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Texas Gardening

Concrete Planters - how big and where to buy?

granburyflowergirl

14 years ago

I want to use concrete planters for my clematis to grow in on my patio and maybe even to put my Lady banks rose in so it wont get too big. I know I need a light color so the plants wont cook, and it has to have drain holes so they wont drown and it must be heavy so it will stay put.

Any suggestions for a good place to buy quality, affordable planters?

How big should they be?

Thanks

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Comments (11)

edufrin
14 years ago
I recently blogged about this very same thing on my home and garden blog. These containers are lightweight, inexpensive, have fantastic drainage, and look very unique.

If you're up for trying a new craft that is very simple, check out my website. Very inexpensive and looks fun!

Here is a link that might be useful: The Cutest Little House in Town
PKponder TX Z7B
14 years ago
I know that there is a place on 377 north between Granbury and Cresson, but I haven't stopped in there. We love David's Patio in Springtown. I have a few pieces of their ornamental concrete and prices are reasonable. The phone number is 817-677-4921 and they offer everything on display with the option of raw or painted with a discount if you don't mind it without paint. There is a website but I see that it's under construction. I bet they could email a catalog if you call them. I have no idea how large you'd need to go for a LB Rose.

Pam

Here is a link that might be useful: David's Patio
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Well…it’s done, but it was a huge ordeal. In my yard, there is about 8 inches to a foot of topsoil, and solid dense clay under that, that is also full of rocks. It’s why I have difficulty planting anything large. I had told him that in advance, but it was not something he had dealt with before (this was friend doing the work, like a trade; I will help him install a non-standard door later). The auger was useless after a foot. I have a post hole digger too, that was no better. The clay had to be chipped out bit by bit, and larger rocks pried out til the depth got to the 2 feet he wanted. So instead of 2 deep narrow holes, we had 2 cone-shaped holes, maybe 16" in diameter. We moved the big hibiscus, and some lilies, and I had put stakes marking other plants to protect them. But that plan went by the wayside quickly, as digging those holes seemed to require more and more room. I was supposed to be just an observer, due to my knee surgery. But I and another friend ended up helping too, which flattened the area even more. I should have removed all the plants within a 3 foot radius of each hole! We got the posts level, mixed and poured in the concrete. Then the position of the posts had to be endlessly tweaked, which took 3 of us. I wanted to “hide” the square posts behind 2 of the outermost uprights. The plan was to let the posts set while we had lunch (it was then 3:30, and we had started at 12:30). But we decided to place the gate immediately, while we could still move the posts slightly. Which turned out to be a good thing. Again, more tweaking of angles and leveling. Had to shim one end with bricks, as (you might be able to see in the above photo) the pointed ends at the bottom are different lengths. Got it clamped on with 2 thick U bolts at the bottom and muffler clamps at the top. I will paint those soon. Tomorrow I will have to clear out stray gravel and clay pieces from around it, which will be challenging considering I can’t kneel on my right knee. I will come up with a new place for the hibiscus, which I put into a large pot temporarily. I have a non-performing Endless Summer hydrangea at the sunnier end of the bed, which never grows more than a 16” tall (and doesn’t bloom). I think I’ll put the hibiscus there, where it won’t block the view of the gate. The thing I am worried about now is how compacted the soil became. I don’t know what to do about that, if anything is possible. The plants that had not yet emerged might not be able to get through. The ones that were emerging in that 3 foot radius are largely smashed. Some tall salvias, liatris. Lots of crushed irises. I think I will fork those out and move them. I don’t know if it would be advisable to try to stick pitchfork in and loosen the soil in general. And/or just add some bagged topsoil on top of everything, and call it a day. Buy some new plants. ;) I know I will like the results in the end, once things start growing around it.
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granburyflowergirl
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks Erica, that looks like a pretty cool project and I may try it for other plantings but I need the patio pots to be really solid and heavy and a bit more formal. Anyone else?
texaslynn
14 years ago
I can't help you with a place to buy in your area (my favorite is Frazier's off Hwy 290 and Hwy 6) but make sure you can unload the thing before you buy. Even the small ones can weigh a lot. A couple of years ago, I went crazy and bought three or four planters.....had the men load it into my truck and went home. My husband took one look and said "and exactly HOW are we going to unload these? They must weigh 500 lbs each!" So with an afternoon of trying to figure it out (with my poor husband and three worthless females - myself and two teenage girls), we struggled and managed to unload them without landing someone in the hospital with a crushed foot or strained spine. Or divorce court.

Where they sit now is where they remain for the rest of all eternity! The house may blow down but my lion planters will remain! Here is a picture of one of them, planted with Thunbergia:

(p.s. I like them so much I'm going back soon for a couple more!)

Lynn
texaslynn
14 years ago
The size of mine are 22" x 22"......which might be big enough for a clematis (I don't have any of those) but probably not for a rose of that size.
granburyflowergirl
Original Author
14 years ago
Wow! That's funny Lynn, I hadn't even thought about how
I would unload. Those lion planters are great, they look well made with quality concrete. That's what I'm after.

Pam my last post was rejected so I'll repeat it, I have sent an email to Davids, thanks! I will check out the place on 377 too (next to Accent Rock) but from the road, the quality of their stuff looks pretty cheap...
carrie751
14 years ago
I, personally, would put the Lady Banks in the ground as the problem with it's getting out of hand doesn't come from underneath but on top where you will need to be vigilant about trimming no matter what it is planted in. I say, plant it in the ground and just keep it trimmed to the size you want. Just my two cents worth.
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
14 years ago
Frazier's is truly an AMAZING place, in more ways than one!!! Amazing in the sheer number beautiful designs in concrete in their acres of displays and amazing in their dedication to customer satisfaction.

Several years ago my friend Barbara and I went there and purchased quite a few items. As they were loading my minivan the tires began to look overloaded. I didn't think they could handle the last thing to be loaded -- a huge angel bird bath my friend bought. Barbara said she'd come back for it in her husbands pick-up truck.

Well, it was TWO years before we were able to get back with the truck. In the meantime she had lost her receipt, but lo and behold -- they still had her bird bath!

It was sitting in the the hold section with a big sign on it that simply said "Woman from San Antonio." :-)

Here is a link that might be useful: Frazier's Ornamental Concrete
bobbi_p
14 years ago
Fraziers was my suggeestion as well. You could make a great long weekend of it as well with Martha's Bloomers and the Antique Rose Emporium in Independence.

My thought, though, is on the clematis in a pot. Don't they require cool "feet" to be happy in Texas. Any Granbury Gardenwebbers with more geographically appropriate advice?
carrie751
14 years ago
Yes, they do, Bobbi.......I have ground cover or small plants around the feet of mine. Once when I planted ice plant around their feet, it caused far too many laughs.
granburyflowergirl
Original Author
14 years ago
Ice plants! That's cute... I do plan to put root shade plants in the planters with the clematis. My lady banks is in the ground now but after seeing the size of the plant in arizona I thought I could maybe restrict the overall growth by putting it in a pot...guess I have more research to do on that. THAT SOUNDS LIKE AN AWESOME (yet potentially very expensive)ROADTRIP!!!! I am alreay making plans, thanks! I love antique roses and Fraziers looks fabulous and with such great recommendations I am so there!!! Now, I just need to find a friend with a big truck and trailor and some burly dudes to ubload for me when I get home!
Thanks all!

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