Mine always move out of the buckets and into the surrounding soil, something necessary in such a small volume as 5 gallons, but not a nematode problem at the end of the season. If you don't want to grow containers set on the ground you'll need to move to a minimum of 10 gallons of soil volume on those raised decks, but preferably 15-20 gallons.

Tom

I thought I was helping myself out by not having them on the ground. Tom, so you are saying if I don't move them to the ground I should add soil under the containers on the decks?
When you have yours on the ground, do you have any special soil under them or just the plain ole ground?

Tom is much more knowledgeable than I am, but I sit my plants in pots/buckets/tubs on top of a very thick layer of mulch and leaf mulch. A bit higher than ground level. It helps to drain the water away as well I think helps with nematodes.

~dianne

I use a double bucket and the bottom bucket has holes to drain the water out, roots will usually go through thoses holes and into the surrounding soil, but so far I still have not seen any nematode damage when they do. Dianne's way will work well too. I just think you're plants won't be as robust as they could be with the exposed roots drying out and getting sunburn. I'd move them to the ground and use her way if you want to stick with a small soil volume like 5 gallons.

Tom

Thanks for the info Tom and Dianne. I thought the 5 gallons was enough since that is what I see most people using. I will have to figure out a way to rework my planks get rid of them all together.

I think what I am going to do is just put some 6" tall sides around the decking and fill it in with Al's mix.

Turn your deck into a grow area by dumping three feet of dirt on it?..... no I don't think so!

Lou

Aww come on, isn't that what everyone wants to do with their decks?

I put 8 inch sides on the above picture today and there are about 250 1" holes that were already drilled in the planking. I will make the mix this weekend and put all the buckets back. This should work out well I hope.