Container gardens
and planter boxes are wonderful
additions to any urban garden. They
can be both decorative and allow for ease-of-use planting on terraces, rooftops, patios and decks. These days there are plenty of
different styles and colors of containers to meet any design aesthetic, but when considering which containers to buy,
it’s also important to choose containers that are sturdy and will not crack or
break after only a season or two.
Cheap plastic or thin terra cotta planters may work as a
quick and inexpensive answer to your last minute planting dilemma, but they
will most likely crack or break when exposed to the sun or extreme weather
(sometimes even with the weight of the dirt and plants they were meant to
contain!), so what you thought was a bargain may end up costing you in damaged
plants, time dealing with a dirty mess on your patio, the effort of replanting
and the cost of a replacement container of a higher quality after your costly
“lesson learned.”
Thicker terra cotta, measuring at least ½” to 1” thick is a
better choice as well as outdoor quality glazed pots, fiberglass, metal and
concrete blends. All of these options reduce the possibility of the containers
cracking or breaking. When purchasing any of these pots make sure to check each
pot for signs of the kind of damage that would accompany each specific material
including: hairline cracks, improperly joined seams, warping, dents or rust.
Beyond the construction of the containers, drainage holes need to be
considered. All dirt-rooted plants need drainage. Making a drainage hole in the
pot may be necessary to prevent overwatering and root rot. It is also necessary
to fill the bottom of your planter with approximately 1” of pebbles to keep
your plants healthy and the drainage holes clear of dirt.
These are great options for scattering a few decorative
plants around a deck or terrace, but what about planting on a larger scale?
Often terraces, patios and rooftops can accommodate larger-scale planting beds
that can add the drama of a stunning visual feature. Also, the health benefits
from air-filtering plants can help you save energy and can even be a source of fresh
vegetables for the dinner table!
It is this need for larger planters that first motivated
Todd Nappi of New York Plantings Garden Design to start designing and building
custom planters for his New York area customers. “Designing and building our
own custom planters frees us to be more creative in our design plans. We no
longer have to work around the sizes and shapes of planters available in retail
stores. Especially working in the city where space is at a premium, being able
to customize the planters to our customer’s individual area allows us to take
advantage of all the space available to us and adds a deeper level of
customization.”
We make the boxes from
IPE hardwood, one of the strongest woods
on the planet, lasting more than 25 years outdoors without treatment. Some
compare its strength to that of steel! All boxes come lined with marine grade
¾” plywood and then epdm for durability and design versatility.
Take a look around the city and you will probably see some
of the planters built by our carpenters at New York Plantings Garden Design
& Landscape Construction. Our work can be seen
on balconies,
rooftop gardens,
under
pergolas, on
terraces, holding
climbing vines for
vertical walls, restaurant fronts as well as
custom indoor
planters. Some of our favorites?
Cube-style and
rectangular
planters that add drama and wonderful functionality! Of course, we’d be
happy to deliver and install retail provided containers and planters too.
Custom building planters just adds another option to your design possibilities.
For more information about New York City landscape designer
Todd Nappi and his company
New York Plantings Garden Design, including photos
of the urban retreats he designs, can be found on
his website. And to
learn more about Todd’s approach to landscaping, images of projects and other
helpful gardening tips and info you can also visit
his blog.
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