All categories
Business & Offices
Electronics & Media
Fashion & Accessories
Groceries & Essentials
Health & Personal Care
Home & Living
Kids & Family
Sports & Outdoors
Search in ZoneOffer
Loading...
Have you ever replanted a pot only to find cracked clay, stained wood, or a soggy balcony underneath? Pot and planter liners are the unsung heroes of container gardening. They protect containers from moisture and rot, prevent soil leaching, and help maintain root health. Think of liners as a raincoat and breathable sleeping bag for your plants—keeping excess water out of delicate containers while letting roots breathe.
Not all liners are created equal. Depending on the material and design, liners will behave differently with respect to water retention, breathability, and longevity. Familiarizing yourself with the main types helps you match the right liner to your pot and plant needs.
Plastic liners, including PVC, are the most common. They’re waterproof, cheap, and easy to cut to size. If you’re lining resin or wooden planters that you don’t want to leak, a plastic liner gives great protection. However, because they trap all moisture, you’ll want drainage holes or a raised pebble layer to avoid root rot.
Fabric liners allow air and excess water to pass through, which can mimic the natural soil environment. They’re great for hanging baskets and fabric grow bags. These liners often come in felt or geotextile material and reduce waterlogging while promoting healthy root development.
Coir (coconut fibre) and other natural liners are eco-friendly and look smart inside ornamental containers. Coir retains moisture while draining well and slowly decomposes, adding organic matter to the soil over months. They suit decorative metal or wire planters where aesthetics matter.
For heavy-duty jobs—like converting a container into a small pond or a water feature—rubber or reinforced liners offer durability. They handle sharp roots and occasional movement without tearing, and they’re often thicker than standard plastic liners.
If you’re in the UK and hunting for the best place to buy liners, you’ve got options. Below I walk through several reputable stores and what they typically offer, so you can pick the retailer that matches your budget, style, and urgency.
B&Q is a go-to for homeowners. They stock a wide range of plastic, fabric, and coir liners in multiple sizes, and you’ll often find kit solutions designed for popular planter dimensions. If you prefer to pop into a store and pick the liner that fits perfectly, B&Q’s physical presence across the country is convenient.
Homebase focuses on garden basics and decor, carrying liners that match stylish planters as well as practical options for large troughs. Their product range is suitable if you want the simplicity of buying in-store and checking material and thickness by hand.
Wickes tends to cater to DIYers and professionals, so they carry heavy-duty liners and landscape fabrics. If you’re converting a large wooden planter or making raised beds, Wickes often stocks thicker PVC and reinforced liners that hold up to tougher needs.
Garden centre chains like Dobbies and independent local centres offer a mix of decorative coir liners and practical geotextile liners. These retailers often showcase liners already fitted in display planters, which helps if you want to visualize the final look before you buy.
Wilko is useful for budget-friendly options—small hanging basket liners, simple plastic inserts, and basic coir liners. If you’re furnishing a balcony or doing a seasonal refresh on a tight budget, Wilko provides affordable solutions without breaking the bank.
The Range blends homewares and garden supplies, so you’ll find decorative pots paired with suitable liners. For shoppers who want the look and the liner in one stop, The Range often packages complementary items and occasional bundle deals.
Online marketplaces like Amazon UK and eBay offer the broadest selection—from specialty breathable membranes to bespoke rubber pond liners. The upside is choice and reviews; the downside is you’ll need to measure carefully since sizes often vary by seller.
These builders’ suppliers are perfect for heavy-duty jobs. If you’re lining large timber planters, raised beds, or creating a water feature, they stock robust materials and professional-grade membranes in larger sheets or rolls measured by the linear foot.
Primrose and other specialist online garden retailers focus on plant containers and accessories. They often have tailored solutions—inner pots, bespoke liners for resin planters, and stylish coir liners—handy if you want something that feels premium or unusual.
Choosing the right liner depends on pot material, plant type, and where the pot lives—indoors, on a balcony, or in the garden. Here’s a simple decision path to help you decide quickly.
If the pot is porous clay or decorative terracotta, a breathable liner or water-resistant barrier helps prevent staining and moisture migration. For wooden planters, impervious PVC prevents rot. For metal planters, choose coir or fabric with a thin plastic backing to prevent rust and corrosion.
Thirsty plants like ferns and some bedding plants need liners that retain moisture—think coir or a double-layer fabric. Mediterranean plants like lavender and rosemary prefer fast-draining setups, so rigid plastic liners with good drainage work best.
