How to Build a Waist-High Planter

If art truly is a matter of perspective, you will have great fun applying your perspective to creating a Leaning Pisa planter for your backyard. A series of terracotta pots literally strung together by tubing at right and left angles, a Leaning Pisa -- or tipping -- planter adds what every landscape artist wants for her backyard: that interesting conversation piece that adds texture and dimension to an otherwise flat “canvas.” Mount your waist-high Leaning Pisa planter in the ground or put it on casters to move it around your deck or patio -- and get people talking about your talent for perspective.

PVC piping (40 to 48 inches)
Green or black spray paint (optional)
3 terracotta pots in descending sizes
Potting soil
Watering can or other garden accessory
Drill
Hot glue gun
Saw
Plants and flowers

Instructions

- 1
  Paint the clear PVC piping with green or black spray paint, if you wish, but don’t cut it until you have finished assembling your Leaning Pisa planter. Let the paint dry.
- 2
  Sink the PVC piping into the ground or simply thread the piping through the hole in the bottom of the largest terracotta planter. A 14- or 16- inch terracotta pot is a good size to make the base.
- 3
  Fill the bottom pot with potting soil, and pat it down to provide an extra-firm base for the rest of your Leaning Pisa tower.
- 4
  Thread the next and smaller terracotta pot through the piping. Bring it down so that the bottom of the pot touches the top of the bottom pot, then tilt it to a left or right angle. You will hot-glue the pots together at the end; for now, make sure the angle is pleasing to the eye.
- 5
  Thread the third and smallest terracotta pot through the piping, tilting it at the opposite angle of the one below it.
- 6
  Add a watering can or other garden-theme object to grace the top of your Leaning Pisa tower after drilling a hole at the bottom of this object. This final touch should add a whimsical touch to your planter.
- 7
  Adjust the angles of the terracotta pots and the watering can so that they suit your taste and sense of proportion. Hot-glue the objects together for extra stability.
- 8
  Cut the PVC pipe with a saw.
- 9
  Fill the two pots with soil and plants or flowers -- and then watch the compliments over your Leaning Pisa planter roll in faster than a summer storm.

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