Mesh for lining planters/troughs

[Hallyracket]

For my planters project (!) I heard that I should think about lining the planters/troughs with mesh so that when I water the plants the earth won't seep out.

I can't find any fine mesh despite looking at garden centres, B & Q etc. Does anyone else do this or is this not necessary?

Try looking for 'liners' not mesh. They are often coco or jute or some other kind of fibre. Amazon sell them if you can't find them in a garden centre, though there should be plenty around this time of year. You will find people recommending sphagnum moss, but this is often harvested in a really bad way that damages peat bogs and habitats for all sorts of lovely wild flowers and creatures, so it is best avoided (like peat compost, really).

They are used for those very open-lattice troughs and hanging baskets where everything will just fall on the floor if you don't put one in! Also to extend the life of wood. For pots, though, I don't bother. They aren't very pretty and if you can get away without them, fantastic!

Thanks holly.

Agree with Holly! I don't use them for ordinary pots, just for metal cage style hanging baskets.

If you're after some cheaply you'll find them in the pound shops. They do a 2pk of flat circular ones that you mould to the shape of your basket or single pre-moulded ones (bowl shaped; slightly thicker). The standard sizes seem to be 30cm and 40cm so measure the diameter of your basket first

With standard pots it's often useful to put a few broken pieces of pot in the bottom before you start filling with soil/ compost. It improves drainage and stops the earth from leaking out as you water. Our local garden centre give them away free