Take accurate measurements in inches: measure the internal diameter and depth to match liners or cut them to size. For deep-rooted plants, leave at least 8 to 12 inches of soil depth—so select liners that don’t eat into the available space.
Installing liners isn’t rocket science, but a few small tricks make them last longer and work better. These tips turn a fiddly task into something satisfying and long-lived.
Lay the liner flat and measure the circumference and depth of the pot in inches, adding a couple of inches for overlap. Use a sharp pair of scissors or a craft knife for clean edges. If you’re lining a rectangular trough, measure length and width and cut accordingly.
Poke drainage holes through plastic liners at the bottom and use small pebbles or broken pot shards to create a gap between the liner and soil for water to escape. For fabric liners, a layer of horticultural fleece underneath can prevent soil loss without blocking drainage.
Wooden planters can trap moisture against the inner walls and rot over time. Add a thin layer of felt or geotextile between the liner and wood to allow air circulation while keeping the moisture off the timber.
Can’t find the perfect liner or prefer a budget route? There are practical DIY options that work well in a pinch and can even be better for some projects.
Landscape fabric makes a flexible, breathable liner. It’s easy to cut to size and lets water pass through while keeping soil in place. It’s ideal for hanging baskets and shallow planters but less suitable for small indoor pots where aesthetics matter.
As a temporary solution, heavy-duty bin liners will keep soil and water contained, but they’re not long-term. If you use them, make sure to add drainage holes and change them before they degrade. Consider this a short-term fix rather than a permanent installation.
Cutting down an old plastic bucket into a liner can be cheap and sustainable. It’s a neat way to reuse materials and is especially useful when you need sturdy containers inside larger decorative pots.
Proper care extends the life of your liners so you don’t have to replace them every season. A few minutes of upkeep goes a long way.
At the start and end of the growing season, inspect liners for splits, brittleness, or mould. Replace or patch damaged liners promptly—small tears are easy to fix with waterproof adhesive or a rubber patch kit.
Over time, salts and minerals from tap water or fertilisers build up in pots. Every so often, lift the liner and flush the pot with fresh water, or repot with fresh compost to keep root zones healthy. This is particularly important in smaller pots where build-up is faster.
Gardeners increasingly want solutions that are both attractive and kind to the planet. Here are options that meet eco and style goals at the same time.
Coir liners are biodegradable and return nutrients to the soil as they break down. For decorative planters where you plan to refresh the soil each season, biodegradable liners reduce plastic waste and look natural.
Some liners are designed to be invisible, while coir and fabric liners can add a rustic look to metal or wire baskets. When your planter is a focal point, choose a liner that complements the material and colour for a finished look.
Shopping smart means measuring accurately and choosing the right material for the job so you don’t waste money on returns or needless replacements. Here are a few tips I use when shopping for liners.
If you’re lining several large planters or building raised beds, buying liner material by the roll from a builder’s merchant or online supplier is usually cheaper than individual fitted liners. Measure your total square footage in inches or feet before ordering.
Hanging baskets and small pots often use the same sized liners, so multipacks from garden retailers or discount stores give great value. It’s handy to keep a spare liner or two in the shed for seasonal planting days.
Even experienced gardeners make simple errors that reduce liner effectiveness. Here are some pitfalls and how to steer clear of them.
The most common mistake is failing to provide drainage. Without holes or a gap for excess water, roots will sit in stagnant water. Always plan for drainage whether you use plastic, fabric, or coir liners.
Water-loving plants in impermeable plastic liners will quickly develop root rot. Conversely, dry-loving plants in absorbent coir will stay too wet. Match liner function to plant needs for best results.
Once your liner is chosen and fitted, the next step is the right soil and plant pairing. Lightweight compost and grit mixtures work well for shallow containers, while deep pots need nutrient-rich compost with a layer for drainage at the base. Always consider the mature size of the plant so roots aren’t cramped inside a lined pot.
When in doubt, visit a local garden centre and bring a tape measure. Trying a small test pot in your space helps you see how the plant performs with the liner in place before committing to dozens of planters.
Pot and planter liners play a quiet but powerful role in successful container gardening. From cheap plastic to eco-friendly coir and heavy-duty rubber, there’s a liner for every pot and plant. UK retailers—from big-box stores like B&Q and Wickes to specialist shops like Primrose, Dobbies, and marketplace sellers—offer a full spectrum of options. Measure carefully, match material to plant needs, and install drainage to keep your containers healthy and attractive season after season. With the right liner, you’ll protect both your plants and your investment—making gardening simpler, cleaner, and more rewarding.
