Yard Planters Show Off Your Creativity

If you are a part time gardener you are aware of the time it takes to create your dream. There are no rules to garden sculpture, just a few great accents that bring life along with attitude.

Changing your plant selection from year to year is a challenging and rewarding experience. A few great yard planters filled with beautiful flowers can set a tone for any lawn or patio. The atmosphere around flower pots breathes creativity and fun. Many plant seasonal flowers, enjoy them and easily replant for the next season. Your yard planters can be an arrangement of artistry.

Many businesses use yard planters to establish curb appeal. Balcony’s with flower pots are a great place to bring nature to an uninhibited growing area. Lawn patio statues add character and tremendous ornamental design. Architects and interior designers use lawn planters indoors to establish texture and dimension.

Whether it is your lawn patio or an interior corner, yard planters are great accents. Major attractions also include patio statues. Choose your favorite animal, angel or gargoyle and use them as a focal point or display them as a tucked away secret. The most important thing is to enjoy your patio statues design.

Gardeners can’t wait until everything is in full bloom to see what they have created. Your lawn and patio can be your haven away from the work world. A place for you to relax and enjoy your outdoor living . It’s important for you to add maintenance free gardening to your plan so you have time left to sit and enjoy it. Yard planters or patio statues can be moved to different places from year to year to enhance your creativity.

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Wood, Concrete, Resin, and Ceramic Garden Planters

A drab, plain looking yard can be turned into a great display of color and character with garden planters. Whether they are made to hang on a wall or sit in the yard, garden planters can be a classy alternative to a whole garden. Each material used to make garden planters offer unique characteristics.

A comfortable, warm feeling can be added to any yard with a wood garden planter. They come in many different styles and shapes from square or rectangle shaped to round shaped. Wood garden planters are very durable and can hold heavy plants. If your yard does not already have an existing theme, a wood garden planter can be a great place to start because there are many options available. Barrel-shaped garden planters are also available which will give your garden a classic, old-fashioned feel. Because of the nature of the wood, there are some considerations before choosing the wood option. Cedar is strong and resistant to weather damage but wood needs to be cared for with sealant or varnish, especially because you will be getting moisture on it with constant watering. Sunlight is also an enemy of wood so if you do not prefer the grayish, worn wood color, varnish or UV resistant paint should be applied. Varnish can be poisonous and harmful to the plants if the right kind is not chosen.

Concrete garden planters are beautiful and they will be a sturdy, long-lasting edition to the yard. The nature of concrete gives a weathered and unrefined theme and can concrete can be beautifully matched to stones and other accessories and furniture. Many can be quite large, so heavy plants can be supported. Caring for concrete garden planters is easier than wood and will not be as prone to damage due to weather.

The size of concrete can be a concern for some individuals and yards. It is cumbersome and heavy and will not be easy to move, so mowing grass and doing other yard work around it may be difficult. The base of a concrete garden planter will naturally have a lot of holes if it is not already sealed and the water will leak out the bottom. This will require watering more often. Sealing the bottom of the garden planter is not recommended because dirty water will be able to be drained with ease.

A great vibe can be added to your yard or garden with resin garden planters. Finding the perfect resin planter can be easy because they come in a wide variety of designs and styles. Resin is also the most lightweight so they are good for plants that cannot stay in the sun or shade at all times. They are also the easiest to clean.

Resin garden planters are weather resistant but they should be handled with care to avoid breaking. The colors may also fade more quickly unless they are painted with UV resistant paint.

A natural and earthy feel can be achieved by purchasing a garden planter made of ceramic. Ceramic is beautifully crafted and painted and the colors are the brightest and most unique. Ceramic planters can also come in the most uncommon and unconventional of shapes.

Ceramic planters are extremely delicate can break if knocked over or dropped. There is a good chance of cracking or shattering due to lawn mowers or other garden tools. Their unique designs also make ceramic garden planters some of the most expensive.

