Building a Self-Watering Stock Tank for Small Gardens

Join UC Master Gardeners at beautiful Elkus Ranch to learn about building a self-watering stock tank. Self-watering raised planters offer several benefits:

• Water Savings—There is a water reservoir at the bottom that reduces water loss from the topsoil due to the sun and wind and lessens the need for supplemental water.
• Better Root Growth—The system draws water upward through the soil using natural pull (wicking). The system encourages roots to grow deep down toward the water source and prevents the topsoil from staying too wet or too dry.
• Ideal for Small Spaces—The stock tank fits nicely on patios, balconies, or tiny yards and keeps garden layouts neat and contained in one sturdy metal or plastic tub.

UC Master Gardener Presenter Anne Sutherland: Anne has been a UC Master Gardener since 2020. She first began gardening with her husband George when they were both medical residents at UC Davis Medical Center. It was then that she met her first tomato horn worm and discovered that rice hulls take longer than her residency to turn into compost. Her fascination with watching plants grow began in her Kansas grandmother’s garden, digging for peanuts in the rich, dark soil. Now that Anne has retired from medicine, she gets to take care of plants. They never ask for the prescription pad.

Driving directions: https://ucanr.edu/site/elkus-ranch-environmental-education-center/directions

Photo credit: Brooke Balentine on Unsplash