Planters filled with flowers inject color and grace to any outdoor setting. An effective display technique is elevating the planter to make it more noticeable. My favorite planter locations are atop walls, on steps, or set high on a stand or pedestal. The idea is to raise the pot off the ground—sitting on anything—to show it off.
This is not a new idea. In the 19th century, Victorians displayed their potted plants aloft in lightweight, decorative wire stands. This style has reemerged today with both vintage wire plant stands and the popular modern metal planter holders. The variety of stand styles is tremendous, ranging from whimsical to sleek.
An easy way to elevate planters is to set them on posts, walls, or steps. I especially like placing pots on a series of outdoor steps for the graduated look of “pot upon pot.” They don’t have to match. In fact, the more varied it is, the more eclectic and fun it all looks. A design tip: don’t place a planter that is too big or too small on a wall. If the pot is out of scale to the base that it sits on, it looks awkward. Also keep the styles consistent—a modern planter on a contemporary plant stand works well, but an old-fashioned urn looks odd in the same stand.
There are some great repurposing ideas for plant stands that you might try. For years I used a terracotta flue pipe as a plant stand, set within a plant bed. I got it at a stone supply yard. I placed a 1½-inch-thick bluestone paver on top of the flue pipe, then I set a pot on the flat paver. You can also use large flat rocks, tree stumps, and upside-down pots as planter bases. Other possibilities for displaying smaller pots of flowers include ladders propped up at an angle against a wall, old step stools, and even old chairs that are maybe a little moss covered. I am sure I have forgotten some other neat ideas, but you get the point: elevate it!