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Choose one long planter when the line is permanent and you want a single, continuous root zone. Choose several shorter ones when the layout may change, when each unit has to be carried in, or when you want a size that ships by ground. On the rectangular range we carry, fewer, longer units usually cost less for the same run and hold more soil, while the shortest sizes are often the only ones that ship by ground.
A line of planting along a terrace edge, a path or a building front can be built two ways: one or two long troughs, or a row of shorter boxes set end to end. From across the terrace they can look almost the same. Up close, and over a few seasons, they behave differently, and the difference is mostly arithmetic.
One long planter or several: which is better?
Neither is better in general; the right choice depends on whether the layout is fixed. A long planter gives one continuous planted line and one root zone. Several shorter planters can be moved, replaced or rearranged one at a time.
Long planters suit edges that will not change: a terrace boundary, the front of a building, a line along a wall. Shorter units suit spaces that change with the seasons or with use, places where a unit may need to move for access, and anywhere each planter has to be carried up stairs or through a doorway before it is filled.
What changes at every joint
Every joint puts two walls and a gap in the planted line. The soil stops at one wall and starts again past the next, so the roots of a hedge or a row of grasses are split into separate containers rather than sharing one.
The walls take up real length. A Granada rectangular sold as 72 inches long has an interior of 68.6 inches, so about 3.4 inches of each unit is wall. Four units set end to end lose that four times; two lose it twice. On a low planting the joints read as a rhythm. On a clipped hedge meant to look like one block, they show as breaks.
Each unit also drains, dries and settles on its own. That is the advantage of separate units when one plant fails, and the drawback when you want the whole line to look even.
What we found running the numbers on a 12 foot run
We worked out a 144 inch run two ways, using the published figures for two models we carry. In both cases, fewer and longer units give more interior length and cost less at current prices. They also weigh less in total.
Granada, 24 inches tallTwo 72 inch units: 137.2 inches of interior length, 180.8 lb boxed, one joint. Four 36 inch units: 130.4 inches, 217.6 lb, three joints. The pair costs about 17% less than the four. Every Granada size ships by freight.
Tolga, 24 inches tallTwo 72 inch units: 138.8 inches of interior length, 126.2 lb boxed, one joint. Four 36 inch units: 133.6 inches, 139.6 lb, three joints. The pair costs about 20% less than the four. But the 36 inch Tolga ships by ground, and the 48, 60 and 72 inch sizes ship by freight.
That last line is the one most buyers never see coming. Shipping method is set per size, not per model, and the shortest size is often the only one that goes by ground. It matters beyond delivery. Ground-shipped orders can be returned within 14 days of delivery for store credit, less a 30 percent restocking fee. Freight orders are final sale except for damage or defect. Both are set out in our refund policy. Four short Tolgas cost more for the same run, but they arrive by ground and stay returnable. Two long ones cost less, but they arrive by freight and cannot be sent back for a change of mind.
For a single unbroken piece, the Hudson is 100 inches long with a 97 inch interior. It is the longest planter in our range, and it ships by freight.
How do you arrange planters in a row?
Measure the run, subtract the total length of the planters, and divide what is left into equal gaps. Equal gaps are what make a row look planned rather than placed.
Decide first whether the row stops at the ends or runs past them. If the planters should finish flush with the ends of the run, divide the spare length by the number of gaps between units. If you want space at both ends as well, divide by the number of units plus one. Three 36 inch planters along a 144 inch wall leave 36 inches spare. That is 18 inches between each pair if they finish flush at both ends, or 9 inches at every gap, ends included, if they do not.
For a continuous look, butt the units together with no gap and use one model, one height and one finish, so the only break is the joint itself. Our rectangular fiberglass planters come in 36 to 72 inch lengths across most models, which makes it straightforward to fill a run with two or three sizes of the same planter.
Does a longer planter need more drainage?
Yes. Jay Scotts' drainage hole guidelines call for 1 to 2 inch holes every 12 inches of planter space, and state that a 60 inch planter needs at least 4 to 5. A long trough is drilled along its length, not just once in the middle. They drill to that standard free of charge at order time, and a drilled planter is final sale. Our drainage guide covers the rest.
Do larger planters need less watering?
Generally, yes: more soil holds more water. University of Florida IFAS Extension puts it simply: the smaller the container, the more often it will need to be watered. Proven Winners make the same point, adding that a larger soil volume lets plants grow a bigger root system.
On a run, that favors fewer, longer units, because the soil is shared rather than split between smaller boxes. How to fill a large one without paying for soil you do not need is covered in our guide to filling a large fiberglass planter.
How to decide
- Choose one long planter for a permanent edge, a hedge that should read as one block, or the lowest cost for a given run.
- Choose several shorter planters when the layout may change, when each unit has to be carried in, when one failing plant should not affect the rest, or when you want a size that ships by ground and stays returnable.
- Check the shipping method for each size on the product page before you settle on a length. It can change the decision on its own.
For bigger runs, our large fiberglass planter boxes collection brings the bigger boxes together, up to the 100 inch Hudson.
Shop the collection
Rectangular fiberglass planters
Every length lists its interior, boxed weight and shipping method before you order.
Frequently asked questions
Are long planters better than individual pots?
For a permanent line, usually yes: one continuous root zone, fewer joints, and on our range a lower cost for the same run. Individual planters are better when the layout may change or each unit has to be moved on its own.
How long do rectangular fiberglass planters come?
Most models we carry come in 36, 48, 60 and 72 inch lengths. The Hudson is a single 100 inch piece.
How far apart should planters be in a row?
Evenly spaced. Subtract the total planter length from the run and divide the remainder by the number of gaps. Three 36 inch planters on a 144 inch wall, flush at both ends, sit 18 inches apart.
Do long planters ship by freight?
Usually. Shipping method is set per size, and on most models the longer sizes ship by freight while the shortest may ship by ground. Each size shows its method on the product page.
Do rectangular planters need drainage holes?
Outdoors, yes. Jay Scotts specify 1 to 2 inch holes every 12 inches of planter space, at least 4 to 5 on a 60 inch planter, and drill them free at order time.
Do bigger planters dry out slower?
Yes. More soil holds more water, and University of Florida IFAS Extension notes that the smaller the container, the more often it needs watering.
