Winter Care for Concrete Accents

Please note that proper winter care is required for all cast stone products. Proper maintenance is necessary to protect your product from the freeze/thaw cycles that occur in winter. Any piece which can hold water, snow or ice, such as a planter, birdbath/fountain top or shell, and any piece that is placed directly on the ground surface, such as a statue, birdbath/fountain base, planter or bench leg, can be damaged by the winter freeze/thaw cycle. To minimize any possible winter damage, please follow the simple suggestions below:

Cast Stone Planters
If a planter is to be left planted over the winter, we suggest that you raise it off the ground by placing two (2) pressure treated wood strips underneath the planter making sure not to block the drainage hole. This will allow the soil to drain and will prevent the planter from freezing to the ground. If a planter is placed directly on the ground and goes through several freeze/thaw cycles, drainage may be blocked. This may cause an expansion of the soil inside the planter which in turn may cause the planter to crack or crumble.
If a planter is not to be planted over winter, we suggest that it be stored in a garage/shed or on a porch away from the elements.
If a planter must be left outside unplanted, we suggest that you empty the soil and turn the planter upside down onto wood strips and then cover or wrap the planter with burlap or any absorbent material (old blanket or towel) and then cover with dark plastic. This will prevent moisture from getting into the planter.

Birdbaths, Fountains, Benches and Statuary
We suggest that birdbath/fountain tops not be left outside in the winter. Once the tops fill with water/snow and freezes, the top may crack. All birdbath/fountain bases, bench legs and statuary should be raised up off the ground in winter so they will not freeze to the ground surface.
Ideally, a fountain should be stored indoors in the winter, away from the elements. However, if a fountain bowl must be left outside, remove all drain pipes and cover the top in accordance with the planter instructions above, making sure that water does not accumulate in the basin and freeze. Fountain pumps, fountain finials and other small components should be stored indoors.