Foam for Horticulture

Foam is used in various garden activities and seating, such as gardening kneelers and outdoor seating. But did you know it can also play a key role in cultivating a garden? As more of us have taken up gardening in recent years, people are looking for inventive ways to improve their plants' health and appearance.

Which foam for the garden?

In the garden, it's best to use foam that's resistant to the outdoors, just like hardy winter plants. That means closed-cell foams such as Plastazote superior closed-cell foam, which doesn't need an additional cover or outer fabric. It's rigid, lightweight, non-toxic and has excellent chemical resistance – particularly important if your gardening involves fertilisers and chemicals – and it's an excellent thermal insulator, ideal for protecting plants from the cold UK winter. Closed-cell foams can also be easily shaped, cut and bonded to other materials, so a strong weatherproof adhesive lets you position it in plant pots with ease.

Foam in plant pots

If you have indoor decorative pots far larger than your plants, filling them with closed-cell foam inserts is far cheaper than store-bought soil. As the plant sits on top of the insert, it won't lose too much moisture – whereas with soil, water runs to the bottom before shorter roots can absorb it. With closed-cell foam underneath, water runs no further than the base of the soil.

Foam for drainage

Open-cell foams are often used in the bottom of outdoor pots to aid even water distribution. Some outdoor plants don't cope with excessive rainfall, and a single drainage hole often isn't enough; a foam piece cut snug to the base and dimensions of a pot lets any water that passes through run freely away, so the plant isn't saturated. Using our online cut to size tool, we can cut foam to any shape and size to your exact dimensions.

Protecting plants and surfaces

As winter approaches, foam can help protect plants from the cold. Rather than wrapping pots in carrier bags or sacks, hollow foam covers can be ordered to snugly fit each pot. These foam 'jackets' keep out the cold and retain the soil's inner warmth. And if your garden has heavy planters, thin foam sheets protect a patio or decking from marks and damage, as well as dirt and mess – thin Plastazote superior foam mats are easy to clean and very durable for this. For outdoor seating projects, see our guide to foam for pallet furniture.

For personal guidance ordering foam for gardening, please contact one of our friendly colleagues.

Frequently asked questions

What foam is best for the garden?

Use foam that withstands the outdoors, such as Plastazote superior closed-cell foam, which needs no additional cover. It's rigid, lightweight, non-toxic and has excellent chemical resistance – useful around fertilisers – and it's a good thermal insulator.

Can you put foam in plant pots?

Yes. Closed-cell foam inserts fill oversized decorative pots more cheaply than soil, and because the plant sits on top, less moisture is lost. Open-cell foam at the base of outdoor pots aids drainage, letting excess water run away so the plant doesn't sit in a pool.

Does foam protect plants in winter?

Yes. Closed-cell polyethylene foam is a good insulator, so hollow foam covers cut to fit each pot can keep out the cold and retain the soil's warmth, a tidier option than wrapping pots in bags or sacks.