Lining a planter will help keep it in prime condition for years to come. So whether you want to protect your favourite old planter designs, or ensure your new planters stand the test of time, our helpful guide will show you how to line a planter in just a few simple steps.
Do planters need to be lined?
Planters do not always need to be lined. However, lining a planter has lots of benefits for both your plants and the durability of your planter. A lined planter is less likely to rot from the inside, which is especially important with wood planters that are less robust than, for example, stone planters and terracotta planters.
Lining a planter also reduces evaporation from the soil during the warmer months. This is especially helpful in keeping your plants well watered and healthy.
Plastic sheeting is the best material for lining a planter with. Pond liners work well for lining the bottom of planters as they are robust and can easily be shaped into the perfect size to fit the dimensions of your planter. Pond liners are also thick enough to reduce any evaporation of water from the soil.
Step by step guide to lining a planter
Ensure the planter is clean before you begin to line it
Take your pond liner and cut it into roughly the same dimensions of the planter’s inside cavity
Push the liner into the base of the planter
Cut several drainage holes in the bottom of the liner using household or gardening scissors
If you have a plastic or wood planter, you can stick the liner to the sides of the planter using glue or staples at this stage
Once the planter is filled with compost, simply trim away any excess liner from the top.
What do you line the bottom of a planter with?
As well as lining your planter with plastic sheeting such as a pond liner, you can add even more to its base to help with drainage.
Layering small to medium pieces of broken and unwanted plant pots or chipped crockery will prevent compost loss out of the drainage holes in the base. Likewise, this simple action will also stop the drainage holes from becoming blocked.
For small planters that are hard to fill with broken pieces, try lining their bases with old newspaper instead. The newspaper will allow excess water to drain freely away through the drainage holes, but prevent the compost from being flushed out.
Nicola Clements has been working with brands and publications in the gardening and lifestyle sectors for many years. As well as regularly writing forThe English Garden‘swebsite, Nicola is also a contributing gardening editor toWildflowermagazine. In her spare time, Nicola can be found pottering in her garden, where she hones her skills, ready to pass on her expert advice to amateur and seasoned gardeners.
You then need to line the planter with a plastic sheet. Staple the plastic to the planter's sides and poke a few holes into the bottom to let the water drain. The liner shouldn't go over the rim of the box but should be close to the top to line it properly.
One of the best things to put at the bottom of a planter for drainage is broken pieces of pot. You can use any unwanted plant pots or chipped crockery for this – simply smash them up into small to medium-sized pieces. Adding a layer of broken pieces of pot like this will prevent compost loss out of the drainage holes.
Remember that proper drainage is essential for the health of your plants, so make sure to create drainage holes in the liner if they are not present already. Additionally, it's a good idea to choose non-toxic materials to line your planter, especially if you are growing edible plants.
As a final reminder, avoid lining your garden beds with plastic. Doing so prevents drainage and could drown your plants' roots with too much water. If you have a weed and pest problem, consider installing a combination of metal mesh and fabric or hardware cloth and cardboard to address both issues simultaneously.
If there is no liner, don't worry…you can line the basket with a sheet of plastic. Today I used a piece cut from a heavy duty trash can liner. It works great and it's a wonderful idea for lining a basket for bedding plants, fresh flower foam or foliage plants. It's simple and it works great…and costs pennies!
Generally, using three or four plants in 10 to 12-inch planters, four to six plants in 14 to 16-inch planters and six to eight plants in 16 to 20-inch planters will fill out containers nicely while allowing room for the plants to grow without excessive crowding.
Size, shape and drainage are critical factors in the selection of the container that will provide the best environment for growth of your plants. Size: For free-standing and table plants, the size of the planter should be proportionate to plant size, allowing ample room for root systems.
Never underestimate the importance of drainage holes in planters and making sure those holes are protected from blockages. Without putting crocks or something else in the bottom of a planter to guard those holes, they can easily get blocked by soil and then will not do their job.
Potting soil is not cheap, so whether you are using a large planter as a statement piece for a smaller plant or for a large tree, in most cases you do not need to fill the whole planter with soil. Pot fillers are also a great opportunity to recycle non-biodegradable trash like plastic.
Pond liners work well for lining the bottom of planters as they are robust and can easily be shaped into the perfect size to fit the dimensions of your planter.
For lining, use landscape fabric found at garden supply stores or cloth fabric from clothing. Avoid non-porous plastic, as it can retain too much water and discourage beneficial insects and worms.
Many experienced gardeners recommend lining raised beds for these reasons: It provides insulation for the soil and helps control temperature fluctuations. It helps with soil retention. It separates weeds from seeds.
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