Best Choices in Outdoor Garden Planters

Outdoor containers can be a wonderful way to add focal points throughout the garden. In many urban areas, the primary means of having a garden may be through a series of planters set up on a roof or terrace. Whatever your particular situation, it is important to choose planters that are not only beautiful, but are also built to last.

The cheapest and most popular types of outdoor planters are made out of thin plastic. While these planters are okay for a quick fix, they have a tendency to crack and break in extreme weather, so they probably will not last you for very long. They also are not generally all that attractive looking and have a tendency to look as cheap as they cost.

Another terrible, but equally inexpensive, planter choice is thin, machine-made terra cotta. These planters are also very likely to crack and break in freezing weather. If you like the look of terra cotta, a better choice is handmade terra cotta that is at least 1/2-inch to 1-inch thick. The thickness of the clay will help to prevent cracking and breakage.

Among my favorite planter materials are fiberglass, high-fired ceramics, and concrete blends. Fiberglass planters look and feel a lot like thick plastic, but they can be painted to resemble glazed ceramics or other materials to a great degree of accuracy. Fiberglass is much more durable than ordinary plastic. It won’t tend to crack or break, and it is lightweight, which makes it an excellent choice in areas where you may want to move the pots around from time to time.

High-fired ceramics are most commonly imported from Asian countries. They are made from an outdoor-ready type of clay that has been glazed and then fired to a high enough temperature to make the possibility of cracking during freezing temperatures far less likely. Not all ceramics that are available on the market today are made to go outdoors. Most garden centers will carry indoor planters on their indoor shelves, and all outdoor planters on their outdoor shelves to help the customer be able to differentiate between the two. When in doubt, always check with a salesperson or your landscaper first. The best part about ceramic planters is the sheer variety of colors available in an assortment of effects, including crackled, drip, or multi-colored glaze patterns. It’s easy to create a stunning, very elegant effect with a large ceramic pot strategically placed in a garden, with or without plants in it.

Concrete blends are usually a mix of fiberglass and concrete. This combination works really well because you can create the look of stone or slate, while at the same time getting the lightweight feel of fiberglass. These planters look really great in highly geometric, very contemporary shapes and settings.

Metal planters have become a very hot item in recent years, and while I agree that they can look really sleek and modern in the right context, there are a few things you should look out for. First, make sure that the metal doesn’t appear to be too thin or it will have a tendency to dent and warp over time or as you try to move these planters around. The second thing you should look at are the welds between the pieces of metal that make up the planter. Welds that are already beginning to crack or pull apart will only continue to do so even more when you add the pressure of dirt and plants. The last thing to consider is that some metal planters will have a tendency to rust over time, so you will want to check and make sure that they have been treated with a rust-proofing of some sort before purchasing.

The last and most important thing to check any planter for before purchasing is drainage holes. If you are planning to put dirt and plants inside of them, then a drainage hole is absolutely mandatory to prevent plants from drowning and developing root rot. If your planter does not contain drainage holes, you can drill them yourself using a drill bit that is at least 1/2- to 1-inch in thickness. Smaller holes will have a tendency to get dirt clogged up in them. You will also want to line the base of your planter with 1-inch or so of pebbles or broken pottery shards to prevent all of your potting soil from escaping.

Pretty Planters, Pretty Yard

This is what my mother used to tell my father when she would bring home another planter for one of her beloved plants. Many had grown out of their respective container so it had to be done and she was determined to put her plants in beautiful flower pots and hanging baskets.

Now that I am grown and have a family of my own, I totally understand why she believed in her phrase pretty planters, pretty yard. Just look around your own neighborhood and you will see the people who have utilized wonderful containers, large and small are the same people who have beautiful yards.

Though I believe in having wonderfully cared for lawns and gardens, I no longer believe it should be at any expense. There is proof that some of the chemicals and products we use to enhance are yards and gardens are having a detrimental affect, not only on animals like birds and frogs but on humans as well. This is mostly due to water run off getting into our water supply. That is why our family and household are doing everything we can to be more organic and if that means the yard is not as green, so be it.

