Dollar General has started their seasonal sale of kiddy pools around here. They were marked down to $3. My wife went in and talked to the manager, said she'd buy all they had left for $2 each, and they went for it. We got a dozen pools and closed that store out of them.
I've posted a couple of topics about using them for SIP's. I've also posted a topic about trading iris... which I haven't followed up on. Sorry guys, it's still on, I just still haven't dug my iris. I've been too busy, but the main reason is that I don't have a better place to put them. They are being crowded out by Johnston Grass and I don't have a place where they won't be invaded by those huge root masses.
Enter the kiddy pools. I'm going to use them as shallow planters. I can pull the Johnston Grass that sprouts from seed, and keep ahead of it, and, the pools are heavy enough to block the runners from coming in from the sides. They are also shallow enough to block Yellow Dock, Lambs Quarter, and Polk from putting down unpullable tap roots.
One of the rebloomers I bought in the spring has come out to remind me that the iris need work.
I have about 40 varieties on the porch in temporary pots waiting for this project to get going. There are still a couple of more urgent projects in line ahead of it... but now I have the planters I need, at a good price.
If you have a use for kiddy pools now is the time to get them. Be aware that it's possible to talk the stores down on price too.