Foam for horticulture

Foam is used in various garden activities and seating applications, such as gardening kneelers and outdoor seating. However, did you know that foam can also play a key role in cultivating a garden? As the pandemic forced us to consider new hobbies, many of us have got into gardening, and as a result, people are looking for new and inventive ways to improve their plants' overall health (and appearance!).

In gardens, it's best to use foam that is resistant to the outdoors - just like those hardy winter plants. This means that you should use closed-cell foams like Plastazote Superior closed-cell foam which doesn't need to be protected with an additional cover or outer fabric.

It's rigid, lightweight, non-toxic, and has excellent chemical resistance, which is particularly important if your gardening endeavours involve the use of fertilisers and chemicals. It's also an excellent thermal insulator, which is good news should you wish to use foam that protects your plants from the cold UK winter.

Closed-cell foams can also be easily shaped, cut, and bonded to other materials. Using a strong and weatherproof adhesive will enable you to position it in plant pots with ease.

If you've got indoor decorative plant pots that are far larger than your plants, filling them with closed-cell foam inserts - like those made from Plastazote Superior foam - is a far cheaper option than filling with store-bought soil. As the plant is sat on top of the foam insert, it will not lose too much moisture. If filled with soil, water ultimately runs to the bottom before shorter roots have the opportunity to absorb it. With a closed-cell foam underneath, water will run no further than the base of the soil in the pot.

Alternatively, open-celled foams are often used within the bottom of outdoor plant pots to aid the even distribution of water. For example, some outdoor plants don't cope well with excessive rainfall, and a drainage hole at the bottom of a plant pot is often not enough. Instead, installing a foam piece that fits snug to the base and dimensions of a pot will ensure that any water that passes through the plant can freely run away. The plant will not be saturated in a pool of water either. Using our online cut to size tool, we at eFoam can cut foam to any shape and size per your exact dimensions.

As we head into winter, foam can also help protect your plants from the cold. One excellent quality of closed-cell polyethylene foam is its insulation properties. Instead of wrapping your plant pots in numerous carrier bags or black sacks, hollow foam covers can be ordered to your specification using our cut to size tool that can snugly fit each pot. These foam' jackets' can help keep out the cold and ultimately retain the inner warmth of the soil.

If your garden contains heavy planters and plant pots, thin foam sheets can help protect your patio or decking from any marks or damage. Furthermore, these foam sheets can protect the space from dirt and other mess, particularly as decking is notorious for staining! Thin Plastazote Superior foam mats are easy to clean and incredibly durable for this purpose.

Should you require any personal guidance when ordering foam for gardening applications, please contact one of our friendly colleagues.