A commercial planter must be built tough otherwise it won’t stand up to all of the wear and tear it will be succumbed to, no matter what. Anything that is out in a public space that gets a decent amount of traffic will be subject to all kinds of odd and often unexpected occurrences. Cheap plastic planters cannot stand up to these combined forces. In fact, many ‘durable’ planters fail to stand up to everything that occurs to commercial planters within only a few years.
TerraCast Products create beautiful commercial planters that are truly unlike any other thanks to our specially formulated resin materials that don’t rust and even resist graffiti. We use a green certified, eco-friendly processes to create tough resin materials that are light weight but durable enough to withstand a good deal of wear and tear. We are known to regularly conduct some rather ‘hardcore’ tests on our products to see if they can withstand worst-case scenario… and they can.
Here are 5 unexpected things that will happen to your commercial planters… are your commercial planters prepared? (Ours are!)
1. Water, Water and More Water
Planters are made to hold soil, plants and water but that doesn’t mean all planters are able to withstand large amounts of water soaking their outer shell. Rain, sprinklers, and melting snow are a just few sources of water bound to soak the outsides of your planters. Over time water breaks down a number of substances making them more susceptible to other forms of damage. Find out how waterproof a commercial planter really is before making the investment.
2. Planter Cracks Due To Weather Changes
In areas with dramatic seasonal weather shifts it can go from hot to cold in as little as one night. This shift in temperature causes planter materials to swell and shrink, even if this process only creates a minimal shift it can quickly lead to cracks in almost all types of planters. If your planter forms cracks it won’t be long before a larger split takes place, causing your soil and plants to leak out the side in need of replanting elsewhere. It doesn’t always take a shift from hot to cold, freezing cold weather alone causes many planters to crack without warning.
As the weather shifts from hot to cold or cold to hot, are your commercial planters made of materials that can handle it without cracking?
3. Public Wear And Tear
You never know what sort of wear and tear your planters will face thanks to the public. People may run into your planters with shopping carts, baby strollers, golf carts or even a car! Depending on where planters are located the risks will change but they always remain.
Bullet holes, graffiti and other acts of vandalism are also prone to happening at public locations. Having containers that are easy to clean up, even of graffiti or tough dirt, is key to keeping your planters looking nice no matter what. Planters should also be durable enough to withstand a fair amount of impact; hey… there are a lot of bad golf cart drivers out there!
4. Hot, Hot Heat
You want just the right amount of insulation in order to keep your home a comfortable temperature, and the same can be said for your plants. Your planter is home to your plants, but it doesn’t have an AC system, meaning planter insulation is everything. Certain planter materials are more porous than others, allowing a healthy amount of airflow to circulate through the soil and plant roots. If your planter doesn’t provide adequate airflow it won’t be long before something small, like a heat wave, turns into a big plant problem.
Do you plan to place planters in direct sunlight? If so you may have to deal with overheating plants. Non-porous planters require less watering because they don’t lose as much water in the soil over time, but they also have some drawbacks especially if you plan to put in direct sunlight. Planter materials matter considerably based upon where you plan to place them. If you are going to put a planter in direct sunlight a non-porous planter can cause the plant to overheat and literally cook out in the sun. This is especially an issue with concrete and stone planters.
6. Time To Move Planters
When you first plant your plants and set up your planter it can seem pretty permanent but there will come a time when the planter must be moved. Weather, landscape changes, maintenance work, there are many different reasons that commercial planters must be moved at one point or another.
When it comes time to move a large planter how much muscle power are you ready to spare? Many large commercial planters are incredibly heavy, and this weight only increases after you add moist soil and growing plants. A dolly or group of extra strong men and women can move any planter but keeping planters as light as possible is always advised. Buying planters that are durable but lightweight is ideal. Avoid extremely heavy planters because they will only get heavier and become a real pain to relocate.
Questions To Ask Before Investing In Commercial Planters:
-What are you going to grow in your planters?
The type of plants you select will influence the best type of planter. There are many different types of planters, concerning both aesthetics and functionally. The types of plants and how big they grow will also determine the size planter(s) you require. If you are ever unsure we recommend sizing up; too big is better than too small, as the plant can always grow into the space.
-Where do you plan to put your planters?
Will your planters be in direct sunlight or in the shade? The everyday elements they are exposed to will have a huge impact on the planter and plants. Plants that are grown in planters exposed to constant sunlight tend to dry out faster and require more water; this is where self-watering planters can really come in handy.
-Will your planter be left outside during the winter?
If you don’t plan on moving your planters to a sheltered location during the winter you require planters built to withstand the cold. If you live in a snowy region, planters must also be resistant to frost. Living in a warmer climate offers you more options but you still need a fairly durable planter to stay out in the elements all year long, year after year.
For the toughest commercial planters available, TerraCast Products has you covered! We offer a wide range of styles, sizes, and colors, all built to last no matter what. Visit our Store.