Product Information


Winter Weather

Winter is ideal for seasonal displays
of evergreen boughs and berries.



Munstead 19 Planter, LS 9042,
in Charleston, West Virginia.


Lake Bluff 60 Planter, LS 9314, and Lake Bluff 42 Planter,
LS 9305, in Evanston, Illinois.
   
 


Sandburg Prairie 28 Planter,
LS 9175, in Evanston, Illinois.
  
 


University Planter, LS 9060, with a Light Antique Wash, LS 0012, in Huntington, West Virginia.
 

All Longshadow Planters and Pedestals are made with drain holes. Drainage must be assured and maintained, especially during the winter months.

Longshadow Planters are supplied with drainage mats, to be used felt side up over the drain hole. We recommend a high quality growing medium that drains well. Growing mediums with a large percentage of brown peat moss or fresh wood mulch might stain planters brown. A natural patina will develop over time.

In areas of heavy winter freezing, the growing medium should be removed at the end of the growing season. The drain hole should be flushed with water to clear out silt, thus preventing an accumulation of water that could freeze and damage planters.
   
       
       

•Winter Protection

ALL AREAS

Longshadow Planters are suitable for all season exterior use as long as drainage is assured.
Drainage must function both summer and winter

   
  ~ for good growing conditions
~ to prevent staining from accumulated water and
~ to protect the planters from freeze/thaw damage.
ZONE 4 AND COLDER
In areas of heavy winter freezing, such as in Zone 4 or colder, with occasional rapid fluctuations of thawing and refreezing temperatures, a plunge in temperature could freeze any undrained water into ice which could cause damage as it expands. Where such conditions occur, we recommend
  ~ removing the growing medium prior to the onset of winter,
~ flushing out the drainage channels and
~ arranging evergreen boughs and berries, or other well draining ornamental materials, in the planters.
If the growing medium is draining well and if the drainage channels are not blocked, we know that many owners have opted to leave growing medium in their Longshadow Planters for anchoring a display of evergreen boughs and berries. Whether or not this is safe in a Zone 4 or colder areas is a matter of local experience. We do not guarantee against damage from freezing of accumulated water. If growing medium is left in planters during freezing weather, the growing medium should be removed in spring, the drainage channels flushed and fresh growing medium used.

If heavy clay dirt or garden soil is used instead of well draining growing medium, the clay dirt or garden soil must be removed before the onset of winter and the drainage channels flushed, as clay or soil could silt and could clog the drainage. Accumulated water would freeze, causing damage as it expands.
 
ZONE 5
If a well draining growing medium is used, the growing medium may be left inside the planter during winter months, as long as the drainage is working properly. The growing medium can be used to anchor winter arrangements of evergreen boughs and berries. In the spring, when it is warm enough for annuals, the growing medium should be removed, the drainage channels flushed and fresh growing medium used for the new growing season.

If heavy clay dirt or garden soil is used instead of a well draining growing medium, the heavy clay dirt or garden soil must be removed before the onset of winter and the drainage channels flushed, as clay or soil could silt and could clog the drainage. Accumulated water would freeze causing damage as it expands.
ZONE 6 AND WARMER
Longshadow Gardens is located in Southern Illinois, Zone 6b. We leave our well draining growing medium in our display planters during winter months and arrange peacock feathers, pine cones or smooth gray river rocks. In the spring, we flush the drainage channels and refresh or replace the growing medium when we plant our annuals.
SUMMARY
Longshadow Planters are suitable for all season exterior use as long as the drainage is assured. Drainage must function summer and winter
~ for good growing conditions,
~ to prevent staining and
~ to protect the planters from freeze/thaw damage.
     
 
• Lids for Winter Protection
We manufacture cone shaped, circular, dry cast limestone LIDS for our smaller planters.
The widest lid we manufacture is 23” in diameter.

Lids for larger planters should be made locally by the best sheet metal
craftsperson in the region. Each lid should be cone shaped, should have a rim
that goes down around the edge of the planter and should have a fastening
system to keep the lid firmly in place during windy weather. We suggest
having lids made out of copper which will develop a natural patina.
 
 
• Drainage ~ Staining ~ Limebloom
Drainage must function both summer and winter
    ~ for good growing conditions
~ to prevent staining from accumulated water
~ to prevent a build up of limebloom on the outside, though limebloom can be removed with white vinegar and a brush
~ to prevent growth of mosses and molds and
~ to protect the planters from ice damage.
If the drainage is plugged, eventually the exterior will have stains from tannins in the soil, white
limebloom from leaching and assorted mosses and molds.

Since moisture enhances curing of cement products, the strength of the planters will not be harmed
by the presence of accumulated water.

Where drainage is not desired, the drain should be plugged and the interior sealed. Irrigation and
rain water that accumulates inside plugged planters should be siphoned out regularly to prevent
staining, limebloom, mosses, molds and ice damage.
   
 
•DO NOT SEAL THE INTERIOR OF LONGSHADOW PLANTERS
 
  The Longshadow warranty is VOID IF THE INTERIOR IS SEALED or COATED WITH A MEMBRANE or OTHERWISE PREVENTED FROM HAVING CONTACT WITH THE MOISTURE IN THE SOIL. DRYCAST LIMESTONE CONTINUES TO CURE FOR MONTHS AND REQUIRES ACCESS TO MOISTURE TO CURE PROPERLY. Preventing contact with the moisture in growing medium, may cause the planters to develop cracks.

SEALING THE INSIDE WITH “HOT MOP” OR TAR OR ANY BITUMINOUS MATERIAL WILL EVENTUALLY STAIN THE OUTSIDE OF LONGSHADOW PLANTERS, AS THE BLACK/BROWN TAR WILL SEEP THROUGH TO THE SURFACE.
   
Classic Garden Ornaments, Ltd., warrant that Longshadow Ornaments are free of defects in materials and craftsmanship.
THE WARRANTY IS VOID IF THE INSTALLATION IS NOT DONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
 

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Classic Garden Ornaments, Ltd., designs and manufactures high quality, dry cast limestone Longshadow
planters, pedestals, finials, figures, pool surrounds, benches, birdbaths and beautiful barriers in
Arts & Crafts, Prairie and Traditional styles, for exterior residential and commercial use.

Dry cast limestone has the texture, appearance and durability of carved limestone at a fraction of the cost.
Dating to Roman times, dry cast limestone has a natural porosity that makes it frost-proof and enables it to
withstand decades of weathering. Dry-cast limestone is suitable for all-season exterior use for residential
and commercial, street and mall site furnishings.
© Copyright 2008 Classic Garden Ornaments, Ltd.