it to make a black and silver scene.
    Osteospermums ...the relatively hardy spreading varieties .....would look good there
    There is much though to recommend annuals .......for the summer pelargoniums of one colour would provide flowers from spring to autumn. Wallflowers, violas, pansies could replace them in autumn through winter.
     
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    • Mike Allen

      Mike Allen Total Gardener

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      Hi Verdun.. Nice to share your posts.

      As the saying goes. "They are worth their weight in gold" meaning Butler sinks. The cemet/peat covering you mention is known a 'Tuffa'. They always attract attention when planted up. One draw back is the weight. If you want back triuble....try moving one.

      For members who might be interested in sink/trough gardens. Tuffa mix can be applied to different surfaces, so you don't have to wait until a Butler sink comes along.
       
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      • Mike Allen

        Mike Allen Total Gardener

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        Hi Siennamiller. I have always seen them planted up with alpines or bonsai. You can become very creative, creating minature garden or landscape themes.
         
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        • luciusmaximus

          luciusmaximus Total Gardener

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          I have 6 sinks of different sizes, I just love them :wub2:. Some are planted with Herbs, some with flowers and bulbs. As Verdun has said there are many choices for sinks - depending on the size of the sink. You have the opportunity to let your imagination wander with them and they are easy to change if you get fed up of the same display. Personally I avoid anything very tall as I think it looks unbalanced. Plants like Mexican Fleabane, Scabious, Lithodora, Cranesbill, Wildflower mixes are some of my favourite choices. Herbs such as Marjoram and Thyme are great as have almost year round greenery. Fleabane, Geums, Sedums and Cottage Pinks, Scabious are green all year. Asters and Chamomile look pretty in a sink. Spring bulbs such as Tete a Tete daffs, Anemones Blanda, Frittalaria Muscari, Dwarf Iris, small Tulips are all good choices for sinks.
           
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          • Verdun

            Verdun Passionate gardener

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            Hi Mike
            Ha ha, as you said, those sinks covered in cement mix do weigh a ton. If I say so myself though, they look good (and expensive) :)
            You are right...the cement mix can be used to cover a number of items......an old washing machine drum, for example, has made an excellent container for a number of years now. Anything really as long as the material is not flexible; plastic for example will move so cement will break away.
            I have made troughs and containers too using buckets etc within buckets and filled with cement. Geoff Hamilton was my inspiration for this :)
             
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              Last edited: Mar 14, 2018
            • Siennamiller

              Siennamiller Apprentice Gardener

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              • Siennamiller

                Siennamiller Apprentice Gardener

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                I like the idea of herbs, but don’t want something that will attract too many bees as it’s right by the front door, I’m putting some bee/butterfly plants in the back garden.
                 
              • Siennamiller

                Siennamiller Apprentice Gardener

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                Verdun, I’m not going to lie, I had to google most of what you wrote, it’s like a foreign language to me . The pelargoniums are pretty and I like the idea of grass. I think I’ll try some of these ideas and work out what I like as I go along (and as I learn what I’m doing!).
                Thanks everyone
                 
              • Verdun

                Verdun Passionate gardener

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                Sorry Siennamiller.....I guess I do get carried away but I hope it helps. :)
                Not keen on that collection of alpine plug plants ....often you end up with things you dont really like
                 
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                • Siennamiller

                  Siennamiller Apprentice Gardener

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                  that’s ok, It’s all just completely new to me. Ok, I’ll have a look at all these ideas and t y and remember to post a photo when I’ve done it
                   
                • martin-f

                  martin-f Plant Hardiness Zone 8b

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                  Please do :), and if that's you in your avatar a few pictures while your planting them up would also be nice :biggrin:,













                  :sofa::runforhills:
                   
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                  • Siennamiller

                    Siennamiller Apprentice Gardener

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                    Haha, it is me, but I’m not sure I’ll look quite like that when out in the garden:heehee:
                     
                  • ARMANDII

                    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                    They reckon they can weigh up to 132lbs:hate-shocked::doh: I have two of the old Brown Stone Cottage Sinks and they must weigh about the same.
                    [​IMG]
                     
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                    • shiney

                      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                      Hi @ARMANDII I think I remember that you said you wouldn't mind the butler sink that I have in the garden :scratch: - senior moment :old:. If so, then I'll make sure it's here for you when you come along to Open Day. I'll have the sack barrow ready and we can get a couple of young people to load your car. :blue thumb:
                       
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