Bottomless planters for open ground
Bottomless Corten steel planters
RheaA bottomless Corten steel planter gives a border its outline without ever enclosing it. Set directly on the ground and open at the base, it lets roots grow down into the soil and water drain away naturally: the planting keeps the full depth of the garden, and the garden gains a line of architecture. Cortenys offers two designs, in 2 mm Corten steel. Rhea, square, comes in twenty-seven sizes, up to 1400 mm per side; Gaia, rectangular, in twenty-one formats, up to two metres long. Designed in France, crafted in Europe by a partner manufacturer and made to order, they arrive dressed in the Cortenys signature patina, applied in the workshop. A different idea of the Corten planter: a frame, with the earth itself as its base.
Set straight on open ground
Without a base, Rhea and Gaia let roots grow down into the soil: the maple and the lavender find all the depth of earth they need.
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Advice and design: Bottomless Corten steel planters
Why choose a bottomless Corten steel planter
A planter with a base limits the planting to the volume of soil it holds. The bottomless Corten steel planter removes that limit: roots reach the ground, water drains away by itself, and trees and shrubs can settle in for the long term. It is the answer for structured hedges, steel-edged borders, trees staged in the middle of a lawn and Corten raised beds for the kitchen garden. Corten steel, for its part, draws a clean line around the living planting: where the plants spill over, its patina of rust, sienna and amber blends into the soil and the foliage.
A line of Corten steel to hold the border
Square around a cluster of birches, rectangular along a path: the bottomless planter gives the border a crisp outline without enclosing it.
Rhea or Gaia: square or rectangular planter
Rhea, a bottomless square planter, comes in twenty-seven sizes: from 400 to 1400 mm per side, from 400 to 1000 mm high. A low cube frames a border or a specimen tree; a tall cube marks an entrance; a series of cubes sets the rhythm along a path. Gaia, a bottomless rectangular planter, comes in twenty-one formats, from 900 × 300 mm to 2000 × 600 mm, from 400 to 1000 mm high: it edges a terrace, runs alongside a pool, holds a hedge of grasses or a row of lavender. For a longer run, several Gaia planters can be placed end to end.
Setting a bottomless planter on open ground
A bottomless planter sits directly on the existing ground: choose an area of soil, weed it, loosen it and level it so that the frame rests perfectly true. Then fill with topsoil suited to the intended planting; a drainage layer becomes unnecessary, since water soaks into the ground. On a terrace, a balcony or a slab, a bottomless planter makes no sense: choose a planter with a base or one of our Corten steel pots instead. Beside a pale path, the Cortenys protective varnish, offered as an option, fixes the patina and limits rust run-off in the first months.
A Corten steel planter crafted to last
Doing without a base is a choice that must be paid for in rigour everywhere else: the straightness of the sheet, the crispness of the corners, the way the frame holds once filled. The House crafts its bottomless planters from 2 mm Corten steel, to order, then applies the Cortenys signature patina in the workshop and inspects it before dispatch. Allow 2 to 5 weeks for a model from the Classics and 3 to 10 weeks for a bespoke format; every piece is guaranteed for two years. Rhea and Gaia also exist in powder-coated aluminium, in a RAL colour.
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Bottomless Corten steel planters: frequently asked questions
What is a bottomless Corten steel planter for?
It sits directly on open ground. Roots reach the soil, water drains away naturally, and the planting volume is no longer limited by the container. It is the ideal solution for a structured hedge, a steel-edged border, a showcased tree or a raised vegetable bed. At Cortenys, Rhea, square, and Gaia, rectangular, interpret this principle.
Can a bottomless planter stand on a terrace or a slab?
No: without ground beneath the planting, the soil would escape and water would run across the slab. On a terrace, a balcony or a roof, choose a planter with a base or one of our Corten steel pots, which hold the soil and can stand anywhere.
What height of bottomless planter should you choose?
Rhea and Gaia range from 400 to 1000 mm in height. A low planter, 400 to 500 mm, edges a border without hiding it; a height of 600 to 800 mm raises the planting and puts it on show; 1000 mm draws a true planted wall and spares the gardener’s back.
Can a bottomless planter be used as a Corten raised bed?
Yes. Set on open ground, it gives crops the full depth of the soil, and its height makes gardening more comfortable. Choose a height of 600 to 1000 mm and a width that lets you reach the centre without stepping into the bed.
How do you fill a bottomless Corten steel planter?
First loosen the existing soil, then fill with topsoil suited to the planting, firming it lightly layer by layer. There is no need for a drainage layer: water soaks into the ground beneath. Leave a few centimetres below the rim for mulch and watering.
Will a bottomless Corten steel planter stain a pale path?
During the first months, rain can carry orange run-off onto pale stone or porous concrete. The Cortenys signature patina, delivered already applied, reduces it; the protective varnish, offered as an option, fixes the patina and prevents marks. A strip of gravel or mulch at the foot of the planter also does the job.
Are Cortenys bottomless planters available in aluminium?
Yes. Rhea and Gaia are also offered in powder-coated aluminium, in a RAL colour, for gardens that call for a bold colour. Lighter, these versions carry the same design; the Cortenys signature patina remains reserved for pieces in Corten steel.
Can a bottomless planter be made to measure?
Yes. For a length, a height or a series of planters adapted to your project, Cortenys develops bespoke bottomless Corten steel planters, made to order in 3 to 10 weeks, with the same signature patina as our collection models. Send us your measurements and a few photographs of the site: the House will send you a quote.
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