The Types of Finishes for Cedar Planter Boxes

If you choose to grow flowers in a cedar planter box, it is essential that you finish the wood. Otherwise, rain, snow and other forms of precipitation will damage the box and possibly cause it to rot. Luckily, cedar is a wood that accepts many different types of finishes. So you will have a lot of different options from which to choose.
When it comes to finishing a planter box, the most important criteria in deciding on a finish is the appearance you desire to your box to have. If you were finishing cedar siding on a house, for example, it would also be important to take into account the amount of protection each type of finish will give. However, since this is just a planter box we are dealing with here and not your home, all types of finishes will provide sufficient protection.
There are four basic categories into which cedar finishes can be grouped. They are as follows:

1. Opaque coatings, including paints and solid-color stains.
2. Semi-transparent stains.
3. Natural finishes, including water-repellents and water-repellent preservatives.
4. Oils.

All four of these options will provide excellent protection from the weather to your cedar planter box. Be sure to thoroughly research all four categories before deciding on a finish, so you can find the finish that best complements your personal taste and the flowers you plan to grow.