Lowe’s is great at a lot of things. I’m there every other day buying one thing or another. They sell so many different materials that I need on a regular basis. (tag: plant box Lowes)
Of course, as you know, Lowes sells a lot more than just materials. They offer a vast number of finished goods. One of those finished goods just happens to be something that I sell; planter boxes. They get my attention every time I’m in the garden section.
Perfecting My Planter Box
I don’t want to say that I have “obsessed” over the quality, materials and design of my planter boxes. I don’t like using that word to describe myself. But I do think all the thoughts, trial and error I’ve put into my boxes have been something close to an obsession.
I’ve looked at them a hundred different ways. I’ve followed up with clients years after selling them boxes so I could inspect them. I continually asked for feedback and I used that feedback to make the boxes better. I’ve even tossed them around to see how much abuse they can take before falling apart. And the very first ones I ever built are still in my backyard holding a blackberry bush. So it’s always fun to look at them and see how far they’ve come along.
Of course, my business is a small one. And the only way for businesses like mine to stay alive and stand apart is to go through this process and offer great products. So it just makes sense that I’ve put all this time and effort into one of my main products.
Lowes Planter Box
Lowes, on the other hand, is a big company. One product isn’t going to move the needle very much for Lowes. It’s just one of thousands they sell. And this means they likely haven’t done any of the research and development on their boxes that I’ve done for mine. And I’ll just just be honest; it’s evident.
Again, all due respect to Lowes. They are my main supplier and I wouldn’t be in business without them. And I have no desire to go out of my way to write anything negative about the company or their products.
But in this case, they’re charging $66 or even $100 for these boxes, which is drastically high for what they’re offering. Perhaps you’re doing research on these boxes before buying one. If that’s the case, I just figured you might benefit this assessment. After all, you’re the customer and you deserve the truth. If you’re going to part with your hard-earned money, you should know what you’re getting for it.
Cracked, Broken & Weak
Lowes planter boxes are assembled very hastily with weak materials and poor craftsmanship. They also have the disadvantage of having to ship from the other side of the world. This almost certainly means the boxes are crammed into a crate and knocked around with other boxes during the long voyage. (tag: plant box Lowes)
When they finally arrive to the shelf of your local Lowes, they’re not in good shape. Broken boards, gaps between boards and protruding nails among other issues. All of this could be overlooked if you had some confidence these boxes will still perform their basic function and last a few years. But judging from the product reviews on their own website, that’s clearly not the case.
Here’s an attempt to simply keep the box on the ground and fill it with soil:
“I brought this home and it fell apart as I was filling it up with potting soil. It can’t do the one job it was made to do.”
The Lowes Box Isn’t a Window Box
And here we have two bold attempts to fasten the boxes to vertical surfaces like window panes and deck rails. This is actually quite baffling to me. These boxes are barely holding together just sitting on the ground. It doesn’t take a structural engineer to realize they’re not up to the challenge of holding wet soil up off the ground. No chance.
“We were hesitant of even installing it when we saw how soft the wood was and how many spaces there were between each piece, but we decided to go ahead with it. The side separated from the back after 2 months and we reinforced it with wood screws. It rained all night last night and I was leaving for work when I saw that everything but the back was on the ground. The box is totally useless. Not looking forward to spending another $100+ on a new one.”
“I purchased 10 of these boxes just over a year ago. My wife loves her flowers and enjoys putting her flowers in these every year. Only got one season out of them. Decided I could build a better product myself so all of these are coming down and going into the firepit. Anyone with any skill could build a better box. Don’t waste your money.”
Of course, not all of the reviews are bad. Here’s a positive one where the customer appears to be happy with what she bought.
“This window box is beautiful with flowers in small AND large areas.”
One Good Alternative
Lastly, as I mentioned before, I build and sell planter boxes too. I’m quite proud of them. And if I had 1,740 stores around the country (as Lowes does), I’m sure my boxes would sell like crazy in those stores. But until then, I’ll keep building them right here in Pearland, Texas. And I’ll keep selling and shipping them all over the country.
You’ll see the available options and sizes in the product listed below. They range from 3 feet in length all the way to nearly 8 feet in length. You’ll be very pleased with their quality. They’re easy to assemble. All you need is a Phillips-head screwdriver.
They’re made of 100% cedar wood and all of the metal fasteners that hold it together are made of stainless steel. Therefore, you won’t see any rust and the box will hold together for many years. The 3 inch legs allow for plenty of airflow below the box, which prolongs its life.
Plant Box Lowes
(tag: plant box Lowes)
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