On pavers, tile or wood decking
Low Corten steel planters for decks and patios: corners, edges, legs
On a deck, a patio or a balcony, you pick a planter by where it will sit (along an edge, in a corner, by the patio door, in the middle) and by the surface it must not stain. Our low formats, 300 to 600 mm (12 to 24 in) high, keep sight lines open and weigh far less once filled, from Iris, the triangular planter that tucks into a corner, to Maïa and its herb compartments.
Which low planter for which spot on the deck or patio?
One example format per spot, with the empty weight from the product page and the US price in the base finish (our signature patina). Dimensions are in millimeters with inches rounded to the nearest inch. For Iris, the size reads long side / each of the two equal sides × height.
| Spot | Model | Dimensions | Empty weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corner | Iris | 1000 / 707 × 300 mm (39 / 28 × 12 in) | 14.5 kg (32 lb) | $3,250 |
| Corner, deeper planting | Iris | 1200 / 848 × 500 mm (47 / 33 × 20 in) | 26.6 kg (59 lb) | $4,320 |
| Deck edge, delicate surface | Thalie on legs | 1500 × 500 × 600 mm (59 × 20 × 24 in) | 52.1 kg (115 lb) | $4,460 |
| Patio edge, hard-wearing surface | Déméter 2 mm | 1200 × 400 × 400 mm (47 × 16 × 16 in) | 31.3 kg (69 lb) | $3,370 |
| Pair at a patio door | Thalie on legs | 600 × 600 × 600 mm (24 × 24 × 24 in) | 29.7 kg (65 lb) | $3,480 |
| Pair at a patio door | Cybèle 2 mm | 500 × 500 × 500 mm (20 × 20 × 20 in) | 21 kg (46 lb) | $3,000 |
| Herbs near the kitchen | Maïa with compartments | 800 × 800 × 300 mm (31 × 31 × 12 in) | 33.5 kg (74 lb) | $3,400 |
| Island in the center | Thalie on legs | 1000 × 1000 × 400 mm (39 × 39 × 16 in) | 43 kg (95 lb) | $4,190 |
Planning a deck or patio layout: edges, corners, doors and center
Start with a plan of the deck or patio and the paths people take across it: planters go where nobody walks. Edges get a row (Déméter or a rectangular Thalie, up to 2000 mm or 79 in long), corners get a triangle, the patio door a pair of squares, and a large deck can hold a low island in the middle.
- Corners: Iris, a right isosceles triangle, fits snugly into the inside corner of a wall or railing; two Iris placed long side to long side make a square. 8 sizes, from 800 to 1400 mm (31 to 55 in) on the long side, 300 or 500 mm (12 or 20 in) high.
- Edges: Thalie comes in 1200, 1500 and 2000 × 500 × 600 mm (47, 59 and 79 × 20 × 24 in); Déméter from 900 to 2000 mm (35 to 79 in) long. A 1200 × 400 × 400 mm edge planter has an outside volume of about 190 L (50 US gal).
- Doors: two identical cubes, 500 or 600 mm (20 or 24 in) square, frame a patio door or French doors without blocking the way.
- Center or dining area: Maïa, at 300 mm (12 in) high, stays below the eye line of someone seated and keeps each herb in its own compartment.
Low planters
Our low planters for decks, patios and balconies
Thalie comes first, because its four legs hold the planter off the deck; then Déméter for the edges, Maïa for herbs, Iris for corners and Cybèle for single plants or pairs.
Low formats 300 and 400 mm (12 and 16 in) high: gallons, weight and price
A low planter keeps sight lines open and weighs less once filled. Iris and Maïa come 300 mm (12 in) high, Cybèle, Déméter and Thalie 400 mm (16 in) high. US prices in our signature patina, empty weight from the product page, volume calculated from the outside dimensions (a maximum: subtract the drainage layer and the space below the rim).
On the same footprint, cutting the height in half cuts the soil in half: Déméter 1000 × 500 mm (39 × 20 in) holds 200 L (53 US gal) at 400 mm (16 in) high, versus 400 L (106 US gal) at 800 mm (31 in). With moist potting soil at roughly 1 to 1.8 kg per liter (about 8.3 to 15 lb per US gallon), that is about 200 to 360 kg (440 to 790 lb) instead of 400 to 720 kg (880 to 1,590 lb), planter not included. A low planter also dries out faster, so mulch the surface and water more often in summer.
- What grows well in 300 to 400 mm (12 to 16 in) of soil (confirm with your nursery for a given plant): most herbs (thyme, chives, parsley, basil), lettuces and strawberries, low perennials and ground covers, compact grasses, spring bulbs and succulents.
