GRC Trough

The GRC Trough is a glass reinforced concrete planter built for lines rather than single specimens, in five sizes from 60cm to 115cm long and 56 to 270 litres. The standard finish is a warm corten style rust, with ten Dulux Weathershield spray colours available instead. Reinforced rather than cast solid, the 270 litre trough weighs just 54kg empty.

Why you'll love it

• Length where you need it. A trough gives roots a run in one direction, which is what a row of screening plants or grasses wants.
• Movable without machinery. The smallest is 13kg empty, so a trough can be walked into place and moved again later.
• Eleven finishes on one profile. Rust as standard, or ten Dulux Weathershield sprays, each with a 15 year guarantee against blistering, peeling and flaking.

Sizes and what fits in them

Five sizes, listed as length by width by height, all outside dimensions.

• 60 x 30 x 32cm. 56 litres, 13kg empty. Herbs, annuals and compact foliage.
• 80 x 36 x 38cm. 108 litres, 20kg empty. Strappy leaf plants, small grasses and mixed seasonal planting.
• 100 x 42 x 44cm. 180 litres, 39kg empty. Three or four shrubs in a line, or a low balcony screen.
• 100 x 45 x 45cm. 200 litres, 41kg empty. The same length with more depth, better for permanent planting.
• 115 x 48 x 50cm. 270 litres, 54kg empty. Screening depth for a privacy row on a terrace or rooftop.

Material, weathering and drainage

Material. Glass reinforced concrete, moulded with a thin reinforced wall. It has the texture of concrete without the mass, which is what makes long troughs practical above ground level.

Outdoors. These are outdoor planters, used in commercial installs as well as home gardens. Almost any Dulux or Colorbond colour can be sprayed to order for an extra $60.

Drainage. Drainage holes are included and must stay clear, which matters more in a trough because water travels along the base. Raise it on feet, cover each hole with fibreglass flyscreen, never fabric or geofabric, which clogs. Add a 50mm layer of 10mm gravel, then fill with premium potting mix, never garden soil.

What to expect when it arrives

Each trough ships empty and unplanted. Rust finish troughs are dispatched in 2 to 5 business days; sprayed colours are made to order, so allow 2 to 3 weeks. The 115 x 48 x 50cm trough is a two person carry empty and immovable once filled. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95.

Related pots and planting

• Browse the full trough planter range
• Compare large pots and planters
• Screening plants for a trough row