Here at Taylor Made Planters, we handcraft all of our wooden planters with the highest quality hardwood and softwood. Timber is a great material to work with as it allows us to craft a planter to many shapes and sizes, and our wooden designs are certainly the most popular with our customers. But what is the difference between a hardwood and a softwood?
The differences aren’t as simple as the names suggest. Hardwood and softwood are distinguished in terms of their origin and structure, not the properties of the wood. Hardwood trees are known as angiosperms, seed-producing flowering plants. They are part of the deciduous family of trees that shed their leaves during the winter. Softwood trees are known as gymnosperms, a non-flowering plant that remains green all year round. The timber comes from coniferous trees with needle-like leaves. Generally, deciduous trees are more dense than evergreens due to the slower speed in which they grow, but there is no minimum density required for a wood to be classed as a hardwood.
Hardwood Timber
Hardwood is favoured for its strength and is commonly used to craft quality furniture. Examples are:
Oak is a light brown hardwood that derives from the oak tree. This timber is very strong and durable.
Elm varies from light to medium brown and has an interlocked grain resistant to splitting.
Iroko varies from yellow to golden brown and has a coarse texture. It is a very strong hardwood with an interlocked grain.
Mahogany is a reddish-brown colour that darkens over time. It has a flexible quality that can allow it to be bent.
Softwood Timber
Softwood is used for a wider range of purposes and is generally less expensive. Examples are:
Pine is white or pale yellow softwood that derives from the fast-growing pine tree. It is naturally lightweight.
European Redwood timber is yellow-brown in colour, non durable and generally knotty.
Western Red Cedar varies in colour and is a highly durable and lightweight timber.
Douglas Fir is a reddish-brown with distinct growth rings. It is moderately durable and popular in construction.
Why is timber a great material for planters?
Wood is an excellent material to craft a planter. A quality wood looks great, is highly durable and can be crafted into custom shapes and sizes. At Taylor Made Planters, we only use certified quality wood that is legally harvested, to ensure that all of our timber comes from a sustainable source.
If you’re looking for a quality wooden container for your plants, shrubs or trees, take a look at our product range. All of our planters are handmade and built to your specification.
Published: 19th June 2017
