Care and Maintenance

Your planter(s) requires little maintenance, but there are a few things you can do to keep it looking like new.

Wash with warm, soapy water and a soft cloth as needed.

Do not wash with steel wool, or any other materials which may scratch your planter(s).

You may also wax your planter(s) if you desire a high polish or glossy look. Clean your planter(s) very well before waxing as your planter(s) will look best if waxed after being cleaned.

Color finish touch up kits are available for small chips or scratches.

Drainage Holes

Our planters are constructed of materials that will allow you to easily create drainage holes in your planters.  This process may be followed for fiberglass planters.

1. With a sharp object (such as an ice pick) make an indentation in the exact location where you want to drill your hole. This indentation prevents your drill bit from wandering and potentially scratching the surface of your fiberglass planter as you drill.
   • Helpful tip: If you place a small block or piece of wood on the other side to drill into, you will reduce [potential] splintering of the glass when opening the hole.
2. With a standard drill bit, drill a small pilot hole in your fiberglass. Make it smaller than the finished hole you are planning to drill. Use a slow speed when drilling to reduce chipping. Also do not put any pressure on the drill bit. Allow the bit itself to do the work.
3. Drill a chamfer-edged hole in your fiberglass the size you wish your final hole to be. The chamfer should have an edge-slope of approximately 1/16 of an inch. Run your chamfer bit at a slow speed and, again, put no pressure on the bit. Allow the bit itself to cut into the surface of the fiberglass slowly and gently.
4. Drill your final hole using a sharp, clean drill bit – we recommend step bits, but standard drill bits can be used. Again, drill on slow speed. Do not put any pressure on the drill bit. Be careful to hold your drill perfectly perpendicular to your fiberglass surface so that your bit is cutting exactly at the edges of the chamfer. Take your time and allow your bit to do the work.

Take the time to do this right. Although it may seem like tedious work, if you wish to drill a perfectly clean hole, this is the correct way. Your planters will reward you by lasting a very long time and it will be worth it.

Irrigation

Proper watering of the plants in your container garden is one of the most important ways to maintain beautiful and healthy plants. We recommend working with your landscaping professional for the best methods of keeping your plants healthy, and properly watered.

Self-watering systems are available. In some cases, you may even wish to install your own home-made system. There are many instructional videos available on YouTube for creating your own self-watering or drip irrigation system. Please feel free to reach out to one of our associates if you have specific questions.