Better Than Rocks is an innovative, lightweight, reusable mesh designed to sit at the bottom of planters, providing optimal drainage, reducing container weight, and supporting healthier plants.

It’s a clean, efficient alternative to traditional drainage materials like rocks, broken pottery, or packing peanuts—which can be heavy, messy, and wasteful.

Use Better Than Rocks in outdoor containers of all sizes, window boxes, and indoor houseplants for the optimal planter drainage solution.

Using Better Than Rocks is simple! Just layer it at the bottom of your container before adding potting soil and plants.

 Better Than Rocks works by:

• Keeping soil in place
• Improving airflow to roots
• Preventing root rot
• Allowing water to drain efficiently
• And doing all of this without adding extra weight to your planter!

It’s a lightweight, no-fuss way to give your plants the healthy foundation they need to thrive.

• Better Than Rocks 8" x 8" Twin Pack
• Better Than Rocks 10" x 10" Twin Pack
• Better Than Rocks 12" x 12" Twin Pack
• Better Than Rocks 16" x 96" Jumbo - Most economical.  Cut to fit many planters of all shapes and sizes.

Better Than Rocks is a non-woven mesh made with at least 75% post-consumer recycled plastic, primarily from soda bottles.

Just one 16″x96″ Jumbo size contains the equivalent of 38 recycled plastic bottles! And because it’s durable and reusable season after season, those bottles are kept out of landfills for good—making Better Than Rocks a smart, sustainable choice for your garden and the planet.

• Rocks make planters heavy and don’t work well for drainage.
• Packing peanuts can blow away, are messy, and can break down over time.
• Soil seeps around rocks and other traditional materials, clogging drainage holes.

Better Than Rocks solves all these problems while staying lightweight, reusable, and clean.

No. Better Than Rocks is specifically designed to allow water to pass through freely, preventing water from pooling while keeping soil securely in place.

Yes! Our smart drainage material is easy to trim with scissors or garden shears, making it simple to customize for any shape or size container. We recommend this gardening shears available at Fiskars' website.

You can trim the corners, but it is not necessary. The material is flexible, so you can just fold the corners up or down and alternate each layer. If you do trim the corners, don’t throw them away! Place them in the very bottom of the container and then use the trimmed circle(s) on top of them.

Because Better Than Rocks is a flexible material and can be cut, it can fit in every container from regular clay pots to window boxes, to a planter that looks like a fish. It really works in any size or shape container!

Definitely! For indoor plants, one layer is perfect to keep soil from washing out and to support steady drainage, which helps avoid soggy roots and reduces the frequency of repotting.

Succulents benefit from the additional drainage that Better Than Rocks provides and the pocket of air that it creates. We found the most success using Better Than Rocks in the bottom of the container and then placing very fine pebbles - larger than sand but smaller than rocks - on top of the Better Than Rocks. Finally, place the appropriate soil matter on top of those. Loose, rocky soil that is nutrient-rich is optimal. Always use a container with a drain hole to provide fresh air and a means for any excess water to exit.

Better Than Rocks was developed for houseplants and outdoor containers. We have had customers report that they have used Better Than Rocks in containers for growing vegetables and fruits, and that worked well. The plastic mesh is made with recycled soda bottles. By visual test, the material does not produce ″lint″ when shaken, and therefore we do not believe that fibers enter the soil of the pot, however, no laboratory testing has been completed to verify this visual observation.

This will vary with each type of plant, but most plants don't. When emptying a container, separate any roots from the mesh using a scissors or knife if necessary. If the roots in the mesh do not come out after rinsing, store the pieces as is and the roots will dry out for easy removal.

Sometimes weight is necessary! Place whatever material you desire in the bottom of the container for weight (rocks or bricks work nicely). Then, place two layers of Better Than Rocks to keep the soil from working its way down into the ballast area, where it could plug the drain hole.

If possible, it is best to drill a drainage hole. But if you can't, know that the product itself will do fine in a pot without a hole. Be sure to not overwater your plant if you don't have a drainage hole. Most plants don't appreciate saturated soil at their roots 100% of the time. We highly recommend only using containers with drainage holes.

For permanent containers such as houseplants or outdoor planters in warm climates, we recommend using just one to two layers. This leaves ample space for roots to grow and thrive over the plant’s lifetime. Better Than Rocks helps keep soil securely in the pot while ensuring the drainage hole stays clear and functional. It also promotes healthy airflow and oxygen circulation within the planter, creating the ideal environment for happy, thriving plants. Say goodbye to soggy, over-saturated soil for good!

For seasonal containers—like those filled with flowering annuals—you can use three to four layers of Better Than Rocks to fill the bottom third of the planter. Since annuals don’t require the full depth for root growth, this approach helps reduce the amount of soil needed while maintaining excellent drainage. And don’t worry—using multiple layers isn’t wasteful. Better Than Rocks is reusable, year after year.

At the end of the season, simply let your plants die back, store the containers, and you’ll be nearly ready for planting next spring! We typically refresh the soil every few years, though some folks prefer to do it annually—it’s totally up to you. If you choose to empty the container, just rinse off the Better Than Rocks and store it with your planter for future
use.

Cleaning Better Than Rocks is quick and hassle-free. After emptying your planter, simply shake off any loose soil, then rinse it using a garden hose or a bucket of water. Let it air dry completely before storing or reusing. It’s that easy—much simpler than dealing with heavy, messy rocks!

If you notice plant roots tangled in the mesh, no worries. Just store the material as is until you're ready to plant again—the roots will naturally dry out and become easy to remove.

Absolutely! Better Than Rocks is designed to last season after season. Made from durable recycled plastic, it holds up beautifully over time—so you may never need to replace it. With each use, it might get a bit dirtier or slightly compressed, but it continues to perform just as well.

In fact, reusing Better Than Rocks is part of the magic. It’s an eco-friendly way to keep plastic out of landfills for good. Fun fact: the product’s inventor is still using pieces that have been through twenty planting seasons—and counting!

Built to last and reusable for years, reducing waste and the need to replace.

Made with 75% recycled plastic, primarily from soda bottles, helping divert waste from landfills.

Fun Facts:

• 8x8 Twin Pack – made using 3 recycled soda bottles
• 10x10 Twin Pack – made using 5 recycled soda bottles
• 12x12 Twin Pack – made using 7 recycled soda bottles
• Jumbo 16x96 – made using a whopping 38 recycled soda bottles!

Better Than Rocks is proudly manufactured in Canada and packaged in the USA at a career development center—creating meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities or disadvantages.

• Packaging is 100% American-made
• Archovations, Inc., a 100% woman-owned small business based in Hudson, Wisconsin

We’re committed not only to sustainability, but also to supporting inclusive employment and local production.

Please refer to our Return Policy for details.

Better Than Rocks is available for purchase through select garden centers and online at betterthanrocks.com.