Wulfern Ananes Composite Trough Planter

A single composite trough planter in matte black, 18 inches deep inside and holding 38.3 gallons of soil. It ships assembled, with three drainage holes already open.

Three drainage holes are moulded into the base and open from the factory, so water leaves the soil instead of standing at the roots. Nothing needs drilling. On a deck or a balcony, set the trough on pot feet or shims so the holes stay clear, and a layer of gravel at the bottom keeps them from clogging.

• Drainage is already open

  Three drainage holes are moulded into the base and open from the factory, so water leaves the soil instead of standing at the roots. Nothing needs drilling. On a deck or a balcony, set the trough on pot feet or shims so the holes stay clear, and a layer of gravel at the bottom keeps them from clogging.

• Room for real roots

  The interior runs about 41 inches long, 12 inches across and 18 inches deep, holding 38.3 gallons of soil. That is a genuine root depth rather than a shallow tray, enough to fill with boxwood, a dwarf evergreen, ornamental grasses or a mixed run of herbs and annuals.

• What the body is

  The body is a moulded composite rather than fired clay or poured concrete, finished matte black with a fine sand cast texture that reads much closer to stone than to plastic. It is rated UV resistant and weather resistant, so a full season of sun does not chalk the colour or fade it toward grey.

• Double walls and cold weather

  The walls are built double, putting a layer of air between the soil and the outside face. That is what keeps the piece this light while the sides stay rigid, and it takes a freeze and thaw cycle far better than terracotta or glazed ceramic, which crack when wet soil expands against them.

• Light enough to carry

  Empty, the whole planter weighs 18 pounds, so one person can carry it out and set it level without help. Filled with wet soil it becomes very heavy and stays put in wind, so decide where it goes and move it there before you plant, and check the load rating first if it is headed for a balcony.

• Where it sits best

  At 46 inches long and only 17 inches deep, the trough runs along an edge instead of eating floor. It works as a low screen beside a seating group on the patio, a green line under a window, a divider along a deck rail, or a matched pair flanking an entry path.

• Care through the year

  Wipe the outside with a damp cloth and mild soap when it needs it. The finish takes no sealing, staining or painting, and there is nothing to repaint each spring. Rinse the drain holes clear at the end of the season, and emptying the trough before a hard winter freeze keeps saturated soil out of the base.

• What ships and what does not

  One planter arrives fully assembled with its drainage holes already open, so there is no hardware to fit and no tools to find. Plants, soil and any liner or insert are not included, and none is needed here: the moulded cavity is the container itself. Nothing else comes with it.

Good to know

• Tape a 46 by 17 inch rectangle. That is the footprint, and it is only 17 inches deep.
• Interior depth is 18 inches. Check that against the root ball you plan to plant.
• Filled with wet soil this gets heavy. Place it first, plant it second.
• None. The planter arrives assembled with its drainage holes already open.
• The terrace, walls, paving, bench, rug and other room details are styling only. The planter ships empty; plants and soil are not included.