3 Tier Planter Outdoor: Urn vs Vertical Bed

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A 3 tier planter outdoor stacks three growing spaces in one footprint, so a small porch, patio or balcony can hold more plants than it would with pots on the ground. There are two kinds: a stacked urn, which is decorative and holds a few flowers, and a stepped vertical bed, which holds herbs and vegetables in boxes. In the listings we read, a stacked urn was 16.75 in square and 40 in tall, a stepped metal bed was 16.8 in deep and 37.7 in tall, and a wide bed with six removable boxes was 31.4 in wide and 31.9 in tall. Choose by what you grow first, then by the footprint.

Quick compare: the products in this guide

Sizes come from the Amazon listings as we read them; check the product page for the current details before you buy.

Product	Listed details	Link
Gardenised Outdoor Garden Triple Stacked Flower Bowl Urn Tier Planter…	16.75 x 16.75 x 40 in; 2.95 kg	See details on Amazon Affiliate link
Vertical Raised Garden Bed 3 Tier Elevated Garden Planters Stand Up Garden…	16.8 x 15.9 x 37.7 in; 5.5 lb	See details on Amazon Affiliate link
ETELI Vertical Raised Garden Bed 3 Tier Garden Planter Indoor Outdoor Herb…	31.4 x 14.2 x 31.9 in; 6 boxes	See details on Amazon Affiliate link

Stacked urn or stepped bed

A stacked urn has three bowls of decreasing size, one on top of another, like a fountain without water. It is a feature for the porch, best for trailing flowers. It holds little soil, so plants dry out quickly in summer, and each bowl is shallow.

A stepped vertical bed has three rectangular or triangular levels, each a little larger than the one above, like a staircase. The levels hold more soil, have drainage holes, and let water flow to the level below, which suits herbs, lettuces and strawberries.

If you want decoration, choose the urn. If you want food or a working garden in small space, choose the stepped bed.

Three planters compared

Triple stacked urn (Gardenised)

The listing is 16.75 x 16.75 x 40 in, weighs 2.95 kg and is made of plastic in a bronze finish. It comes in three pieces and the seller recommends it for a patio, yard or porch. The listing says easy to follow instructions are included and that assembly is quick. It does not describe drainage or a load, so treat both as unknown, and ask how water leaves the bowls before you buy. Plastic is light, which suits a windy porch only if you weight the base with soil or stones.

Stepped metal vertical bed, triangular

This listing is 16.8 x 15.9 x 37.7 in, weighs 5.5 lb and has metal and plastic parts in a country rustic style. The seller says the bottom drainage holes let excess water flow to the next planter box, which saves water and helps prevent rot, and that the stepped shape lets all plants get light. The bottom is supported by triangles for stability in wind and rain, and a manual and tools are included. It is described for a balcony, terrace, patio, yard or living room.

Wide vertical bed with six boxes (ETELI)

The listing is 31.4 x 14.2 x 31.9 in and has three levels with six removable planting boxes. The frame is metal and the boxes are plastic, and the seller notes drainage holes in the bottom of each. The seller offers a 180-day replacement or return service and says accessories are labeled for simple assembly. At 31.4 in wide it takes more width than the other two but is shorter, which suits a low wall or a patio edge. The removable boxes are handy, because you can carry a box to the sink to water or to harvest.

What to check before you buy

Drainage

A planter that cannot drain will rot roots. The stepped beds list drainage holes, and the urn listing does not say. If a planter has no holes, plan to drill them or use an inner pot with holes.

Depth of soil

Herbs need about 6 in of soil, and many vegetables need more. A decorative bowl may be much shallower. Ask the seller for the depth of each level if it is not listed.

Footprint and height

Measure the space and the clearance above. A 40 in urn on a porch beside a rail is fine, but under a low awning you may lose the top bowl’s trailing plants. A wide bed such as the 31.4 in one needs a wall or edge that can take its width.

Wind and stability

Tall, stacked planters can topple. Weighted soil in the lowest tier, a wide base and a sheltered spot all help. A stepped bed with triangle supports, like the second listing, is naturally steadier than a stacked urn.

