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Fact
Sheets
All About Troughs In general... Stone troughs, rounded out quarry rock, contained water for cattle, horses, and other livestock before the advent of metal troughs and modern plumbing. Likewise, hand-hewn stone sinks predated modern kitchen appliances. When discarded, they didn’t get moved far because of their heavy weight. Once discovered by gardeners, however, they quickly became collectors’ items. As the availability of natural troughs declined, gardeners looked for substitutes. First they turned to a soft, lightweight rock, easy to carve, called tufa. When the supply of tufa rock also became scarce, gardeners made substitutes of concrete. The final adaptation, in reaction to the heavy weight of concrete, was to lighten up the standard concrete mix by substituting perlite for sand or gravel, leading to the "hypertufa" mix commonly used today. Many different hypertufa mixes are available in the literature, and trying new ones has become somewhat of a hobby to some. Also, gardeners have experimented with color, shape, embedding different materials, and making different plantings. Many of ours at the Berry Garden have small lava rocks or shale added to each miniature garden. Although many plants can be grown in troughs, they appear to be exceptionally good planters for small succulent plants, and trailing plants. Tiny, slow growing plants show off well in troughs, where they might fade in amongst others when planting in the ground. Other plants, such as Lewisia and tiny Saxifraga benefit from the elevated site and good drainage.
Classes are offered throughout the year on making troughs, and its more fun in a group setting! Check out our event calendar to see when the next will be held! The Berry Botanic Garden's Basic Trough Mix for Hypertufa:
Measure parts using a bucket. Add to wheelbarrow or other large container. Add water, mixing consistency, until it is stiff and holds together, about like cookie dough or cottage cheese. Mold into a plastic-lined box or other container, making walls and bottom 2-3 inches thick. Wall should be at least three inches deep. Punch drain holes in the bottom with your finger or a tool. When firm, one or two days later, remove from box and plastic, carve to your satisfaction, and, if desired, moisten and then coat outside with dry Portland Cement to create a smooth appearance. Trough may be planted as early as one week.
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