Agave Americana in sunken container

[Marketa]

I have a large Agave Americana in a pot I have been able to over winter it for the last few years by keeping it dry. My plain for the spring is to plant the Agave in into the garden. I have been given a large plastic water butt, I plain to dig a hole, cut the bottom off the water butt and bury the water butt in the hole to keep the soil ball dry, I will put plenty of pea gravel with the soil to aid drainage. My concern is that no air will get to the root.

I also considered a raised bed but don’t like the look of them in small gardens.

Do you think this would work?

[nachtkrabb]

Hi Marketa,

it depends a bit on where you live. Do you have loads of rainfall? What about temperatures during summer and winter? Is the place in the garden similar to the place where the Agave lives now?
Air shouldn't be a problem. I think if after rain the sun dries it all very fast and deep, that would help. My concern would be too much water in the winter! Cold plus wet is deadly.

Somehow, I would not try such an experiment with a plant I love, only with one I would risk to loose. Your description of the Agave in a pot sounds a lot more safe to me, and as if the plant would prefer that. Or maybe you could rethink a raised bed: If you do that on a very prominent spot in your small garden, that might look interesting. "If you can't hide it, emphasize it!" You could make a raised bed with decorative "walls" or sides, couldn't you? If you would use e.g. bricks of different colours that might be interesting.
N.

[ElieEstephane]

Imo agave americana is one of strongest plants there is. It will take a lot of rain in our very rainy winters in clay soil with terrible drainage. Ive seen several massive ones in the moutains where it freezes on wet soil all winter and the stay covered with ice for extended periods. 2 of them bloomed last year.
Knowing you climate would be helpful