Cedar is one of the best woods for outdoor planters. Here is how to keep yours looking good and growing well, season after season.
Cedar is a favorite wood for garden planters, and for good reason: it is naturally resistant to moisture, insects and decay, it smells wonderful, and it weathers to a soft silver-gray over time. With a little care, a cedar planter can stay sturdy and attractive for many years.
1. Choose the right spot
Place your planter on level ground, a patio or a deck where water can drain away freely. Avoid spots where water pools after rain. If you set the planter directly on soil, a few bricks or pavers underneath help air circulate and keep the base dry.
2. Line it (optional but helpful)
A breathable landscape fabric along the inside walls keeps soil from washing out between boards and reduces constant wet contact with the wood. Leave the bottom open or perforated so water can drain. Avoid fully waterproof plastic liners, which trap water.
3. Use a good potting mix
Fill the planter with a quality potting mix or a raised-bed blend rather than heavy garden soil. It drains better, stays lighter and gives roots more air — which is good for your plants and for the wood.
4. Water at the base
Water the soil, not the boards. Morning watering lets any splashes dry during the day. In hot weather, smaller planters dry out faster, so check the soil with your finger and water when the top inch feels dry.
5. Decide on the finish you like
Untreated cedar slowly turns silver-gray. Many gardeners love this natural look and do nothing at all. If you prefer to keep the warm honey color, apply a plant-safe, water-based exterior wood sealant to the outside of the planter once a year, on a dry day.
6. Seasonal check
- Spring: tighten any loose screws and refresh the top layer of soil.
- Summer: keep an eye on watering during heat waves.
- Fall: remove spent plants and debris that hold moisture.
- Winter: in very cold climates, empty small planters or move them to a sheltered spot.
Find your planter
Browse our planters and raised beds, including the 16×16 Cedar Planter Box and the compact Cedar Raised Planter Box Kit.
