Copper Panels for Exterior Landscaping

Styles

• Copper panels, with their warm, bright, metallic color, come in a range of sizes and finishes. The panels can be cut to size or shape if brought to a metal worker, or in some cases, larger home renovation supply centers will be able to cut the panels for you. Copper panels can be smooth and shiny, or they can have different textures that lend visual interest. Common texture options include waves, dimples, grids and small “wrinkles” in the copper. In many cases, a textured finish will be more eye-catching than a smooth finish, as it reflects more sunlight.

Address Sign

• If you live out in the country or have a long driveway, an address sign made from copper is an eye-catching way of letting people know they’ve found the right place. To make a copper address sign, get a metal cutter to cut out the address on the copper panel. Or, you can use a stencil on the plate, spraying a protective polyurethane finish on the exposed portions of the stencil. Rubbing the panel with vinegar will help the untreated portions of the copper panel oxidize and turn green. Attach the copper panel to a weather-treated piece of wood, left unstained or painted to your preferred color. Sandpaper the back of the panel so it is roughened before applying adhesive to it and sticking it to the wooden board.

Garden Bed

• Copper panels can be attached to the sides of a raised garden bed for added visual interest, lending an elegant air to otherwise routine or dull-looking timber sides. To attach the panels of choice to the wood of the garden beds, rub the back of the panel vigorously with sandpaper until it is well scratched before applying adhesive. Treating your copper panels with a polyurethane finish will reduce the likelihood of discoloration, but you may need to reapply the finish yearly so the panels stay copper-colored. Copper can act as a deterrent to snails and slugs, preventing them from potentially damaging your plants.

Panel Divider

• Copper can be used to create a shaded partition and is well-suited for moving or sliding panels, such as those around a patio. In these cases, having the more common wooden trellis with plants would be unsuitable as the partition could not be moved. Copper panels can be attached to pre-existing moving panels by rubbing the backs with sandpaper and then applying adhesive to the roughened surface and the copper to the prebuilt panels. If there is only a rolling frame, punch holes around the edges of the copper panel so that it can be screwed on to the frame. If you like, choose a stenciled design to make an attractive cutout and bring your copper panel to a metal work to cut out your design of choice. This allows more light to filter in while adding a dramatic visual statement to your overall landscape.