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Cottage Gardens

Don't know where to post this so I'll start here

16 years ago

All of us garden obsessed folks buy gardening magazines, right? I'm sure someone else out there has the current issue of Woman's Day Special Interest Publications Gardening and Deck Design. Check out the clay pot tower on page 33. How'd they do that? Any ideas? Also, if you had one, what would you plant in it?

Mechele

Comments (14)

proudgm_03
16 years ago
Try the Garden Junk forum. They're always making stuff there.
PattiOH
16 years ago
Hi Mechele,
I haven't seen the issue you refer to, but pot towers of one kind or another have been around for a while. Proudgm has a good suggestion. You may have some luck with simply doing a search on Google or Dogpile etc.

The link below may contain some useful information.
I hope someone out there can help you with directions.
Good luck!
Patti

Here is a link that might be useful: Looking for pot tower directions
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PattiOH
16 years ago
I just happened to think that I've seen some towers called "tipsy pots".

Patti
flowerchild5
16 years ago
i saw a fountain made of old enamel ware and really want to make one of those, i collect it and decorate my kitchen with it. if i make it to the flea market i saw it at i am definitly taking my camera. i would also like to make one of the pot towers. my list of "want to nakes" is getting way to long.
natvtxn
16 years ago
Hammer a piece of rebar steel in the ground, about a foot or so longer than your tower is to be. Stick a pot on the rebar. You will want the first pot to be sitting on the ground. Fill this one with potting soil.
Then add each pot, being sure to tip them in the direction you want them before adding potting soil to each pot.

Hope I explained this correctly.
mechele211
Original Author
16 years ago
Natvtxn,
Perfect explanation, THANK YOU!! Now that you have described the process it seems so simple. I was looking at the angles of the pots and thinking it must be some complicated engineering. I appreciate your help.
Mechele
natvtxn
16 years ago
You are welcome. I am always willing to "enable" another gardener.
Eduarda
16 years ago
Instead of the rebar you can also use a shepperd's hook to serve the same purpose. I have some tipsy pots done that way and it works very well. The pots are planted with small succulents, sedum and baby's breath. On the shepperd's hook you can hang a flower basket if you like, or some other decorative detail you change with the seasons. Mine currently has a wrough iron black lantern with a candle inside.

Very easy to do and a real eye catcher.
Eduarda
natvtxn
16 years ago
See, you came to the right place! Be sure and post pictures for us.
faerygardener z7 CA
16 years ago
These are not mine - I'd saved 2 links with pictures of tipsy pots for my 'someday.. maybe. garden project folder'. They may both be gardenwebers.

She has 3 pics - you have to scan down:
www.jett.net/ ~cindee/yard.htm

Differing sizes of metal pots:
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i185/kat4kittens2002/706d1148.jpg

Not done it myself (thought it would be great for house number or mailbox post - also trying to consider water plants / fountain concept.
natvtxn
16 years ago
Here is a link for how to do this project.

Here is a link that might be useful: tipsy pots
mechele211
Original Author
16 years ago
I just love all of these. I thought the clay pots were great but after seeing the metal pots/buckets/watering can, I think I like that better. I may try it this spring with impatiens and ivy.

Eduarda, how did you manage to get your pots over a shepard's hook? That sounds like it would be pretty but my hooks all have double prongs at the base and sharp curves at the top. Did you use containers that have larger holes in the bottom?
Eduarda
16 years ago
The shepperd hook I have has a straight botton, i.e. needle sharp like, so it's actually very easy to insert the pots from the bottom up. You say yours has double prongs on the end side? How about drilling a hole large enough for the prongs to be able to fit?

One word of caution regarding the metal pots idea: depending on where you live and how hot your climate is, you may wish not to do this. In my climate, metal pots left outside in the afternoon sun are a sure way to fry the plant's roots. Even plastic pots have similar problems in Summer. Clay works very well, even though we have to be more dilligent concerning watering.

Eduarda
mechele211
Original Author
16 years ago
Both of my hooks have two prongs at the base that are a few inches apart so I wouldn't be able to make the pots work on those. If I can find one like yours I would like to try it and add my hummingbird feeder to the arrangement.

I had thought about the heat potential of the metal pots. If I use metal I will use them in the shade. Containers with shade plants are easier for me anyway, easier to keep moist.

I have already started scouting for pots. I appreciate the helpful comments.

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