Container gardens are magical. Whether they’re made up of colorful flowers or stunning foliage, they can turn an ordinary rooftop into an urban paradise, or transform a bare front porch into an inviting retreat. Smart gardeners know that the key to keeping plants healthy is good drainage. Traditionally this means lining the bottom of planters with rocks, which makes the containers heavy and unwieldy and can quickly turn a green thumb into a pain in the back.

Enter John and Sarah Hoggatt, who discovered that the recycled plastic mesh John’s brother-in-law patented as a building material could double as lightweight, eco-friendly drainage at the bottom of a flower pot. Better Than Rocks works just like rocks do, allowing water to flow freely, yet trapping needed moisture inside the pot. Presto! Pots are pounds lighter, making it easy to rotate them according to your plants’ sunshine needs. The result: a lush, long lasting garden you can enjoy all summer long and no more back pain. As a bonus, Better Than Rocks is also conveniently reusable. Simply shake out, hose off, and you’re ready for the next planting.