It also means finding alternative ways to make the yard beautiful and not just relying on the grass. That brings me back to containers and what you can do with them. Most people think they are just good for flowers and they are certainly good for those. However, they are also wonderful for certain herbs as well as vegetables and some fruit.

You can utilize containers and plant stands to bring color to places that seem dark and alone. It is amazing how just bringing one colorful plant out to a porch area can cheer the place up. It is the same with patios, decks and driveways. Plants bring the colors of nature as well as the feel of nature to any area in your home or on the outside of your home.

They also make wonderful gifts to take into assisted living facilities. In fact, there are probably some people in that facility that can help you quite a bit with some gardening tips and tricks! They would love to have you come to visit and bring in a potted plant or hanging basket or two.

Another great idea is to use raised flowerbeds for planting vegetables around your yard. This allows you to place the bed wherever there is ample sun for your plants and have a small garden of your favorite vegetable or herbs. Since these beds are so easy to put together and use you can have as many as you want in different locations to provide the best growing environment to your plants.

But the best thing about having flower pots and planters is the fun you have playing in the dirt; planting and watching things grow. It is something wonderful you can pass down to your children and grandchildren that they will carry with them their entire lives. Thanks Mom.

Commercial Grade Large Planters For Your Restaurant

Restaurant planters or hotel planters are usually large, elegant, and functional. Their unusual sizes are not only for style but for a purpose. They can serve as a boarder or a liner for the restaurant’s outdoor setting. Instead of putting fences or railings, large planters are more trendy and can add beauty to the restaurant.

Large fiberglass planters are the most commonly used planters in commercial establishments. Fiberglass are lightweight and durable which makes them ideal for outdoor settings. Some would even use big planters on casters so that it can easily be moved when they change their outdoor arrangements.

Most restaurant planters today are not only used as an ordinary containers for plants nor a restaurant decoration. Four of the top grade restaurant planters that combine function and style for restaurants today are as follow:

Coronado Premier Planters

These large commercial planters are used by the well-known Hotel Del Coronado, one of the oldest wood hotels. It is 36 inches long and 13 inches wide which are perfect for outdoor dining areas because they won’t occupy too much space. It looks like wood but it is actually made of Premium Cellular PVC.

Good thing about PVC is that guests cannot really tell that the large planters are not real wood. The material is durable compared to real wood because it won’t rot and can withstand bad weather conditions. They can also be painted with any color and can easily be cleaned.

Capri Rectangle Flower Planters

The Capri Rectangle Flower Planters are very simple yet innovative and elegant. They create an illusion of floating slightly above the ground. The compartment of these large planters are larger than the supportive footprint underneath.

The Capri Planters come in a variety of textures, colors, shapes and finishes that compliments any plants, flowers, bushes, and even trees. They are slightly bigger than the Coronado Premier Planters but they can be ordered in custom sizes.

Cairo Vase Planters Urns

The Cairo Vase Planters Urns has long been used in ancient Egyptian time. Their exquisite beauty and elegance perfectly fits in classical themed restaurants or luxurious dining areas. They may not be too functional compared to the Coronado and Capri Planters but with its charming appearance, you can have an unusually large vase as a centerpiece in any indoor or outdoor setting.

Custom planters for the Cairo Vase planters urns are also available. So they can be made in medium or small sizes which can be placed anywhere as a group to accent restaurant doorways, reception areas, and other spaces.

Valencia Round Fiberglass Planters

These are commercial grade planters that has the classic Mediterranean style that can be refreshing for outdoor restaurant settings. The Valencia Round fiberglass planters are highly durable and resistant to any possible damages like staining, scuffing, or wearing off. These round planters have small circular footprint that can occupy less space in your restaurant.

Large Commercial Planters are of high quality which makes them long lasting. They will be a good investment for any commercial establishments not only in terms of function but also in attracting more clients or customers.

