The complete method, from the first sketch to the first service, without in-ground planting or building work.
A terrace wins people over at first sight. Here’s how planting can turn yours into a commercial asset, step by step.
Three questions shape the project. Where are the nuisances (busy street, overlooking buildings, prevailing wind)? Where do you want to draw the eye (entrance, photogenic corner)? What are the practical constraints (service access width, permission to occupy public space, winter storage)? The answers will define the planting plan.
With a continuous line of tall planters or closely grouped large planters, planted with dense greenery: non-invasive bamboo, elaeagnus, photinias and olive trees for a Mediterranean feel. At 1.5 to 2 metres high (container plus plant), the screen filters views, softens noise and establishes the restaurant’s presence on the street, while remaining unfixed to the ground and removable, as terrace regulations often require.
Within the terrace, medium-sized planters arranged in a staggered layout structure the space without partitioning it: each table gains a touch of greenery, while service circulation remains smooth. Repeat the same planter colour across the terrace: this is what creates cohesion and the sense of a thoughtfully designed space.
Without in-ground planting, the planter IS the garden: it must provide sufficient substrate volume, drainage and stability. Glazed ceramic for charm and substance, fibre concrete for manageable weight on a slab, metal for an urban feel: all our materials are frost-resistant and withstand the pace of service. Castors and retractable feet make evening storage easier if your regulations require it.
Choose plants suited to the exposure and requiring little maintenance (ornamental grasses, olive trees, lavender, evergreen shrubs), add a water reservoir to reduce watering in summer, and group delicate specimens in a sheltered place during winter: this is where planters fitted with castors really come into their own. One monthly maintenance visit is generally enough during the season.
Everything can be installed and moved: no fixings, no trenches.
A terrace that stands out fills up earlier and builds customer loyalty.
The planting scheme follows your seasons and preferences.
Use of public space (terrace, planters) is subject to local authority approval, generally through your existing terrace application. Planters simply placed on the ground, without being fixed to it, are precisely what most regulations require. Check local rules on clear passage widths.
Reliable choices include non-invasive bamboo (fargesia), elaeagnus, photinia, viburnum tinus, or olive trees for a more open, Mediterranean screen. All thrive long-term in planters with sufficient volume and good drainage.
It all depends on the length to be treated and the formats selected. Our recommended approach: start by defining the street-side boundary (where the impact is greatest), then build density over the seasons. Send us your dimensions via the form and we will provide a quote for a suitable arrangement.
When positioned well, they make it easier: they guide footfall and protect tables from passing traffic. Keep 90 cm to 1.2 m of clear access for service and people with reduced mobility, and place larger plants in blind spots.
Send us a photo and the dimensions: we’ll suggest a costed planting scheme.
