If you’re considering an order from our planter box factory, you might be wondering whether the soil is included in the shipment or handled separately. Let me clarify this thoroughly, based on our standard practices and your unique needs.
Soil is shipped separately as a general rule
At our factory, we do not pre-fill planter boxes with soil. This is by design. Shipping a planter filled with soil would significantly increase weight, leading to higher freight costs and potential damage to both the planter and the soil structure. Wet or dry, soil is heavy and can shift during transit, risking cracks or breakage in the planter. Moreover, soil regulations vary by region; shipping soil across state or national borders may involve quarantine or agricultural restrictions. Therefore, we ship the planter box as an empty, clean container, and any soil must be sourced locally or arranged through a separate delivery.
But we offer flexible options for your convenience
We understand that some projects require turnkey solutions. If you order a large quantity—for example, for a commercial landscaping project or a green roof installation—we can coordinate soil delivery as an add-on service. In such cases, we work with trusted local soil suppliers to arrange bulk soil shipment directly to your site. However, this is always billed separately and requires prior arrangement at the time of order. For individual retail orders, we recommend purchasing soil from your local garden center or nursery, as this gives you control over the soil type (e.g., potting mix, raised bed mix, or specialty blends) and ensures freshness.
Why this matters for your project
By shipping the planter and soil separately, you gain several advantages:
- Custom soil selection: You can choose the exact soil composition needed for your plants, rather than being limited to a generic fill.
- Reduced shipping costs: Soil adds huge dimensional weight; separating them lowers your total freight bill.
- Planter longevity: No moisture-laden soil sitting inside the planter during long transit, which can cause warping or mold.
- Easier handling: You can move and position the empty planter before adding soil, saving physical effort.
Our recommendation
Place your planter box order first. Once it arrives, source soil locally. If your project is large-scale or time-sensitive, contact our sales team—we’ll help you set up a separate soil delivery as part of a complete package. In short: soil is not included in the planter box shipment, but we are happy to guide you on the best way to get both to your doorstep.
