Elevate your Garden with Urns
The Garden Urn Planter
A garden urn planter is a specialized container, typically made of cast stone or other dense materials. Unlike conventional planters, urns provide gardeners with a unique opportunity to create elegant planting arrangements.
Garden urns are more decorative and ornate than traditional planters and are commonly found in pairs, placed in formal landscapes. There is a great history behind the use of the garden urn.Garden Urns began their journey in the landscape in the 17th century with the emergence of royal families of Europe. It was not until the 18th century that the use of the garden urn was introduced into the American landscape.
Garden urns represent a timeless elegance and symbolize a sense of beauty and importance.
They have an almost subconscious romantic appeal in a landscape setting, often associated with noble simplicity, beauty, and reason.
Garden urns are a striking feature due to their distinctive shape. Characterized by a fluted form that is supported by a smaller base and neck, the garden urn generally gives a very curvilinear, feminine appeal to the landscape.
The garden urn has helped define homes and landscapes in the world for centuries, from the French Palaces to the Hills of Tuscany, Paris, Venice, Greece, to the classic town and country gardens of England, and Colonial America where the warm tones of terra cotta planters first became a landscape staple.
No matter the place or time of their use, one universal truth about the garden urn is that it defines a space of meaning and importance. Today, garden urns are available in a wide range of styles, sizes, and shapes that reflect their historical significance, including lightweight fiberglass composite planters that mimic the look of traditional stone. This provides the modern designer and gardener with excellent options when incorporating these elements into the landscape.
Classic Uses for Urns
- Define a space or entryway. Place an urn on either side of a doorway, driveway, or any entrance to give it the air of importance. Elevate this method by placing the urn on pedestals, bringing the planting and the designs to eye level.
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Elevate the garden's annual and perennial plantings.
Placing an urn amongst the evergreen or deciduous shrubs can offer a new place to add eye-catching color to the garden. (For even more vibrant color options, you might also consider our high-fire ceramic planters). - Use several urns in a pattern to create a rhythm or draw people into an area. Often in larger landscapes, designers use the above combinations of urns to guide you through a garden space with pops of color in a pattern.
- Define the end of the journey in larger gardens as you wander through the paths; the designers will often place a sculpture or an urn on a pedestal to indicate that this is a stopping point and to prompt you to pause.
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In a more casual sense, urns offer the special benefit of elevated gardening, which is ideal for those who prefer not to bend down while working. This height is also perfect for trailing flowers or vegetables that need protection from ground-dwelling bugs. For a low-maintenance approach, using a durable plastic planter as an insert for your urn can make seasonal plant changes much easier.
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Some fun plants include Wave Petunias and Lysimachia (shown), as well as Strawberries. Ornamental Potato Vines are a colorful choice, paired with Bacopa or Alyssum for a pop of white cascading effect. Bring up the arrangement with a small topiary or tropical plant. The ideas can go on! Remember to use good soil and top dress with mulch for healthy plants.
Garden Urn Planters offer both aesthetically pleasing and functional design options. These are a few of our favorites we wanted to share with you.
Campania International Longwood Fluted Urn
Shown in the soft muted green of Verde Patina, the Longwood Fluted Urn measures just under 20 inches in diameter and about 15 inches tall. The detailing of this piece is reminiscent of the soft arches and curves of Longwood Gardens. Place this garden urn in the landscape and fill it with a cascade of colors to inspire your inner gardener.
Campania International Park Slope Urn
Sleek and clean lines, the Park Slope Urn merges the old-world use of urns with the new urban modern style. Shown in the Alpine Stone, the smooth finish perfectly captures the nice undertones of green and grey. Measuring 20 inches in diameter, the Park Slope Urn would look fabulous with an Ilex (Holly) cone to complete those nice, clean visual lines.
Campania International Classic Copper Banded Large Urn
For beauty, elegance, and drama, the Classic Copper Banded Large Urn is the complete package. The form of this garden urn is the classic fluted shape, anchored by a strong base and an elegant but graceful neck. The copper band brings this piece to life, and when stained in the dramatic Nero Nuovo Patina, this garden urn is a showstopper.
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