The Best Outdoor Plant Shelf Ideas Trends to Try This Year

Almost anything sturdy, level and water-tolerant can be an outdoor plant stand: a ladder, a crate, a cinder block, a bench, a cut log. Pick the stand by what the plant needs (height, light, drainage) and by what your space allows, then dress it up once the structure works.

Below are the options I'd consider for a porch, patio or balcony, from cheap and improvised to built to last, with notes on weight, weather and pets.

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What can I use as an outdoor plant stand?

If you're short on budget, look around first. Many of the best cheap outdoor plant stands are things you already own or can pick up secondhand.

• Wooden crates or pallet boards, stacked or turned on their sides for two heights
• Cinder blocks or bricks, which are heavy, stable and weatherproof
• An old stepladder or bookcase, set on a level surface
• A tree stump or thick log round
• A small stool, side table or bar cart with wheels
• Upturned terracotta pots under a larger pot, for a few inches of lift

Indoor furniture rarely survives rain, so seal or paint anything wooden and expect to replace it eventually. Metal pieces should be rust-resistant or repainted with outdoor paint.

DIY outdoor plant stand ideas that are easy to build

The simplest DIY outdoor plant stand ideas use rot-resistant wood such as cedar, plus exterior screws. A low platform of three or four slats on two cross supports lifts a pot off wet ground and lets water drain away. A tiered stand is the same idea repeated: cut two or three shelves of decreasing depth and attach them to side rails, stepping up like a staircase.

Whatever you build, leave small gaps between boards so water drains instead of pooling and rotting the wood. Check that the stand is level before loading it. A full 12-inch pot of wet soil is heavy, and a wobbly shelf is how pots end up on the patio floor.

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Which stand suits which spot?

Ladder shelves and tiered stands

These are the best use of a narrow footprint. Each step holds a pot, so a collection takes up the floor space of one large planter. Put the tallest or thirstiest plants on the bottom, where heavy pots are safest and watering runs down rather than onto lower leaves.

Small outdoor plant stand ideas for balconies

Shallow wall-mounted shelves, railing planters and hanging pots keep the floor clear. Foldable or wheeled stands help too, because you can tuck them away or chase the sun. If you rent, choose freestanding or clamp-on pieces over drilled ones. For a few more plant-friendly ideas at a small scale, see our post on types of air plants.

Tall and corner stands

A plant on a tall stand fills an empty corner and draws the eye up. A tall plant on a short stand can look cramped, so match the two: lift small plants higher and let big ones sit low. Ornamental grasses are a good option when you want height, as the SDSU Extension notes that grasses such as Northwind switch grass create height in a planter.

Plant benches

A bench works as seating and display. A long, low bench along a wall suits a row of pots, and the space under it can hold watering cans or trays. Keep a clear path beside it so you can reach every pot.

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Large and heavy duty outdoor plant stands

Heavy duty outdoor plant stands matter once you move into big ceramic pots, citrus trees or vegetable containers. Colorado State University Extension recommends minimum five-gallon containers for vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplant and peppers. A pot that size full of wet soil needs a stand with a solid frame, not thin wire legs.

For heavy loads, I recommend:

• A frame with cross bracing, or a solid base such as concrete block or stone
• Steel with a powder-coated or galvanized finish, or thick cedar, teak or similar rot-resistant wood
• Lockable casters if you want to move it, and only on a flat surface

As an architect, I'd always put the heaviest pot on the lowest level, close to the ground or the wall, so the stand's center of gravity stays low.

Materials that survive the weather

Wood is warm but needs sealing or acceptance of a gray patina. Powder-coated or galvanized steel handles rain well and suits modern spaces. Synthetic wicker is weatherproof, while untreated natural wicker is not. Terracotta pots breathe well but can crack in freeze-thaw climates, so move them in or wrap them for winter.

If you have pets, keep stands stable enough that a curious dog or cat can't tip them, and check with your vet before choosing plants, since some common garden plants are toxic to animals.

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How to style and place them

• Group pots in odd numbers, such as three or five, and vary the heights.
• Repeat one material or color so a mixed collection looks planned.
• Mind the light: flowering plants and fruiting vegetables need at least eight hours of full sun a day, so put them on the sunniest stand.
• Use saucers or trays that can be emptied, and leave room to water and prune.
• Keep walking routes open. On a patio, leave a main path of about 3 feet.

Larger patios can use stands to divide dining from lounging, a bit like the zoning ideas in our Japanese backyard post. A row of tall pots also gives some privacy.

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Add a small solar light on or near a shelf, and the arrangement looks good after dark too.

Frequently asked questions