- A shrub or a tree needs more depth: see our tall Corten steel planters, our square Corten steel planters for a single tree, or our large Corten steel planters for a screen or a bigger volume.
| Model | Dimensions | Volume (maximum) | Empty weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iris, triangular | 800 / 565 × 300 mm (31 / 22 × 12 in) | about 48 L (13 US gal) | 11.5 kg (25 lb) | $2,950 |
| Cybèle 2 mm, square | 400 × 400 × 400 mm (16 × 16 × 16 in) | 64 L (17 US gal) | 13.7 kg (30 lb) | $2,700 |
| Cybèle 2 mm | 800 × 800 × 400 mm (31 × 31 × 16 in) | 256 L (68 US gal) | 32.1 kg (71 lb) | $3,560 |
| Maïa, with compartments | 800 × 800 × 300 mm (31 × 31 × 12 in) | 192 L (51 US gal) | 33.5 kg (74 lb) | $3,400 |
| Maïa | 1200 × 1200 × 300 mm (47 × 47 × 12 in) | 432 L (114 US gal) | 60.1 kg (132 lb) | $4,530 |
| Déméter 2 mm, rectangular | 1000 × 500 × 400 mm (39 × 20 × 16 in) | 200 L (53 US gal) | 30.0 kg (66 lb) | $3,370 |
| Déméter 2 mm | 2000 × 400 × 400 mm (79 × 16 × 16 in) | 320 L (85 US gal) | 47.5 kg (105 lb) | $4,030 |
Keeping rust off wood decks, tile and stone
The signature Cortenys patina is applied in our workshop; water running down Corten steel can carry oxide with it and mark light tile, porous stone, concrete or a wood deck. On a deck or patio, protecting the surface matters as much as choosing the planter.
Thalie, standing on four built-in corner legs, keeps an air gap under its base. Under the other models, use small feet or rot-proof shims to leave an air gap, or a saucer for a small format. A protective varnish is offered as an option on all five models (for example $3,470 instead of $3,400 for Maïa 800 × 800 × 300 mm), but even varnished, a Corten steel planter can still leave rust runoff and stain the deck or pavers, so these precautions stay necessary whichever finish you choose. Our Corten care and rust stain guide explains how to deal with a mark.
Runoff, drains and wind on a deck or balcony
Before you set a planter down, find the slope of the patio and its drains: water leaving the planter should reach a drain without pooling underneath or running across a sensitive surface. On a wood deck, keep the water from sitting between the boards under the planter. Point the planter's outlets toward the slope, do not block them with a shim, and leave a gap between two neighboring planters.
Up high or at the edge of a rooftop, wind acts on the plants more than on the planter. Choose flexible plants (grasses, herbs, shrubs kept low) rather than tall, dense specimens, and in exposed spots prefer a wide base to a narrow column.
Ground-level patio, rooftop or balcony?
On a raised deck, a rooftop or a balcony, the weight of the planter, once planted and watered, must be checked before you buy: a structural engineer or contractor who knows the structure can tell you the acceptable load, and our guide on how to choose a Corten steel planter is a reminder that wet soil weighs far more than steel. If you are planting straight into the ground, see our bottomless Corten steel planters instead, and find every shape on our page of Corten steel planters.
For a tree on a patio, a round pot can be the better fit: our large Corten steel pots start at 800 mm (31 in) across.
Cortenys
Frequently asked questions
How do I keep a Corten planter from staining my deck or pavers?
Do not set the planter flat on the surface: use Thalie's legs, shims, small feet or a saucer, and direct the water toward a drain. The optional varnish greatly reduces rust runoff but does not rule it out: even varnished, a Corten planter can still stain a deck or pavers, so keep those precautions in place.
What is the least expensive low Corten planter?
Cybèle 2 mm in 400 × 400 × 400 mm (16 × 16 × 16 in), square, at $2,700. The triangular Iris 800/565 × 300 mm (31/22 × 12 in) costs $2,950; in a rectangle, Déméter 2 mm 1000 × 500 × 400 mm (39 × 20 × 16 in) costs $3,370.
Is a 12-inch-deep planter enough for herbs?
For most herbs, yes: thyme, chives, parsley or basil do fine in 200 to 300 mm (8 to 12 in) of well-drained soil. Rosemary and sage, which grow more vigorously, are happier in 400 mm (16 in). Confirm each plant's needs with your nursery.
What planter fits the corner of a deck?
Iris, a triangular planter whose right angle fits an inside corner. It comes 800, 1000, 1200 or 1400 mm (31, 39, 47 or 55 in) on the long side, 300 or 500 mm (12 or 20 in) high, from $2,950 to $4,950 in the base finish.
Why put a planter on legs on a deck?
Thalie's four corner legs lift the planter off the surface: air circulates, water drains away underneath and the deck does not stay damp under the base. Thalie comes as a square from 600 to 1400 mm (24 to 55 in) and as a rectangle up to 2000 mm (79 in).
Where does the water from a deck planter drain?
It leaves the planter through its outlets, which you should locate on the format you choose, then has to follow the slope of the deck or patio to its drains. Test it with a first watering before you plant, and keep the outlets clear of shims and leaves.
Can wind tip over a low Corten planter on a balcony?
Once filled, a planter is heavy, and it is mainly the plant that catches the wind. On an exposed site, choose flexible plants and planters with a wide base rather than narrow columns.
Can my balcony or rooftop handle the weight?
That depends on the structure, not just the planter. On a rooftop, a raised deck or a balcony, have a structural engineer or contractor check it, giving them the dimensions, empty weight and soil volume of the format you are considering.
A particular project in mind?
A dimension, a finish, a word of advice. The House is by your side, with the care it brings to every one of its pieces.