Planters are a simple way to bring color, greenery, and visual interest to a space. But when it comes to choosing the right planter, the needs of a commercial property can look very different from those of a residential property.
Residential planters are often designed for smaller spaces, like porches, balconies, and home gardens, whereas commercial planters are used for larger spaces, accommodating expansive landscapes, and are built to withstand the demands of higher-traffic environments.
If you’re designing a landscape for a hotel, office building, healthcare facility, retail center, or a multifamily community, understanding the differences between commercial and residential planters can help you choose one that delivers lasting value. Here’s what to consider when comparing commercial planters with residential options, and why PolyMade is designed to meet the needs of commercial properties.
Size and Scale
One of the most notable differences between residential and commercial planters is size. Residential planters are generally designed to fit smaller spaces, such as a porch, patio, entryway, or home garden. Because these spaces are more compact than commercial spaces, residential planters are great additions to homes without overwhelming smaller properties.
Commercial properties are more expansive, often having grand entryways, multiple stories, and larger patios and terraces to accommodate guests. A planter that looks substantial in a residential garden may seem out of place in a large commercial space. Commercial planters are larger to accommodate bigger spaces and are built to scale to balance the larger architecture and space of the commercial property.
Larger commercial planters can also serve other practical purposes, including:
Framing building entrances
Creating visual boundaries
Adding greenery to fill in expansive space in courtyards or plazas
Accommodate larger shrubs
PolyMade specializes in building large commercial planters to specific dimensions and configurations to meet the needs of our clients. This flexibility makes it possible to create planters that suit the scale of a commercial property rather than relying on standard sizes that may not fit the design or needs of a large property.
Material Quality
Another differentiator between residential and commercial planters is the construction of the planter. Many residential planters are designed for affordability and convenience. Big-box store residential planters are often made from molded plastic and practical materials for smaller planting projects. While they can be good for smaller residential use, they don’t meet the demands of larger commercial properties.
Commercial planters often need to do much more than hold soil and plants. They may remain outdoors year-round, experience frequent contact in busy pedestrian areas, and serve as permanent features of a property’s overall design. Lower-cost, readily available planters from big-box stores don’t offer the construction, finish, or customization required for demanding commercial installations.
Commercial planters are made from a higher-quality material that meets the demands of commercial installations. Made from a three-layer engineered composite material, PolyMade’s commercial planters have a dense core for structural integrity. They support large soil volumes and mature plantings that withstand impacts and handling that occur on commercial properties.
Durable Finishes
Another thing that differentiates commercial planters from residential planters is the finishes. While residential planters can be durable, commercial planters often have finishes that are engineered for high durability.
Commercial planters are exposed to more foot traffic and remain outdoors year-round, so they need to have a durable finish for protection. PolyMade’s commercial planters have textured custom finishes that are indistinguishable from natural materials, giving an authentic stone/concrete appearance and professional, high-end look. Our finishes have integrated UV inhibitors to prevent fading, chalking, or discoloration, helping them maintain their appearance for 10+ years.
Customization
Residential planters often don’t have the same customization features that commercial planters do. Because residential planters are usually placed on home porches, patios, or gardens, they don’t often have the customization that many commercial property owners consider. While residential planters can elevate a home, commercial planters complement the company’s building and architecture.
For example, a hotel may want planters that coordinate with its exterior finishes, while a restaurant may want to emblazon a logo for brand recognition. Custom planters give commercial property owners the flexibility to have more control over the finished project.
PolyMade’s commercial customization features can include the following:
Unlimited customization (any shape, size, curve, finish)
Drainage customization
Anchors
Custom irrigation line channels
Custom color matching
Logo engravings or Lexan signage
& many other additional features
Each commercial planter built by PolyMade can be upgraded with an assortment of added features for increased functionality, safety, security, mobility, and plant life maintenance.
Let’s Build Your Planter Today
Looking for large commercial planters designed around your property? Consider PolyMade’s custom commercial planters. Our planters are custom-made to support plant health, offer custom shapes, allow lightweight installation, are weatherproof, and offer a lower lifetime cost compared to alternatives.
Our planters withstand severe weather, including extreme temperatures, strong winds, and fluctuating temperatures. They’re lightweight, weighing a fraction of concrete planters, and easier to place and rearrange throughout your property, including rooftops. They’re engineered with three layers that help with thermal stability and prevent cracking and leaching. They’re fully customizable with many additional features like casters, irrigation lines, access panels, forklift channels, and more.
Ready to add a stunning commercial planter that’s engineered to support plant health and protect your investment? Contact our team for more information about our lightweight, custom commercial planters.
