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Large public and private spaces require planters that are larger than typically offered by most manufacturers.  Large and heavy duty planters are our speciatly and we have many design and size options that can bring your outdoor spaces to life. IAP planters are not only practical in their function but can also add a stylish touch to your decor. These are some helpful tips to bring your space to life with our extra large rectangular planters.

First, you want to select the correct size and style of the planter you are considering.  We offer a wide range of sizes and designs, the size is a critical element because you will need to scale the container to fit the environment.  Some elements to keep in mind would be the overall finished height of the planted material you would like to use and also the span.  Ideally something that is low maintenance and is sutied for the geographic region.  When it comes to the container how tall would you like to make the container.  If you want to minimize the plant maintenance you can select a tall container and have low foliage, this way you can separate spaces but still have little to no up keep. It is best to consider the size and floor plan of your outdoor spaces, if you need a hand feel free to contact IAP and we can assist with the layout. 

Secondly, choosing the correct plants for your planters.  With large planters you will have a wide selection of plant material you can chose from, you can go with anything from large trees to small ground cover. The georgraphic region you are in will dictate what will work best.  You will want to consider the amount of sunlight available, as well as the soil and year round climate.  When it comes to soil we recommend using lightweight container soil, as you can imagine the bigger the container the more weight is displaced by the soil, plant material and water.  A lightweight soil will reduce the internal pressure of the container quite dramatically when compared to soil types such as clay based. This is where drainage becomes critical, it is important to insure water can exit easily. 

The addition of extra large rectangular planters can really make a space with the addition of the right plant material, it can soften the design scheme and make the space that much more inviting. Plant material in a design scheme brings life and as studies have shown makes people happy, healthier and reduces stress.  By selecting the correct size and design of planter, choosing the right plant material, consideing placement you can design a beautiful and functional space that can be enjoyed year-round. 

Plants in our home, workspace or public space have always been primarily a decorative element rather than a necessity.  Somehow deep down we all knew they were good for us to have around, the good news is over the past few years several studies have emerged to confirm that indoor plants are not only healthier but can make us more productive.

There is a long list of benefits including:

•        Lowered tension and anxiety levels
•       Reduced feelings of anger
•       Reduced fatigue
•       More creativity
•       Increased productivity
•       Attracts and retains employees
•       Reduced Co2 levels
•       Reduces dust and bacteria

Of course fiberglass planters are a great fit because they are modern, lightweight, durable and are well suited for outdoor usage. With a wide range of designs and finishes it is easy to select a container that fits your overall design scheme.

Plants enrich our lives, it seems everyone spends too much of their time behind a screen and indoors these days.  If we have to spend so much time in artificial environments, it is nice to be able to bring the outdoors indoors. Large fiberglass planters offer the opportunity to bring the natural beauty of nature into our lives, making the indoor spaces that much more inviting and relaxing.

In commercial applications fiberglass planters and biophilic design enriches public spaces and increases traffic, a modest investment in design can potentially create a great return on investment. People are drawn to inviting spaces and with the health benefits of plants you can make your environment that much more appealing. Brighten up your spaces from rooftop decks, hotel lobbies and multi-family, fiberglass planters are an excellent way to bring nature into everyone’s daily lives.

Contrary to popular belief there is some minimum maintenance required in order to insure you get a long life from your fiberglass planters and trash containers. At IAP we have two types of finishes, Fusion and Marine grade.  The Fusion finish is our toughest finish that is manufactured with real metal and as you can imagine will hold up just like the metal it was constructed from, unlike the painted finishes the metals will slowly patina over time depending upon the geographic region.  A higher percentage of salinity will accelerate the patina process and each metal will react accordingly.  The marine grade finish is a two part linear polyurethane that was developed for the rigors of the marine enviornment, compared to an automotive finish the marine grade will be a harder paint finish and have superior UV and scratch resistance. 

Both the Fusion and Marine grade finishes need to be cleaned occassionally with mild soap and water, be sure not to use any harsh cleaners and test in a non-visible area before use.  For the marine grade finish your georgraphic region will dictate the frequency that you will need to polish, in high UV environments like Florida you may need to coat once every 3 months, if you are further north you may get away with once or twice a year. We recommend a good quality marine grade coating such as 3M.  For the Fusion finish we advise using a cream metal polish like Flitz, the metal polish is also great for removing patina build up and restoring the metal finish to like new appearance.  The polishing can be done by hand or machine for faster results. 

In commercial environments damage is always inevitable, scratches are the most common and they are either deep or shallow.  A deep scratch can be determined if you run your finger nail over it and you can feel the damaged area, if it is a shallow scratch you will not feel anything. To repair a shallow scratch you can often just buff out the scratch with a compound and then recoat the fiberglass planters with a good quality wax.  For a deep scratch you will need to fill with an epoxy and apply touch up paint. For more severe damage a fiberglass repair might be necessary so please contact IAP for instructions. 

Ultimately the best way to prevent damage is to take good care of your fiberglass planters and minimize damage.  Some preventive measures would include placement, try and keep them out of areas that they are likely to incur damage.  Keep them clean of pesticides and hard water damage.  When moving them around be sure not to pull them by the lip.  These simple steps will hopefully prevent unwanted damage and insure you have a long life cycle. 

Most hotel trash and recycling containers are not designed specifically for the special requirements of Hopitality and indoor/outdoor public spaces.  The vast majority of bins are designed for much more utilitarian uses and are sized and designed without much concern for visual appeal. So much time and energy is spent on creating an inviting environment and then at the last minute a completely inappropriate container is placed because there is very much a real need for trash and recycling collection in public spaces.  The image above is the Mirage trash and recycling containers in Espresso, the Mirage was specifically designed to fit right in this environment and to blend seemlessly within the design theme. The Mirage has just the right usable capacity and is rectangular so to take up as little space as needed. The signage runs vertical and is large attractive and clear. 

Sometimes you need a versatile shape that is a dual stream, the Fusion above has a low profile and works well as a dual stream.  When you don't have a lot of space but still need a trash bin/recycle or even for ash you can order the Fusion in a variety of formats.  Shown above in Bronze, this is one of our most durable finishes that is made of actual bronze.  Because the finish containers metal you can be guaranteed a long service life that is resistant to scratches and burns. The Fusion is offered as a single stream in trash or multiple variants as a dual stream, you have flexibility with signage and the Fusion is offered in out 15 standard finishes as well as custom color matching. 

Size matters occassionally and as you can imagine it is very difficult to find large scale multi-stream trash and recycling containers.  The Element shown above is shown above in 48"L x 24"D x 32"H, it is truly a monster and has an enormous capacity that can be used as a dual or triple stream trash and recycling container.  The rectangular format is a space saver and the design is timeless, shown above in our Bronze Fusion finish the Element is not only tough but handsome.  This size container is ideally used in large public spaces like airports, convention centers etc. where you would expect a large volume of usage.  We do offer customization so if you need a container tailored to your use don't hesitate to let us know. After more than three decades of designing trash and recycling containers for public spaces IAP has a solution for almost any need.