Planters For A Luxurious Lobby

A lobby is the area where we welcome guests, entertain them, or let them stay. For every business establishment, it is really important to dress up their lobbies and make it elegant yet comfortable for the guests. For sure there are a lot of modern seating furniture that can be used but you can further enhance it in a simple yet presentable manner. So how do you do that? By bringing in some plants and place them in elegant planter boxes to make them more presentable.

Plants are definitely a good way to accentuate the lobby area. Mere accessories or ornaments cannot make the area as lively as having plants around. There is nothing more comfortable and relaxing than being close to nature. So it would be perfect to dress them up with beautiful planter boxes to make them fit for business places.

Normally, commercial planters would be perfect in business settings. They are made of durable materials and were created with high quality. But aside from that, modern planters today are specially designed to fit in interior designs of houses and business establishments alike. Some contemporary planters can have unique forms that you wouldn’t expect them to be plant containers.

Some companies avail custom planters which are specially made by manufacturers for them. It means that they can choose their own design, the size of the planter boxes, or the materials to use. For huge buildings, large planters can also be used especially for centerpieces. Due to their sizes, these planter boxes will be installed by the manufacturers themselves.

Some commercial planters can also be very functional for the guests. They can have internal lighting which is a stylish way of illuminating the lobby area. There are also large commercial planters that can serve as a bench. Some big planters can also serve as liners or dividers between areas.

Making the lobby presentable and inviting is really important because it can totally increase the satisfactory rate of your guests, customers, or clients. It can also create a good impression to them because it is usually the first area that welcomes them when they enter a building. So every businessman should never take this area for granted.

Commercial Planters in Prominent Establishments

The most prominent hotels, restaurants, and other companies have huge and magnificent infrastructure for their business places. Their architecture are made by renowned professionals. The same is also true with some of the equipments and furniture that they use.

These huge companies also use plants to decorate their buildings and to make it livelier. Without plants, the whole place will look so solid and sturdy. We all know that plants give us a different atmosphere such as sense of relaxation and motivation. For these companies, ordinary planter boxes are not appropriate for their prestigious architectural structure. So, they have to use commercial planters to ensure quality and design.

Custom modern planters are usually made and installed specially for these huge establishments. One reason is their extra-large sizes. They use large planters for many purposes: window liners, boarders, benches, or centerpieces. Large planters are also useful in supporting tall plants, small tress, and shrubs.

Most business establishments have commercial planters on their rooftop gardens, parking structures, hanging gardens, and pedestrian bridges. Plants and flowers are indeed great accents to any solid and concrete structures especially if they are placed in modern planters. It will even enhance their attractive appearance.

Custom planters are advantageous for business abodes so that they can have their own designs in their preferred sizes and materials. They can also choose additional features for their planter boxes. Great additions would be the Planter Well self-watering reservoir to reduce their maintenance cost and waterproof planter liners to protect the planter boxes from getting damaged because of getting soaked from water.

There are companies that are renowned for their exceptional commercial planters. These companies are already credible to provide you with high-quality and well-designed modern planters. So for business purposes, it is only wise to look for a reputable company in the industry. Get some referral from other business entities or find out who supplied them with their hotel planters or restaurant planters. This will definitely save you from doing a risky investment.

Stone Commercial Planters

One of the most ideal commercial outdoor planters today are the stone planters. Mainly because stones are highly durable and cannot be easily destroyed or damaged by increment weather. These commercial planters actually come in different forms and designs nowadays: jar or urn shaped, square, rectangle, and other custom sizes and shapes.

But modern planters that are made of natural stones are not very practical for residential use because it is much more expensive and too heavy compared to other modern planters. Since commercial establishments usually use large planters for outdoor use, it is not advisable to use large stone planters unless they want to put it in a permanent place. Typically, landscape artists, garden enthusiasts, or interior designers would recommend Rock Veneer Planters, Faux stone planters, or commonly known as artificial stone planters.

