An unglazed clay pot.
Buried pots provide a simple and effective way to irrigate your landscaping. This technique has been seen in Chinese texts that date back more than 2,000 years and is currently practiced in arid regions worldwide. Using this traditional method, the pot acts as a reservoir that collects rain water. Water seeps through the clay only as plants need it, dramatically cutting down on the hassle and time it takes to water them. For very little time, money, and preparatory work, you can have the benefit of buried pots in your landscaping.
Instructions
Prepare the Pot
1. Seal the drainage hole in the bottom of the pot. Use as large a pot as you can fit into your landscaping. Measure the diameter of the pot's drainage hole and buy a tapered cork with a wide end bigger than the hole. Tapered corks can be purchased at a kitchen supply store or anywhere that sells wine-making supplies. If necessary, trim the thin end of the cork with scissors, reducing its width until it can be inserted into the hole from the outside of the pot. Push the cork into the pot until it fits securely.
2. Seal the inside seam around the cork. Apply silicon sealant to the place where the cork and the inside of the pot touch, going around the cork to glue the entire seam closed. Allow the sealant to dry according to the packaging directions.
3. Drill a rain catching hole in the pot lid. Drill the hole in the approximate center of the lid using a 5/8 inch drill bit. Make only one hole to prevent weakening and cracking in the clay. The hole only needs to be 5/8 inches in diameter, as a funnel will later be inserted to increase the amount of water collected.
Install the Pot
4. Choose a spot for your pot within a few feet from your plants or from where you intend to place future plants. Measure the depth of the pot from the rim to the bottom. Dig a hole at this depth and wide enough to set the pot into the ground. Dig a small notch deeper into the bottom center of the hole to accommodate the protruding cork, allowing the pot to sit level with the ground.
5. Place your pot in the hole. Check the depth of the hole, making sure the entire rim is above ground level to prevent debris and dirt from getting inside. Remove the pot from the hole and replace some soil if it is necessary to raise the rim to the proper height.
6. Replace the dirt around the pot. Push down on the dirt until it is packed tightly and holding the pot in place. Pour water onto the packed dirt until it is saturated to help it settle.
7. Place the lid on the pot. Insert a funnel into the rain catching hole. The funnel will increase the amount of water collected and minimize the evaporation that would occur through a larger hole. Affix the funnel to the lid with silicon sealant all around the seam in the same way you sealed the cork. Wait for rain or add water yourself to get started.
