Metal Garden Planters
Metal Planters, Made for Your Garden
Made to order here in Britain, our collection of corten and galvanised steel garden planters combines beautifully simple design with exceptional durability.
From contemporary cubes and cylinders to large troughs and bottomless planters, choose from our tried-and-tested sizes or talk to us about creating something bespoke to your space. Whether you need an oversized planter for a specimen tree, a long trough for screening or simply a slightly different dimension, we're very happy to help.
Choose corten steel for its warm, naturally developing patina or galvanised steel for a timeless silver-grey finish. Made to order by specialist British metalworkers and delivered throughout the UK.
Shop by material
Corten
Warm, architectural and designed to improve with age. Corten develops its distinctive rust-coloured patina naturally outdoors, creating a protective surface that works beautifully against planting.
Galvanised
A timeless alternative with a softer silver-grey finish. Hot-dip galvanising protects the steel beneath with a durable zinc coating, making these particularly well suited to traditional and contemporary gardens alike.
Made for you, not pulled from a warehouse.
Most of our metal planters don't exist until you order them.
Rather than importing containers of mass-produced planters in fixed dimensions, we work with specialist British metalworkers to manufacture our collection to order.
You'll find plenty of tried-and-tested sizes throughout the range — from smaller cubes and cylinders to substantial troughs and statement planters — but they don't necessarily have to stay that way.
Need something longer? Taller? Shallower? A planter designed to fit a particular wall, terrace or awkward corner?
Just ask.
We regularly arrange bespoke metalwork and are very happy to discuss one-off dimensions for private gardens, landscaping projects and commercial schemes.
Made to measure
Made for your space.
Gardens rarely come in standard sizes, so why should every planter?
If one of our designs is almost right but you need different dimensions, get in touch. Working directly with our fabrication partners, we can quote for bespoke sizes across much of our corten and galvanised steel collection.
From an extra-long trough for screening a terrace to an oversized planter for a specimen tree, we're very happy to discuss your project.
Compare our steel finishes
| Feature | Corten Steel | Galvanised Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Warm orange/brown patina | Silver-grey zinc finish |
| Style | Contemporary / architectural | Traditional / understated |
| Finish | Changes naturally with age | Gradually weathers and dulls |
| Maintenance | Very low | Very low |
| Outdoor use | Excellent | Excellent |
| Bespoke sizes | ✓ | ✓ |
| Made to order | ✓ | ✓ |
Notes
Corten is fantastic when you want the planter itself to become part of the planting scheme. Its warm colouring looks especially good alongside grasses, silvery foliage and lush greens.
Galvanised steel is quieter. Its muted grey finish works particularly well around stone, gravel, traditional buildings and more restrained planting schemes.
Garden Designers, Landscapers & Commercial Projects
Working on something bigger?
We regularly supply garden designers, landscapers and commercial customers with garden products for projects throughout Britain.
From a single oversized planter to a coordinated collection for an entire landscape, Tom's Yard works with garden designers, landscapers, developers, hospitality businesses and other commercial customers.
Our made-to-order approach means we can help with unusual dimensions, larger quantities and heavier steel specifications where required.
Planning a project? Send us your drawings, dimensions or specification and we'll be happy to discuss it. Get in touch with Tom's Yard or apply for a trade account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are your metal planters made in the UK?
Yes. Our metal planters are made to order here in Britain by specialist metalworkers, rather than mass-produced and imported from overseas. This gives us the flexibility to offer a wide range of sizes, facilitate bespoke dimensions and to have greater control & security of the supply chain.
Can you make a planter to my dimensions?
Absolutely. Bespoke is a big part of what we do. If you've found a design you like but need it longer, taller, wider or made to fit a particular space, please get in touch with your required dimensions. We can arrange quotations for one-off pieces as well as larger landscaping and commercial projects.
How long do made-to-order planters take?
Lead times vary depending on the planter, size and time of year, but around 2–6 weeks is typical for our made-to-order metalwork. You'll find the current estimated lead time on each individual product page. Bespoke and particularly large orders may take a little longer due to what's involved.
Do corten planters arrive rusty?
No. As standard, our corten steel planters are supplied in their natural, unweathered state and develop their characteristic rust-coloured protective patina once exposed to the elements.
If you'd rather not wait, we can also offer a pre-weathering treatment for a surcharge. Our team spends an additional week treating the planter with a specialist solution, giving it the appearance of having spent approximately six months naturally weathering outdoors.
What is galvanised steel?
Galvanised steel is ordinary steel that has been given a protective coating of zinc, usually by immersing the finished item into molten zinc.
This creates the distinctive silver-grey finish while protecting the steel underneath from corrosion. Over time, the bright galvanised surface naturally softens and weathers to a more muted grey — a finish we think looks particularly good in the garden.
Do the planters have drainage holes?
Most of our planters intended for conventional container planting are supplied with drainage holes in the base, allowing excess water to escape.
Specifications can differ between designs, however, so please check the individual product description. If you have a particular drainage requirement for a bespoke planter, just let us know when enquiring.
Can I order bottomless planters?
Yes. We offer bottomless planters in a number of shapes and sizes, and can also discuss bespoke dimensions.
They're particularly useful when planting larger shrubs or trees. The planter creates the appearance and structure of container planting above ground while allowing the plant's roots to establish into the soil beneath.
Can large planters be delivered to my property?
Yes — large planters are something we're very accustomed to handling. Depending on the size of your order and your location, we can arrange either a kerbside pallet delivery through our tried-and-tested haulier service or, where available, a more personal courier service.
If access to your property is unusual or restricted, please get in touch before ordering and we'll be happy to discuss the most suitable option.
Do you deliver throughout the UK?
Yes. We arrange delivery of our metal planters across the UK, from individual garden planters through to large multi-piece orders.
Because many of our planters are substantial items, they're carefully prepared for transport and sent using an appropriate pallet or courier service rather than a conventional parcel network.
Do you offer trade discounts?
Yes. We welcome enquiries from garden designers, landscapers, architects, developers, hospitality businesses and other trade customers.
Our trade programme offers automated discounts of up to 15%, with a minimum order value of £250 and no annual minimum spend requirement. Trade customers can also speak to us about bespoke sizes, larger quantities and made-to-order pieces for individual projects.