Artificial stone plant containers made of commercial grade polyester resin material are great replacement for natural stone plant containers. They are not as pricy as natural stones but they have the same genuine look and feel. Moreover, polyester resin are lightweight compared to real stone but they are highly durable and can withstand any climate.

Unlike natural stone, artificial stone plant containers can be placed indoors because they are lighter in weight. They can be an excellent decoration in your balconies, patios, or entrance ways along with your lovely plants and flowers. Artificial stone planters made of polyester resin or fiberglass can also be ideal for outdoor use because of their durability. These commercial planters can be a perfect accent to your garden or outdoor spaces. Artificial stone planters may come in different colors that will fit the theme of your interior decoration or the design of your outdoor areas.

Artificial stone planters are also used by many commercial establishments partly because it is easy to install. They usually use large planters that simulate the look of the stone which can be used as a bench where people or their customers can take a rest. Sometimes, fiberglass planters are also used as artificial stone planters because the material can simulate the appearance of the stone as well.

These commercial planters can have drainage holes depending on your needs. Custom planters are always available if you have a specific design in mind. So if you are having second thoughts in using stone planters because of the price or the heavy and unmanageable stones, the best alternative is to use artificial commercial planters. You cannot tell the difference but artificial stone plant containers are more versatile and less expensive.

List of Poisonous Plants

This list is meant only as a springboard for further study of poisonous plants; always consult with medical professionals when you suspect that you’ve wound up on the wrong end of an encounter with poisonous plants!

Bittersweet Nightshade: Common, But Uncommonly Toxic

Bittersweet nightshade is a very common weed and especially dangerous to have around kids, as they’re attracted to its brightly colored berries. Yet relatively few parents would be able to identify bittersweet nightshade on their property. This article also contains information about the vines more widely recognized as “bittersweet” (but which are quite distinct from bittersweet nightshade). Related to bittersweet nightshade (and equally toxic) is a specimen commonly grown by crafts enthusiasts: Chinese lanterns.

Foxglove: Beautiful But Toxic

Foxgloves grow well in dry shade — often a problematic area in the yard. But they are among the most toxic specimens commonly grown on the landscape. Do not grow them if small children will be spending time in the yard.

Laurels, Azaleas, Rhododendrons: Plants Toxic to Humans, Livestock

If you live in the country in eastern North America, you may have some mountain laurel growing in your backyard. Cultivars of mountain laurel are also sold at nurseries, including the beautiful ‘Minuet’ laurel shown in the picture. Like mountain laurel, azaleas and rhododendrons belong to the heath family — and are toxic. Don’t let pets nibble on any of these shrubs.

Castor Beans: Tropicals With Ricin

Castor bean is a tropical widely grown as an annual in northern climes, often as a potted plant for patios, decks or porches. The leaves, stalk and seed-heads are all attractive. The laxative, castor oil is derived from castor bean plants, but so is the deadly toxin, ricin.

Yew Bushes

Yew bushes can be grown in sun or shade. Their shade-tolerance gives landscape designers an important option in challenging areas. But those fleshy, bright red berries contain a seed that’s toxic.

Poison Sumac: Giving the Sumacs a Bad Name

The entries listed so far are all toxic if eaten. But in the case of some other weeds, all you have to do is touch them to be exposed to their toxicity — and come down with a rash. Poison sumac and poison ivy are examples. The former gives all sumac shrubs a bad name, despite the fact that most are quite harmless.

Poison Ivy: Leaves of Three, Let Them Be!

What makes poison ivy toxic? It’s an oil called, “urushiol.” Urushiol’s rash-inducing property has inspired a song, a DC Comics villain, and…well, much trepidation!

Touch-Me-Not: Jewelweed a Natural Remedy for Poison Ivy Rash

Jewelweed is also called, “touch-me-not”; but not because it’s toxic. Rather, jewelweed is considered a natural remedy for poison ivy rash. Like poison ivy, jewelweed is very common: both could very well be growing in your backyard. It’s easy to identify jewelweed, once you recognize its flower: it’s cornucopia-shaped, with a distinct little “tail.”

