Tiered Gardening Planters

Planters

• Whether in-ground or freestanding, planters are the foundation of your tiered design. The wrong planter creates headaches and more work for you -- it may dry out too quickly, heat up in the sun or deteriorate after a single season. Nearly any container may be a planter, but a good tiered garden planter has adequate drainage holes and enough width to support a tiered design. Terracotta, wood and other porous containers flake, crack and splinter when left outdoors; if you need four-season durability, seal the planter or choose a non-porous material, such as weather-resistant plastic.

Design

• A basic tiered container garden has three divisions; tall or vertical plants, fillers or medium-height plants and trailing plants. You have a wide range of design options within this framework, so choose an overall theme, such as a shade garden, a woodland design or even a single color before you begin. Consider the planter's location, sun exposure and your planting zone as well as plant textures. Make a list of your favorites and categorize them according to size.

Plant Selection

• A single vertical plant as the top tier provides the container's focus and should be roughly twice as tall as the container itself. A too-tall plant overbalances the design, and a short plant is lost within the center tier. Use the center tiers for color and interest, mixing plant species that fit within your theme. This tier has personality and spark; leave room for annuals, such as pansies, marigolds and petunias to fill in around slower-growing perennials. The lower tier's trailing plants soften the container's lip and move the eye down a graceful line, but too many trailers make your container look shaggy and overgrown. Choose just one or two contrasting species.

Divided Planters

• Some beds and containers, such as spiral herb gardens or strawberry pots, have divided tiers. Watch for micro-climates If you incorporate this style into your garden. The smaller top level drains to the lower levels, dries out quickly and receives full sun, making drought-resistant plants ideal for this tier. The middle levels are usually cooler, with the lowest tier often staying constantly moist -- select plants that prefer wet soil for lower tiers. Depending on the planter's orientation, the upper tiers may partially or fully shade the lower tiers; before planting, note the shady areas and choose appropriate plants.