Are Corten Steel Planters Good for Plants?

If you’re familiar with Corten steel planters, you’ll already know how amazing they can look – with their rich russet hues standing out in perfect, natural contrast against your graceful greenery. In fact, Corten steel planters are the perfect, low-maintenance solution for all types of gardens, large or small. They’re durable, long-lasting and, best of all, are manufactured without any harsh chemicals.

But how exactly does this benefit your plants? Is Corten steel safe for vegetables? How long do Corten steel planters last? In this blog, we break down the botanical benefits of Corten steel planters, before sharing our top tips for a thriving garden.

How Corten Steel Planters Can Benefit Your Plants

A head-start

Otherwise known as weathering steel, Corten steel is an excellent insulator. This means that the soil in your planters will warm up much faster than it would in other types of planters or garden beds – such as those framed with wood – thus allowing you to get planting earlier on in the Spring.

The sooner you can plant your bulbs, the longer your plants will have to establish strong roots, making them more resistant to potentially harsh weather conditions later on. Moreover, they’ll have longer to pollinate, allowing you to enjoy beautiful blooms for much longer.

Improved protection

The outer layer of Corten steel won’t just provide enhanced weather protection for your planters. It will also provide better protection for your plants, particularly during cold snaps and bouts of inclement weather.

As previously mentioned, weathering steel is an excellent insulator, so it will help to stabilise soil temperatures and prevent your plants from dying as a result of thermal shock. The UK weather is notoriously fickle and recent climate changes only serve to make it more unpredictable, so the more you can protect your plants from the unknown, the better.

How to line Corten steel planters to protect plants

You can line your Corten steel planters with foam materials or bubble wrap for an extra layer of protection, helping keep plants that little bit extra safe on the occasional days when UK temperatures go above 20°C. This is just one of the ways you can provide better care for your plants.

Food safe

If you’re looking to grow your own vegetables, fruits and herbs, you may be concerned with finding a food-safe material for your planters. Steel is ideal as it won’t cause any unwanted minerals to leech into your soil. This is particularly true with Corten steel, which doesn’t require any paint, chemical coatings or treatments to keep looking its best.

Whilst it may release trace amounts of zinc or iron, these are both naturally occurring minerals present in such small quantities that they will not affect your plants in any way.

Choosing the Right Kind of Corten Steel Planter

Now that we’ve established the benefits of Corten steel, you may be wondering how to go about choosing the right planter for your plants. With multiple shapes and sizes to choose from, it can be difficult to decide what would work best. Whilst the decision is ultimately a matter of personal choice, there are several factors you may wish to consider to optimise the success of your garden.

Sufficient drainage

It’s vital that you choose a Corten steel planter with adequate drainage for your plants. If water is unable to drain away properly, your plants could suffer root rot or other significant problems.

Sufficient width

Likewise, it’s important to choose a planter that leaves your plants with enough room to grow. If you’re transferring a fully grown plant into your planter, we would generally recommend choosing a pot that is at least one inch wider than the roots. If, however, you are planting new plants that you expect to grow, you’ll need to take this requirement for additional space into account.

The right size planter

When determining the size of planter you will need, you should be looking at the roots rather than the foliage. Make sure you measure your planters accordingly, remembering that round pots will most likely be sold in diameter.

Try to avoid sizing up too much when repotting as well, as this can affect the ratio of air and moisture reaching your plants, ultimately causing them to struggle.

The right shape planter

Whilst there is no written rule on the right shaped planter, certain styles tend to work best with certain types of plants. For instance, column planters work best for tall trees and flowers, whilst styles like this Arden Corten steel trough planter allow you to present an array of different flora, making them perfect for growing a vegetable garden.

A planter with feet

Planters with feet provide improved drainage and raise your plants up from the ground, helping to protect them from the cold and frost. It can also discourage pests like slugs from entering the pot in the first place. Not all plants will require a pot with feet but it’s an important thing to think about before you get planting.

How long do Corten steel planters last?

Corten steel planters are made to last for a significant amount of time – with proper care they can last more than 20 years. They require little to no maintenance thanks to the oxidisation process the weathering steel goes through, providing not just beautiful colours but also a layer of protection against the sun, rain, frost and other adverse conditions.

Ready to get planting?

Browse our full range of Corten steel planters online and please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions. We’re always happy to advise.