ZONING SPACE WITH TROUGH AND CUBE PLANTERS

Geo Rok Urban lightweight troughs for screening, garden designed by Eckersley Garden Architecture

What family of planter shapes work in almost any garden design? It is undeniably the straight lines of the rectangle, square and cube shapes. Troughs and large cube planters are the landscape designer’s workhorse. Space-efficient and stylish, Martin Kellock’s square, cubed and rectangular planters provide structure and offer practical solutions for indoor and outdoor spaces. Squares and troughs can be used as barriers, edging, freestanding walls and privacy screens.

Troughs and cubes often serve as the backbone of garden designs. They can be used along the sides or buildings, fences or balconies to maximise space and raise plants, creating instant above-ground greenery. However, pull them away from the property boundary to use these versatile planters in other ways and they soon become a designer’s best friend. Equally effective within domestic, commercial and public space design, the trough and cube shapes are the foundation of a sophisticated outdoor space.

Topline Hedge Trough – also available in grey

A perfect combination of form and function, the right trough or cube can provide the blank canvas for any landscape style. Use multiple troughs, cubes and squares to create long lines and focal points in a landscape.

Selecting the appropriate size, colour and material is critical to a successful design. Having access to a range of products gives the designer many options for sourcing the right product for the plant spacing and greenery height they want to achieve.

Topline cube planter finishing the end of the verandah

Troughs, squares and cubes are practical solutions for would-be problems of safety, screening and traffic flow in both residential and commercial spaces. Consider these key uses in your design projects.

ZONE LIVING SPACES

Use troughs or cubes to define spaces without obscuring major parts of the landscape. Lined up between a pool and outdoor lounge area or behind a sofa and kitchen, helps to clearly zone living spaces. Plant these troughs with mid-height greenery to create a soft separation while still keeping the view open.

Low troughs can signal a pathway to direct foot traffic towards entrances or away from areas that need to be kept clear.

Line a pathway with troughs planted with fragrant species to provide stimulating botanical scents for passersby.

Khilia Kube High Slim Cassetta and Square

SCREENING AND PRIVACY

The trough or cube can support a freestanding hedge or privacy screen. Place troughs end-to-end and plant with mature or fast-growing specimens for an instant hedge.

Troughs give subtle privacy to glassed-in balconies or where floor-to-ceiling windows are exposed to the neighbour’s view.

Use these sturdy planters to create window privacy while bringing some living greenery indoors.

SAFETY AND TRAFFIC DIRECTION

Lightweight troughs made of GRC are safe for balconies, decks, rooftops and other elevated structures that shouldn’t be overloaded with heavy objects, such as landings or mezzanines.

Line the edge of rooftop gardens with troughs to create a physical barrier that blends perfectly with the surrounding area and looks fantastic, too. This is a great way to dial up the visual interest with living plants instead of the typical balcony railings.

In public spaces, troughs are commonly used as a safety barrier to guide and protect pedestrians, particularly in areas with mixed traffic. Doubling as an avenue to beautiful public areas, troughs create a garden in otherwise barren urban spaces.

SMALL SPACE GARDENING

Use troughs to create a raised veggie garden placed outside or inside near the kitchen. An easy, low-maintenance way to access to fresh produce.

Troughs and cubes are great when space is a premium. They can be placed against a wall, right to the edge of a balcony or in corners – using every bit of available space without getting in the way. Setting straight-edged planters to the boundary of any area makes the space appear larger, especially when soft plants are used.

Use troughs beneath a greenwall without reticulation, where the plants below can be watered by the run-off from the vertical garden. Utilised in this fashion, troughs provide a solid visual base line for the greenwall.

Troughs and cubes are a space-saving way to enliven narrow spaces, including indoor areas that can only accommodate a rectangular shape.

The right trough or cube is the one that looks fabulous, but also has ample depth and width to accommodate the root ball of intended plantings.