Thank you ArmchairShopper. Will definitely look at the magazine. Am just asking if anyone can think of a clever way to get the same look? To be as lightweight as possible, is it possible to plaster over fibreglass or timber planters, and add additional joists under those planters? The whole deck sits on the old concrete roof of a building and the loading on this will be checked before I get the go-ahead. I've seen lots of decks with large, deep planters and mine will have much less soil as are narrow and can have a false bottom to reduce soil weight further...

No plaster outside. These you have posted are stucco probably over concrete block.

• You can place stucco on concrete and stone
• You can place wood on wood deck.
• You can build paver planters on pavers or concrete.
• You cannot deny the laws of physics.

https://www.wayfair.com/outdoor/pdp/orren-ellis-huson-planter-box-ornl6007.html?piid=26339655%2C26339647

Thanks Beverly. That's depressing. Would need 7 of the 30 x 60 x 23 inch Huson fibreglass planters at $1,274.69 each and won't even get the look I want. Guess it's wood on wood then. All best

Stucco over concrete board on a frame of steel studs. Do the plants in their own individual pots inside the planter (can be whatever) to keep weight down and keep the planter walls from bulging w/ wet soil. No one will ever know. But I wouldn't consider it without a structural engineer to say just what sort of loading that deck can take. Because you're on a roof it's not as simple as throwing a few extra joists in and calling it a day.

You can create linear wood planter boxes and benches but they have to be lined with either plastic or metal planter boxes.

Thanks Revolutionary Gardens - love the revolutionary thinking! This gets me the look I want so I massively appreciate it. Have done preliminary drawings of how think it will work, now looking for actual materials and then will send to engineer. Many thanks!