Belavi Mini Raised Planter

Last Updated on March 20, 2024

EDITOR’S NOTE 1: If you’re looking for information on the raised garden bed Aldi sold in March of 2024, click here. 

EDITOR’S NOTE 2: Aldi sold this mini raised planter again in 2023 and 2022 for $19.99. See our update toward the bottom of this post with information about what we put in our mini raised planter. 

In April of 2021, Aldi sold a wooden raised garden planter that was so popular it sold out quickly the morning it arrived on store shelves. It didn’t help that many stores received only a couple of planters. Then Aldi gave me another chance to score a smaller version of the raised planter in June.

The Belavi Mini Raised Planter cost $18.99 at the time of publication. This is an Aldi Find, which means it’s only in stores for a short time, and once it sells out at your local store you can’t order it online.

This mini planter measures just under two feet tall and is less than two feet wide. That’s smaller than the other planter Aldi sold earlier, which was about three feet wide and two and half feet tall. Another key difference between this mini planter and the other raised planter from Aldi is that this one is made of metal, while the other larger planter was made of wood.

More information on the back of the box. (Click to enlarge.)

Here’s more information about the mini planter:

• Made of galvanized, power-coated metal
• Rust and UV resistant
• Weather and frost resistant for year-round use
• Suitable for indoor and outdoor use
• Includes drainage hole
• Plants not included
• Measures 23.62″ x 10.63″ x 17.71″
• Planter Capacity: 5.2 gallons
• Able to be secured to walls
• Space-saving design great for balconies and terraces
• Made in China
• Available in Green, Gray, or Black (I bought the gray one because that’s all that was left by the time I got to the store)

The mini raised planter comes with a three-year warranty serviced by Protel, a common Aldi warranty provider that also services the larger wooden raised planter Aldi sold earlier this year. For service, call 1-855-754-8297 or email Aldi-US@protel-service.com.

Assembling the Planter

Everything that comes in the box (scissors not included).

This planter is easy to assemble, taking just a few minutes, and it comes with all the hardware you need such as screws and nuts. You’ll need your own Phillips head screwdriver. The manual also recommends using a wrench (not included), but I assembled the planter without one. If you want to anchor the planter to a wall, it comes with the necessary hardware, but you’ll also need your own drill, measuring tape, and pencil.

The long metal side panels came out of the box warped, but I was able to manipulate everything into place. Even after assembly, the panels will go a bit askew and cause the legs to be uneven if you lift the planter, but it’s easy to make it sit correctly when you place it on a solid surface such as a patio, deck, porch, etc. Once the planter is filled with potting mix and plants, it’s not going to be an issue.

The included drain plug doesn’t actually close off the drainage hole in the middle of the bottom panel. I’m not sure if my plug is defective or if I’m just not understanding how it works; it looks like I would need to insert something into the rubber drain plug piece to fully close it.

The drain hole is also not the only part of this planter where water could leak. Because the planter is made of multiple metal panels fastened together, water might easily seep out of the cracks, so be aware of that when placing this planter on a surface that could potentially be damaged by water. The manual recommends covering the basin with a liner before planting if you want to ensure that it’s watertight. However, be aware that most plants don’t like to be waterlogged, so drainage is good. I’m not sure whether I’ll add a liner to my planter.

The Finished Planter

This is a cute planter. I have yet to fill it with potting mix and add plants.

I’ll update this post after I get it planted and make additional updates as needed to share how it holds up after some use.

UPDATE (7/18/2021) — I decided to follow some readers’ suggestions and try putting potted plants inside this mini raised planter because I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to put a liner and potting soil in it. Because the bottom of the planter box is sloped toward the center, the pots don’t sit exactly level, but it’s not that noticeable, and I could easily level everything by putting a small board inside the planter. Overall, I like the unique look, and I might even put some smaller potted plants such as succulents under this planter to help maximize space.

The Verdict:

The Belavi Mini Raised Planter is a cute addition to any garden, patio, or porch. Assembly is easy, and it stands almost 2 feet tall and almost 18 inches wide. I’m looking forward to growing a few plants in this. You can plant directly in it or use it as a plant stand and place pots inside it.