Stinging Nettles

Like poison sumac and poison ivy, stinging nettles, as its name suggests, is not a plant you want to brush up against when working out in the yard. Your skin will burn with a painful itch for a short time after contact with its rash-inducing spines. Don’t confuse stinging nettles with dead nettles, a perennial used as a groundcover in shady areas.

Yellow Dock

The ASPCA lists yellow dock as being toxic to dogs. Like jewelweed, however, yellow dock (or “curly dock”) is a medicinal plant that can be used to counteract the discomfort caused by one of the toxic entries included on this page. Just as jewelweed alleviates the itch caused by poison ivy rash, curly dock can soothe skin inflamed by stinging nettles. Just roll one of the fresh, green leaves of curly dock between thumb and forefinger, to crush it into a juicy pulp; then rub it on your burning skin. The picture shows the mature flower-head of a yellow dock plant, after its blooms have dried and assumed a coffee color.

Lantana

Lantana bears colorful flower clusters (orange is a popular color) and is commonly used (as an annual) by gardeners in cold climates as a hanging plant. Growers in warmer climes are familiar with lantana as a shrub, where this vigorous grower may even be invasive. But its invasiveness is not the only caveat that comes with growing lantana: one part of this plant “may be fatal if eaten,” according to the North Carolina Cooperative Extension.

Picking a Planter and a Saucer for Your Croton Elaine

The primary consideration in selecting a planter for your Croton Elaine should be the amount of space it needs for the roots of the plant to grow.

Many croton Elaine’s that are bought from nurseries are root bound which means not only does the plant have to adjust to a new home but also needs transplanting as soon as possible. These technicolor plants have been grown outdoors in Florida and southern California for many years. Greenhouse growers gave crotons a makeover and selected varieties that adapted to low light. However today’s crotons are one of the most widely sold foliage plants, and because they are easily propagated in greenhouses, they are quite affordable as well.

The leaf color of the Croton Elaine is most vivid when plants get plenty of light. Crotons also have a high transpiration rate, so they need frequent watering. Efficient drainage is the key to any green thumb. Water that collects in the bottom of a container can be the kiss of death for almost all plants.

Make sure your planters have at least one large hole in the bottom. The more capacity the planter the more holes will be needed. Our guideline is the more holes the better. Place a coffee filter or some fiberglass screening inside the planter to cover up the holes. This will help prevent creating crannies to harbor beetles, slugs or any other destructive bugs.

If you wish to add a layer of broken clay flower pots or rocks in the bottom of a planter to improve drainage it is up to you. I have even been known to sterilize some styrofoam and place that in the bottom of a very large planter to prevent the drain holes from being blocked.

Whenever a plant needs lots of water I recommend you water it from both the top and the bottom of the container. To do this I simply pour water into a tray or saucer, set the plant in it, an allow the plant to drink its fill for up to 30 minutes before emptying out any excess water. Never leave a pot sitting in standing water for more than 30 minutes. Although this might be a little more time-consuming, bottom watering plants is often the best way to be certain that the lowest half of the root receives adequate moisture.

Most plants flourish when they are watered both from the top and the bottom because it helps to avoid the formation of dry pockets in the planter. Depending on where you place your planters, you may want to put a saucer under each container to hold water that drains from the pots.

We prefer saucers made of thicker material that stand up better to sunlight and to the rigors of moving planters from one place to another. Saucers are attractive and durable. We recommend a plant saucer to keep water from leaching through onto the deck wood.

The croton Elaine has longevity of several years to indefinitely if propagated correctly. Once you have chosen the right combination of planter and saucer to fit your foliage you will be ready to fill them with soil and enjoy starting on your way toward a bountiful harvest.

This article was brought to you by the green thumbs at Lawn Patio Barn.com. Visit our exciting display of sturdy and stylish Garden Accessories by clicking here. Our wish is that all your plants flourish.