A guide to container planting: turning any mineral surface into a lasting green space.
No soil? No obstacle. Container planting brings the garden where it could not otherwise exist: on paving, forecourts, rooftops and in entrance halls.
Because it frees planting from the ground: no need for open soil, groundworks or an underground irrigation network. The planter is simply positioned and planted, without affecting the building fabric. For professional spaces, often 100% mineral, it is the only route to rapid, reversible greening without construction work.
This is the number one variable: volume determines a plant’s health, stability and water autonomy. Proven guidelines: 40 to 60 litres for medium shrubs, 100 to 300 litres for a substantial shrub or small tree, and more for larger specimens. Below that, the plant survives; above it, it thrives.
Drainage removes excess water (a drainage layer and clear outlet); the integrated water reservoir smooths out requirements between waterings and safeguards plants during heatwaves. Together, they reduce maintenance and eliminate the two main causes of container plant loss: suffocation and drought.
On paving, a terrace or rooftop, always calculate planter + wet growing medium + plant: a large planted planter weighs several hundred kilograms. Fibre concrete (lightweight) and distributing loads near load-bearing structures resolve most situations; we provide the precise weight of every product for your checks.
Almost all plants, provided the volume is sufficient: olive trees, grasses, evergreen shrubs, hardy palms, herbs… The professional rule: choose according to actual exposure (wind, sun, sea spray) rather than a catalogue, and favour water-wise species for sites with limited access.
No groundworks, networks or permits: simply position and plant.
The scheme can be removed or adapted without work or lasting traces.
Volume + drainage + water reservoir = years of greenery.
Yes: olive trees, small trees and large shrubs can thrive in planters for years, provided they have a generous volume of growing medium (several hundred litres for a tree), properly managed drainage and a frost-resistant planter material.
Allow for the planter, the wet growing medium (around 1 kg per litre) and the plant: a planted 200-litre planter can easily exceed 300 kg. On a slab, check the permissible load and opt for fibre concrete, which is significantly lighter than conventional concrete.
With an integrated water reservoir and low-water plants, watering can be reduced from several times a week to once a week or less, depending on the season: a decisive factor for sites without on-site maintenance staff.
Yes: it helps combat urban heat islands and brings living nature into the city, criteria valued in CSR initiatives and local greening policies. It is also the quickest solution to implement.
Paving, forecourt, rooftop: we size planters, growing media and plants for your site.
