Outdoor Living: Gorgeous Ways to Show Your Metal in the Garden
From beautifully aged to show-stoppingly shiny, metallic planters team beautifully with greenery. Here's how to work a gleam scheme
Zinc, copper and aluminium can be a surprisingly practical choice for planters, adding metallic texture and tones to your outside space, whether it’s a garden, an area of decking or even a city windowsill. Metallic planters work for contemporary styles, adding sharp angles to silvery blades of grasses, while more rustic containers sum up the reuse, recycle, revamp vibe and help bring out the natural luminosity of greenery.
Whether you want your planters to stay shiny and new, or are happy to embrace the weathered patina that some metals earn with age, steel yourself for a rich seam of ideas…
Whether you want your planters to stay shiny and new, or are happy to embrace the weathered patina that some metals earn with age, steel yourself for a rich seam of ideas…
Be bold
You can still enjoy bright shades with metal, as steel planters can be powder-coated in myriad shades. Here, a row in alternating hazy lilac and pansy purple add zing to a simple planting scheme, and distract the eye from less pretty urban furniture, such as railings.
You can still enjoy bright shades with metal, as steel planters can be powder-coated in myriad shades. Here, a row in alternating hazy lilac and pansy purple add zing to a simple planting scheme, and distract the eye from less pretty urban furniture, such as railings.
Embrace the weather
The aged patina and warm hues of copper add to the desert-chic appeal of these vertical grasses. It’s a striking but natural colour combo that will have impact all year round – a bonus for laid-back gardeners.
The aged patina and warm hues of copper add to the desert-chic appeal of these vertical grasses. It’s a striking but natural colour combo that will have impact all year round – a bonus for laid-back gardeners.
Go rustic
Rough and rustic planters with decorative touches provide the perfect backdrop for delicate florals. Planters aren’t just for ground level, though, so placing a small group on a garden table is an easy way to add an extra layer to your view without taking up any additional space.
Rough and rustic planters with decorative touches provide the perfect backdrop for delicate florals. Planters aren’t just for ground level, though, so placing a small group on a garden table is an easy way to add an extra layer to your view without taking up any additional space.
Give it an edge
Sharp edges and shine are a great base for sculptural shrubs, creating a focal point in a corner of a small city rooftop garden. If you have more room to play with, use a row of three for extra impact.
See how to design a minimalist garden
Sharp edges and shine are a great base for sculptural shrubs, creating a focal point in a corner of a small city rooftop garden. If you have more room to play with, use a row of three for extra impact.
See how to design a minimalist garden
Impose order
Bamboo encompasses shades of silver, brown and even black in its leaves, so metallic planters are an excellent way to bring out its hues. Here, the regimented orderliness and sleek lines of the metal keep the wild look of bamboo in check.
See geometric designs to keep plants in line
Bamboo encompasses shades of silver, brown and even black in its leaves, so metallic planters are an excellent way to bring out its hues. Here, the regimented orderliness and sleek lines of the metal keep the wild look of bamboo in check.
See geometric designs to keep plants in line
Try backyard chic
Rust ’n’ roll living is summed up by these oxidised troughs, long exposed to the elements. Fill with leafy plants rich in purples, silvers and muted greens to hit just the right Derek Jarman-esque note.
Rust ’n’ roll living is summed up by these oxidised troughs, long exposed to the elements. Fill with leafy plants rich in purples, silvers and muted greens to hit just the right Derek Jarman-esque note.
Stay low level
Easy-maintenance foliage and powder-coated steel planters can stay low-profile, letting your view take centre stage. Clever lighting in the recesses and washed over the slatted fence add urban edge and interest to this London riverside scheme.
Easy-maintenance foliage and powder-coated steel planters can stay low-profile, letting your view take centre stage. Clever lighting in the recesses and washed over the slatted fence add urban edge and interest to this London riverside scheme.
Add a twist
Usually, you just need to drill holes in a salvaged metal planter for drainage, but these these boxy numbers have been further customised with clever welding. If you’re not a dab hand at metalwork, place boxes on a couple of house bricks for an industrial-style base that boosts height and interest.
Usually, you just need to drill holes in a salvaged metal planter for drainage, but these these boxy numbers have been further customised with clever welding. If you’re not a dab hand at metalwork, place boxes on a couple of house bricks for an industrial-style base that boosts height and interest.
Keep to a key tone
The blue tones of this zinc dolly tub are highlighted by the silvery olive tree leaves and the shade of the metal bench. Keep a scheme pared back to allow a key texture or colour to sing out – simply beautiful.
The blue tones of this zinc dolly tub are highlighted by the silvery olive tree leaves and the shade of the metal bench. Keep a scheme pared back to allow a key texture or colour to sing out – simply beautiful.
Display a decorative trim
Metal can also add impact as a trim to natural timber. These planters are edged in decorative, hand-folded lead, which brings out the shades of the lavender and boxwood.
TELL US…
Do you have any metal in your garden? We would love to see a photo or two in the Comments below.
Metal can also add impact as a trim to natural timber. These planters are edged in decorative, hand-folded lead, which brings out the shades of the lavender and boxwood.
TELL US…
Do you have any metal in your garden? We would love to see a photo or two in the Comments below.
These US-style water tanks have been adapted as giant planters, the rough rims softened by coils of hosepipe. Old farmyard troughs (try salvage yards or rural auctions) would also work well. Add drainage holes before you fill with quality compost and plant with foliage or favourite salad leaves.