Landscaping With Corten Steel
We love it when a client comes to us with unique ideas – like landscaping with corten steel. Because the results can be amazing!
Dan and Kristalee already had a pretty spectacular backyard. But a spa and a built-in pickleball court were the dominant features. They wanted to shift the focus to their new pool and a sitting area closer to the home. So they wanted to do what they could to hide the pickleball court and spa.
Their solution was corten steel or “weathered steel” planters.
What is corten steel?
Corten steel is designed to rust – but only to a certain point. Because this surface layer of rust forms, it protects the underlying layer of steel from further corrosion. Thus eliminating the need to paint the structure.
You’ve probably seen corten steel around St. George. The footbridges that cross over the Virgin and Santa Clara rivers? That’s corten or “weathered” steel.
Because it’s designed to weather but then resist corrosion, corten steel can be a great landscaping product. And it’s gaining in popularity. A quick Google search for corten steel planters will provide you with a number of options to purchase your own corten planters. You can even find corten planter boxes at popular stores like the Pottery Barn.
Our plan for landscaping with corten steel…
Dan and Kritsalee bought several corten steel planter boxes and we arranged them throughout the landscape. They surround and set off the pickleball court and draw attention to the new pool. It’s the pool that’s become the new focal point of their backyard.
And as the plants in each of these planters continue to grow the effect of separating the distinct areas of their yard will only become more pronounced.
The rust-colored corten steel of the planters was also used in their firepit/waterfall. Placed in the covered sitting area on their back porch, it does an amazing job of tying the whole yard together.
And the new pool and a built-in trampoline add to the fun the kids will have in this amazing backyard.
All of this comes together in a beautiful design that still works for entertaining.
And it looks even better at night…
At night, the lighting throughout the landscape, coupled with the pool lighting and several steel sculptures of cactus with tiki torch lights combine to create a view of this backyard that’s even more dramatic.
Lights accentuate the highlights of the design and draw the eye to some of the more amazing features and sculptures. And they create a fantastic atmosphere that makes us certain that this outdoor space will see hours upon hours of entertaining and family fun.
