Trough gardens offer a unique and fascinating way to grow miniature plants of all types in a small space. They are ideal for decks, patios, and homes where space is at a premium. They also offer a way to study the world of nature up close and personal, using a wide range of plants that often would not grow in a traditional flower garden.

Troughs originally began as concrete containers for feeding farm yard animals. As time went on and they were replaced by more modern materials such as metal, these troughs were adopted by gardeners as an ideal way to grow miniature and alpine plants. At Natureworks, we gladly carry on this tradition by offering empty troughs, planted miniature gardens, alpine/ garden soil, and a wide variety of plants suitable for trough gardening.

Alpine plants are one category often used in troughs. Technically, these are plants that are found growing in windy, barren, exposed alpine mountain tops above the tree line. Because of this, they require excellent drainage to survive in a container here in CT.  However, you are not limited to alpines when designing a trough garden. Miniature forms of common perennials, such as tiny hostas, succulent sedums and hens and chicks,  and super-compact forms of creeping phloxes, veronicas, and other perennials all thrive in trough gardens.

Natureworks has one potting bench available for use by our customers dedicated to trough gardening. Adjacent to this, we have rock garden potting soil available by the scoop or by the bag. You can wander our benches and choose the plants you would like to use. Our staff will be there to guide you and make suggestions. Then, you can plant your trough garden right at our potting bench, leaving the mess for us to clean up! We also offer free workshops during the growing season where we demonstrate how to plant a trough garden. Sign up for our weekly email by typing your email address into the Join Our Mailing List box on the left and click the Go button.