How to Make Your Own Tiered Planter for Strawberries

Rinse and clean out a 30-to 50-gallon plastic barrel. These barrels are usually from 2 1/2 to 3 feet tall and from 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 feet in diameter. Choose a barrel that previously held food or some other non-toxic material. Water barrels work well.

Spray paint the barrel, if desired, with plastic spray paint in any color. This coordinates the barrel with your décor and hides the fact that the barrel is plastic. Do not spray the inside of the barrel; no one will see it and your strawberries will remain healthier that way. Let the paint dry overnight.

Drill a row of holes around the barrel about 1 foot from the bottom and spaced about 4 inches apart. Drill another row of holes about 8 inches above that, staggering the holes so the plants won't tangle. Continue until the entire barrel is drilled this way. These holes are the tiers for your planter.

Drill staggered rows of 1/4 inch diameter holes up the length of a piece of 2-inch diameter PVC pipe. You can get the pipe cut to the same height as your barrel at the hardware store.

Slip the pipe down into the center of the barrel. Scoop about 8 inches of soil around the bottom of the pipe; this should keep it still while you plant the barrel. Don't get soil inside the pipe.

Gently slip the root ball of one strawberry seedling through each hole near the bottom of the barrel. Cover the root balls with soil up to the next row and add a few more plants. Plant the entire barrel this way, ending with a few plants sticking out of the top of the barrel.

Pour water into the pipe in the center of the barrel. The pipe ensures all of your strawberries get an equal amount of water. Slide the barrel into a sunny spot.