The use of Corten in garden design – can anything be added to this topic that has not already been said? Or seen? If you are into garden design, take a look left, right and centre and you will spot a Corten feature. It began with sculpture, now there are planters, walls, terrain/plant support, edgings just to mention some design elements. Can the garden design world get enough of Corten steel, aka weathering steel? I don’t think so. It’s been hugely popular for the past decade and a bit, and I can’t see no sign of it going away.
So what’s so good about this steel? In terms of look and feel it has a cool, trendy industrial vibe about it. The warm orangey colour has value. When it comes to use it’s versatile, durable and strong. Generally speaking, there might be issues in humid climates and salty locations. From a design perspective, Corten fits well with contemporary garden layouts.
Corten steel is different from other steel because of a speedy corrosion (oxidation) process. Conventionally it will be installed in its “natural” dark grey colour. After around six months or so and exposure to wind, precipitation, sun and the rest it will have acquired the rust effect.
During that time, there might be issues of “bleeding” – ie, rust might stain adjacent materials. Here I will hand over to this website for excellent info about how to deal with this. It’s not a matter or life and death, so if Corten is your choice, then go.