Worked example: an herb tower on a balcony

Say your balcony has a 36 in wide corner and you want to grow herbs in a stepped bed 16.8 in deep and 15.9 in wide.

• Fit. A 15.9 in wide bed leaves about 20 in beside it in a 36 in corner, enough to stand and water.
• Plants. On three levels, you might grow basil on the bottom, parsley in the middle and thyme at the top, since thyme likes the driest spot. With a bed this size, that is about two or three plants per level, or 6 to 9 plants.
• Water. If the drainage holes pass water down, the top needs the least, and the bottom gets the runoff. That suits thirsty basil on the bottom.

The result: a stepped bed gives 6 to 9 herb plants in about 1.9 sq ft, and uses the water that drains from the top for the plants below. The urn, with less soil, holds only a few flowers.

Choosing plants for the tiers

In a stepped bed, put sun-loving, drought-tolerant plants at the top, since the top level dries first and gets the most light. Put plants that like moisture at the bottom, where runoff gathers. In an urn, choose trailing flowers such as petunias or ivy that spill over the rim, and a taller flower in the top bowl.

Fertilize more often than you would in the ground, because frequent watering washes nutrients out of small amounts of soil. A slow-release feed at planting plus a weak liquid feed every few weeks keeps plants going.

Setting up a planter so it lasts

Assemble the planter where it will stand, because a filled planter is heavy and awkward to move. Check that the ground or deck is level, and shim the low corner if it is not, since a lean puts stress on the joints and makes soil settle to one side.

Line the bottom of each level with a layer of coarse material or landscape fabric so soil does not wash out of the drainage holes. Fill with a light potting mix and not garden soil, which compacts in containers. Leave about an inch below the rim so water does not spill over when you water.

Water slowly until it runs from the bottom holes, then stop. On a stepped bed, this runoff feeds the level below, so water the top first and let it pass down. If a deck sits below the planter, place a tray under the lowest level to protect the surface from stains and moisture.

Care through the seasons

In spring, check that the drainage holes are clear. In summer, water daily if the weather is hot, since small containers dry fast. In autumn, remove spent plants, and in a cold climate, empty and store plastic pieces so frost does not crack them. Metal frames last longer if you wipe and dry them before winter and touch up any chipped paint.

Who should buy a 3 tier planter outdoor

• Apartment gardeners with little floor space.
• Herb and salad growers who want a compact bed.
• Porch decorators who want a feature with height.

Who should skip it

• Anyone with a very windy balcony. A tall stack can topple.
• Growers of deep-rooted crops such as carrots, which need more depth.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Ignoring drainage. Check that holes exist.
• Putting thirsty plants at the top of a stepped bed.
• Forgetting wind. Weight the base.
• Ignoring the floor rating on a balcony.

Frequently asked questions

What is a 3 tier planter outdoor?

It is a planter with three levels, either stacked bowls or a stepped bed, that grows more plants in a small footprint.

How big is a 3 tier planter?

The listings were 16.75 in square and 40 in tall for the urn, 16.8 x 15.9 x 37.7 in for the stepped bed, and 31.4 x 14.2 x 31.9 in for the wide bed.

Do 3 tier planters have drainage?

The stepped beds list drainage holes. The urn listing does not mention them, so check before you buy.

What can I grow in a vertical planter?

Herbs, lettuce, strawberries and flowers do well. Deep-rooted vegetables need more soil than most tiers offer.

Can a 3 tier planter stay outside in winter?

In a cold climate, empty plastic parts and bring them in, because frost can crack them. Check the maker’s advice for your climate.

Products worth checking

We have not tested these products. Sizes and features come from the Amazon listings as we read them; where a listing does not say, we say so.

Sources checked

• Gardenised triple stacked urn planter listing
• 3 tier vertical raised garden bed listing
• ETELI vertical raised garden bed listing

Specifications come from the Amazon listings as we read them for this guide. Product details and availability can change, so confirm on the product page before you buy.

How we research our guides