Frequently Asked Questions

Which planter is best for me? I would be placing the planters on a terrace in New York City (zone 6-7). The terrace is located off the Hudson River - on the 18th floor! - It is quite windy, and is cold in the winter and hot in the summer. The planters would be exposed to the elements year around. Your planters are beautiful, and would be an investment, so I want to make the best choice.

It really depends on what you are going to plant.  If you are planting large trees, the Massive Planter is the way to go. If you are planting flowers, small bushes, vegetables or other relatively small plants, the Heavy Duty Planters will do fine. I would recommend the Mature Redwood grade for the moist and snowy Northeast. We have been shipping planters to the East Coast since the 90’s. I understand our boxes may seem a bit expensive at first, but they really are a one time investment. You will not have to replace them in a few years like most wood planter boxes.

Do you recommend that a liner be used with your planters, to lengthen their lifespan? If so, what would you recommend?

No liner is necessary. You can just add dirt and plants.

Yes. Our premium sealant is Sikkens Cetol SRD 250. We use three coats inside and outside. You can also choose from a number of different finish options, including ordering your planter without interior treatment—just write us a note as you’re checking out, and we will not use our oil-based sealant inside the box. We will seal the box on the outside only. The planter box will not decay because it is high quality wood.

Would the Massive Planters last longer than the Heavy Duty Planters because the wood is thicker?

Structurally they may last longer because they are almost twice as heavy and have almost twice as much wood. But, the Heavy Duty Planters are very sturdy as well for the price.

It is an oil-based sealant, so what we normally do for food growers is to seal the planter box on the outside and leave the inside untreated.  It will not decay because it is high quality Redwood. If you plan on growing food, just let us know when you place your order.

We can help you convert our planters for interior use in one of two ways:

We can build a wooden tray that sits outside of the planter box on the floor. The tray would have a copper or plastic insert to hold the water. The tray’s height will be just a couple of inches. The planter would be made the standard way with the 1/4″ drainage holes.

Or—if you prefer—we can build the copper or plastic insert INTO the interior base of the planter without any drainage holes. You can then place pots inside the box.

The trays will cost a small fraction of the price of the planters. Let us know what you need.