Principles And Construction 10:
The Planters 3

Installing Piping and Rocks

The team places newspapers on the bottom of the planter, to protect the liner from being punctured by the rocks that will be placed on it. Chuck chooses newspapers that are printed with soy-based (vegetable-based) ink for non-toxicity.

Outside, team members are sorting through the pile of sand and gravel, looking for rocks. This pile is 'pit run': unsorted sand, gravel, and rocks, straight from the excavation face of the gravel pit. It is the cheapest grade to buy.

Team members start to bring in buckets containing the largest rocks. These will go in the bottom of the planter, and arriving water will spread between them.

Meanwhile, it's time to install the plumbing. Chuck attaches the inlet bucket to the inlet pipe.

The bucket is supported by several rocks.

Chuck assembles the rest of the inlet piping without glue, testing that everything fits, and arranging rocks to support it.

Inside the bucket, he attaches a tee fitting to both pipes. These tee fittings will not be glued, so that the piping and bucket can be removed from the inlet pipe if need be.

He measures to ensure that the pipes slope at the required angle so that water will flow easily.

Once all the pipes are arranged properly, Chuck glues the plastic pipes together. This glue dries rapidly, so he must work swiftly. He does not glue the two tee fittings inside the bucket. He also adds a filter to the inlet pipe.

The team starts to add large rocks across the whole bottom of the planter...

...as Chuck assembles and glues the overflow pipe.

Soon the bottom of the planter is covered with large rocks.

Next: smaller rocks, and then soil.

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