Liners for garden urns

I am in the process of researching suitable replacement liners for
some marble and limestone urns in the gardens of 17th century house.
Many of the stone urns currently have degraded metal liners that
serve little purpose to protect the stone from either the soil or
the watering of the plants.

Recent discussions with stone masons has questioned the use of metal
liners in favour of formed plastic liners.

The existing historic liners have fluted rims and cast iron bands to
keep the lips of the liners in place, these seem to serve as a trap
for water between the rim of planter and liner. Resulting in one or
two urns having heavily degraded rims.

At present the urns are used for year round seasonal planting
schemes in the garden and are watered in-situ as required.

In addition to researching replacement liners I have also been asked
to research suitable, affordable, winter covers.

Do the liners need to be removed from the urns to cover for winter
or can the body of the urn be wrapped with the planting scheme
remaining visible?

Has anyone else come across similar problems with regard to
materials, depth of rim, watering procedures and their effects on
the urns?

Charlotte Owen
Conservation Assistant
National Trust


                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 26:21
                Distributed: Saturday, October 13, 2012
                       Message Id: cdl-26-21-020
                                  ***