The Ultimate Guide to Commercial Planters

Whether you’re considering swapping your in-ground planters for raised commercial planters or you’re ready to make the switch to a more durable option, you’re likely researching commercial planters so you can know all you can before making an informed decision on which planters are best for your needs. 

From rooftop planters to extra-large commercial planters to custom commercial planters, PolyMade has been building and designing custom planters for many years, serving a variety of industries nationwide and customizing each planter for each client. We’re passionate about helping companies bring their vision to life, regardless of shape, size, and quantity. 

We’ve seen all types of commercial planters over the past decade, from some with poor drainage to concrete planters that have cracked and damaged plants. Continue reading for an ultimate guide to commercial planters so you can make an informed decision when you’re ready to swap crumbling, poorly draining planters for durable, effective planters for your commercial property.

What are Commercial Planters?

Do you currently plant your shrubs, bushes, and flowers directly in the ground? Or do you have inexpensive, bland planters you grabbed from your nearest big-box store all around your commercial property? If so, you’ve likely had drainage or soil issues or have had to replace your plants and/or planters often. If so, swapping to commercial planters is a wise choice that’ll help your plants thrive.

Commercial planters differ from in-ground planting and concrete planters because, if you choose ones made from durable and high-quality materials and features, they offer exceptional durability, helping plants thrive during extreme temperatures and offering great drainage that big-box store planters can’t.

Ultimate Guide to Commercial Planters

There are many types of commercial planters in various materials and levels of durability. While big-box stores and online retailers sell commercial planters, they’re not always the best bang for your buck, especially when you consider durability. Below is a guide to commercial planters so you can choose the best planters for your commercial space:

Consider the Location

Before choosing a commercial planter, you’ll need to consider where the planter will be kept. Will you be placing a commercial planter on a rooftop, pool deck, patio, entrance, or inside a lobby? The location of your planter is an important factor, especially when considering load requirements. For example, patios and rooftops have varying load requirements and may not support the weight of a heavy, concrete planter. Before adding a planter to your location, determine the live, dead, and environmental load your patio, rooftop, or other limited area can support.

Choose the Right Material

Many commercial property owners make the mistake of purchasing concrete planters, including extra-large concrete planters. In theory, heavy concrete planters seem like they’d be a great investment since they’re made of one of the most durable manmade materials. However, traditional commercial planters crack under pressure, often from fluctuating temperatures, freeze-thaw cycles, overloading, and poor manufacturing. Commercial planters made from metal, wood, concrete, and fiberglass aren’t nearly as durable as PolyMade’s.

When selecting a commercial planter, choose one made from a durable material, like PolyMade’s three-layer construction, which includes high-density polystyrene, polyurea, and a synthetic stucco that offers ultimate UV protection, protection from the elements, and thermal stability.

Look for Certain Features

Commercial planters should also have features that help plants flourish, protecting them from the elements, overwatering, and underwatering. Some planters aren’t designed with extra features in mind, especially those available at home improvement stores and big-box chains. Unfortunately, these cheaply made planters don’t have drainage channels or offer temperature stability.

An excellent planter design protects plants, offering moisture retention and drainage, a UV finish, and temperature stability. Moisture retention and drainage help with balanced hydration and optimal drainage, accommodating optional drip tray integration and built-in holes that prevent root rot and standing water. UV finishes also help reduce stress on plants by reducing heat absorption. 

Carefully Consider Plants & Sun/Shade Requirements

Another thing you’ll want to consider before purchasing or designing a custom commercial planter is the type of plant that will be planted inside it. Adding greenery and vibrant flowers is a great way to attract potential customers, passersby, and guests, but you’ll want to ensure they’re placed in the right location so the plants thrive. If your planter will be placed on a rooftop bar or pool deck, you’ll need to add plants that require many hours of direct sunlight—boxwoods, butterfly bushes, cacti, etc.— avoiding those that need shade. Likewise, placing your commercial planter in a more shaded area, like under or near a covered entryway, would require plants that need more shade, such as ferns, azaleas, astilbe, or coleus, to name a few.

Choosing a quality, insulated planter that protects roots is crucial to ensuring your plants flourish, just like choosing the best plants for sun, shade, and mixed exposure is.

Choose Modular Planters

Don’t choose just any commercial planter, especially one that can’t easily be moved or transported to a different location. Planters placed on a rooftop or patio will need to get upstairs, often via elevators or escalators, and moving one that isn’t modular complicates the process. Concrete planters can weigh thousands of pounds, especially once they’re full of plants and soil. Shipping or moving these large planters is nearly impossible, requiring the rental of expensive heavy-lifting equipment and increased shipping fees.

Choosing modular planters makes assembly and moving through stairwells, doors, gates, and elevators easier. Modular planters also allow for clean, uninterrupted planting beds that can be made into more creative configurations than big-box store concrete planters.

The PolyMade Difference

PolyMade’s commercial planters deliver superior performance compared to conventional metal, concrete, or fiberglass planters, creating an environment where plants can truly flourish. Our custom planters combine visual appeal, durability, and functionality to support healthy plant growth. Each planter is tailored to each client’s needs and engineered for challenging outdoor conditions. They provide a sophisticated alternative to traditional concrete planters, delivering long-lasting performance without compromising design goals or plant well-being.

Built to withstand demanding environments, PolyMade’s commercial planters are designed to handle extreme weather conditions, including temperature fluctuations, heavy storms, and repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Our specialized three-layer construction provides both strength and protection. A lightweight, high-density polystyrene core offers structural integrity and thermal insulation, while a polyurethane layer enhances impact resistance and overall durability. The exterior is finished with custom coatings that help preserve appearance and protect against weather-related wear and UV exposure.

Unlike products that rely solely on surface treatments, PolyMade planters incorporate UV inhibitors directly into their construction for comprehensive protection. This advanced approach helps prevent fading, chalking, and discoloration over time. As a result, the planters retain their appearance and performance for more than a decade, making them a cost-effective and long-term solution for commercial landscapes and outdoor spaces.

Let’s Build Your Custom Commercial Planter Today

PolyMade planters maintain their integrity and appearance much longer than concrete commercial planters, delivering both beauty and reliability year after year, protecting your plant from extreme temperatures and severe weather. From initial concept through final installation, our experienced support team provides hands-on guidance at every stage. Our streamlined process makes customization effortless: we collaborate with you to define dimensions, refine specifications, select finishes, and finalize design details, ensuring every piece influences the customer experience.

Connect with our team to learn how PolyMade’s custom commercial planter boxes can enhance your space, simplify installation, and create an environment where plants—and properties—thrive.