Lead garden ornaments weigh about the same as those made from cast stone, which have a much greater wall thickness.

Typically, planters are shipped with drainage holes in the bottom. Where planters are located on a stone deck or patio, stains may result from the drained water. We offer “saucers” which are placed beneath them. Another option is a larger central drainage hole, which is piped to the substrate beneath the patio. Drip irrigation tubes can also be fed through these holes.

We prefer to keep the largest dimension of any planter at seven feet. We have made bigger pieces, but logistical issues arise during transportation and installation when they are made larger.  Long planter arrays of more than thirty feet can be achieved by fitting a number of pieces together. We work with designers and installation crews to ensure that such arrays appear uniform, with unobtrusive joints.

There is no maintenance required for lead planters. They are unaffected by anything in the natural environment – even salt spray. However, as Gertrude Jekyll noted, small boys with pen knives could damage them. When they are located in environments where hard freezing can be anticipated, they should be drained of water during the winter.

The colour of lead garden ornaments is silvery grey. This is the patina that develops naturally as lead reacts to elements in the atmosphere. Once the patina is established, the colour will not change. Historically some people have wanted a darker grey, and accomplished this by applying a thin film of mineral oil.

No. The protective layer which naturally develops on lead prevents it from leaching into its environment. It is not available to plants growing in it.