Put Together a Tiered Planter From Just a Few Crates
Summer has arrived and I wanted to spruce up my front porch in honor of the season. I happened to have a few crates that I’d been using as decor around my house, but I had gotten some paint on one of them and knew that it was time to find a different use for them. This DIY tiered planter is just the project I had been looking for! It adds a pop of color to my porch and invites my guests into my home with beautiful flowers and greenery. Want to know how I did it? Follow my step-by-step tutorial below to make your own today!
Tools and Materials:
- 2 wooden crates
- Spray primer
- Spray paint
- Wood glue
- 1”x2” piece of wood
- Sealant
- Drill
- Screws
- Landscape fabric
- Staple gun
- Soil
- Plants
I started out by priming the crates. When working with spray paint or primer it’s important to work in light coats to avoid any drips. You can always come back later and add another layer if needed.
Once the crates were fully primed and dry, I spray painted them with a nice light blue color. This will brighten up my porch for the summer.
Because I was creating a tiered planter, I needed to prop up the back of the top planter. I cut a few pieces of 1”x2” lumber to the height of the bottom crate and propped up the back of the top crate.
Then, using a bit of wood glue, I attached the legs to the back of the top planter and attached the bottom planter to the top planter. Then I left it to fully dry. If you want, you can add some screws to give it a sturdier base. Originally I wasn’t planning on adding screws, but as you’ll see in a later step I changed my mind and added a few.
Once my planter had fully dried, I sprayed on a clear coat to seal it. It’s going to live outside and be exposed to the elements so I wanted to make sure that I did the necessary steps for that to happen. You can use a clear poly if you want, but I just find it easier to spray on a sealant and let it dry.
I wanted to add a screw in each leg just to make sure that they were sturdy enough to hold up the dirt and plants I would be adding soon. I drilled a hole through the top of the box and then added a screw to secure it nicely.
The crates had some pretty large holes in the bottom and sides of them. I didn’t want to cover these parts up completely because the plants need a way to drain excess water. Landscaping fabric was the perfect solution! It’s breathable and will provide excellent drainage for my plants. It’s also quite easy to work with.
I cut a piece of fabric to fit inside my crate and stapled it in place in the crate.
I added a second piece crosswise to the first just to make sure that no dirt would be able to escape.
I filled the crates with soil and then planted some annuals. These plants do well in all seasons so I won’t have to trade them out with other plants as the year goes on.
I chose petunias and other plants that like to hang, which makes the crates look full and lush.
Once everything was done I took my tiered crate planter outside and set it up to greet my guests! What kinds of plants would you use for your planter? Let me know in the comments below!
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Sylvia Packer McClain on Jul 12, 2021
That's a great idea. I'd probably set mine on a painted concrete block or stone to keep it off the ground.
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Paula Draper on Jul 10, 2022
Summer accent for porch stairs??? Love it!
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