Planting areas on decks are a major cause of wood rot, but when properly built and maintained can be trouble free and add to the enjoyment of the deck. Year-round water and soil are a must in planter boxes, mandating even more careful selection of construction techniques. But planters also need to overcome some of the special challenges of deck gardening:

• The small volume of earth in most planters will tend to require frequent watering. Daily watering is usually required in mid-summer.

Our decks will be in their full glory as company comes from out of town. We will try to assure our guests that not every summer morning allows for a leisurely breakfast in the sun. And if a bald eagle or heron flies overhead, we will have a ready opportunity to talk about the fragile environment, Hershel and his friends, and the Puget Sound population explosion.