3-Tiered Stacked Planter

Step 1

In a well-ventilated area, spray-paint the exterior of the 8-in., 10-in. and 12-in. pots in your choice of colors. Apply as many coats as needed, drying completely between coats, for full coverage. Let pots dry 24-48 hours.

Step 2

Following manufacturer’s instructions, apply vinyl numbers or letters centered on one side of the 12-in. painted pot.

Step 3

Put about 2 in. of potting soil in the 12-in. pot. Then place an unpainted 6-in. pot upside down, centered on the potting soil. Press the upside-down pot’s rim into the soil to secure in place. Do the same, using more soil, inside the 10-in. pot with the remaining 6-in. pot. (The bottoms of these upside-down pots will provide a platform for the painted pots to sit on, forming tiers.)

Step 4

Stack the 10-in. pot inside the 12-in. pot, using the upside-down pot as a base. Do the same for the 8-in. pot inside the 10-in. pot. If desired, use a waterproof epoxy or outdoor glue to stabilize the pots.

Step 5

Fill all three stacked pots with potting soil, stopping a few inches from the rims. (The soil should completely cover the upside-down pots, if possible.) Then plant flowers as desired and display your creation on your front porch. Don’t forget to water it!

Editors’ Plant Picks: We used petunias for the three-tiered planter pictured here. They’re a good choice for a project like this because they’re easy to maintain, bloom throughout the summer and come in a variety of colors. Petunias prefer full sun, so if you’ve got a covered porch, try shade-tolerant coleus or begonias.