Lidl Parkside Planter with Trellis lands for £29.99 this spring

Spring is slowly arriving, patios are being used again, and plenty of gardens are starting to feel a little empty and exposed.

If your fence line looks too harsh and your lawn is still recovering from winter, Lidl’s newest budget garden drop could be well timed - offering greenery, colour and a bit more privacy for less than £30.

What Lidl is launching this spring

Lidl has announced that its Parkside Planter with Trellis is landing in stores from 12 March. The solid-wood planter costs £29.99 and is designed as a combined planting box and screen - particularly suited to compact gardens, small patios and balconies.

"This single piece gives you both a deep planting box and a vertical trellis, turning one sliver of outdoor space into a mini green wall."

The planter section holds up to 20 litres of compost and is intended for herbs, flowers or small shrubs. Above it, a tall timber trellis panel provides support for climbers such as sweet peas or jasmine, which can grow into a softer, leafy divider.

Measuring 60cm by 28cm on the ground and standing at roughly 1m tall overall, it is large enough to change the look of a space without swamping a balcony or a packed deck. Lidl also states the timber is pre-treated with a water-based stain and is weather- and UV-resistant, helping it stand up to British rain as well as summer sunshine.

Key features at a glance

• Price: £29.99, in Lidl stores only from 12 March
• Capacity: 20 litres of compost, with a 30kg maximum load
• Size: 60cm wide x 28cm deep x 100cm tall (approx.)
• Material: solid wood, pre-treated with water-based protective stain
• Includes: plastic liner, fixings and assembly instructions
• Suitable locations: gardens, patios, balconies and roof terraces

A fitted plastic liner is included, removing an awkward step during set-up and helping to keep the timber from sitting against constantly damp compost. The trellis is built in too, so there is no need to attach extra panels to a fence or wall.

Why this planter hits a spring sweet spot

In spring, many retailers focus on bulky pergolas and heavy screening panels - not ideal for renters or anyone without easy side access. Lidl’s planter-and-trellis combo is a lighter, more adaptable alternative that can simply be moved into place.

"For households overlooked by neighbours or by a busy road, a climbing plant on a trellis can soften noise and sightlines without a planning battle or major DIY."

Positioned beside outdoor seating, it can form a gentle green nook for a morning coffee. Set out in a line along a low fence, several planters together can create a higher “living” boundary - especially once climbers put on growth in early summer.

Child-friendly gardening without wrecking the lawn

The raised format can work particularly well for families. Rather than letting children dig up the grass at random, you can give them this contained planter as a dedicated space to look after.

Children can plant simple options such as nasturtiums or dwarf sunflowers, see shoots appear at eye level, and water them without treading on flowerbeds. For parents, that can mean fewer muddy footprints across the lawn and less harm to valued perennials.

The trellis also creates a clear visual edge. When it is covered with foliage and flowers, it can help screen paddling pools, sandpits or a small play area from neighbours’ windows, making a family space feel more private.

Ideas for what to plant

With a reasonably deep container and a trellis that adds instant height, this unit suits both edible planting and decorative displays.

Herb and kitchen garden combinations

For anyone who cooks, keeping a small herb patch close to the back door is one of the most useful ways to use it. A mix like this can keep the planter productive for much of the year:

• Rosemary: a woody, drought-tolerant evergreen that provides structure all year round.
• Thyme or oregano: low, spreading herbs that can gently trail over the edge.
• Flat-leaf parsley or chives: helpful for filling gaps and taking regular cuttings through the season.
• Climbing peas or runner beans: make use of the trellis for vertical crops and attractive flowers.

This combination brings scent, colour and ingredients together in one compact area - and children can be sent out to snip fresh sprigs for dinner.

Flower-focused planting for maximum impact

If you care more about colour than cooking, the trellis is ideal for fast-flowering climbers. Quick-growing annuals such as sweet peas or climbing nasturtiums will climb the frame and add fragrance and colour throughout summer.

In the planter itself, you can add trailing lobelia, petunias or ivy geraniums. These spill over the sides, disguise the planter edges and give a fuller, layered finish.

"A simple rule: tall climbers for the trellis, bushy plants in the centre, trailers along the front. That three-tier approach makes even a small container appear lush."

Where the planter works best at home

Outdoor spaces vary, and the same planter can serve different purposes depending on where it sits.

Location	Best use	Suggested plants
Balcony	Windbreak and privacy screen	Hardy herbs, compact climbers, ivy
Patio edge	Softening hard paving and framing seating	Lavender, trailing petunias, sweet peas
Against a fence	Adding height to a low boundary	Clematis, jasmine, evergreen climbers
Near back door	Kitchen garden within easy reach	Mixed herbs, salad leaves, dwarf tomatoes

Looking after wooden planters long term

Wood tends to look softer and more natural than plastic, but it does benefit from a small amount of ongoing care.

Although Lidl’s pre-treated stain offers an initial layer of protection, you can prolong the planter’s lifespan by checking it annually. Brushing it down and applying an outdoor wood stain every couple of seasons can improve resistance to rot and reduce fading.

Drainage is also important. The plastic liner should include drainage holes so surplus water can drain away. Raising the unit on small pot feet or bricks prevents the base from sitting in puddles after heavy rainfall - particularly on balconies or paved areas.

Cost, availability and what to expect in stores

The Parkside Planter with Trellis costs £29.99 and is available only in physical Lidl stores, not online. Like many Specialbuys, quantities are typically limited and, once sold through, it often is not replenished quickly.

If you want several planters for a long run of fencing or a balcony rail, it may be worth shopping early in the promotional window. In previous years, garden items such as raised beds and planters have tended to disappear fast once the first mild weekend puts outdoor living back on people’s radar.

Extra tips for making small gardens feel private

If your garden is overlooked, one trellis planter can help - and a few additional tweaks can make the whole space feel more secluded without making it feel boxed in.

• Use containers at different heights so the eye is not drawn in a straight line to neighbours’ windows.
• Combine evergreens with seasonal climbers to keep some screening through winter.
• Place a small bench, chair or bistro set behind the planter to create a semi-hidden spot.
• Pair the trellis with lightweight outdoor curtains or a parasol for adjustable shade and screening.

For renters concerned about deposits, freestanding planters with trellis panels provide privacy without drilling into fences or walls. When moving day comes, you can take the entire unit with you - plants included.

Helpful gardening terms explained

Garden product listings can include jargon that is off-putting if you are new to gardening. A few terms connected to this planter are useful to understand:

• Climber: a plant that naturally grows upwards and needs support, such as a trellis or wires. Examples include sweet peas and clematis.
• Annual: a plant that completes its life cycle within one year. You sow it, it flowers, sets seed and dies within a single season.
• Perennial: a plant that returns year after year from the same root system, such as lavender or many herbs.
• UV-resistant: designed to cope with sunlight without quickly fading or breaking down.

Knowing these basics makes it easier to choose plants that match how you want to use Lidl’s planter - whether that is a single-season burst of colour or a longer-term privacy screen that fills out again each spring.