How to Use a Double Planter Setup to Max Out Your Curb Appeal

Despite back patios having serious main character energy, too often, they just house a couple of sad pots, a three-legged plastic chair, and maybe a rogue grill. On the other hand, the front porch has cute Adirondack chairs and fresh annuals in their pots.

While some gardeners might be on top of their backyard appeal, some might let it go for the front curb appeal. This is where the right planter can make all the difference in beautifying any neglected areas.   @Nikkiplantsthings shows you can have a double planter on your back patio that looks designer and waters itself like it has a personal assistant. You can turn a basic pot into a living centerpiece—an easy way to add height, texture, and color to your patio without breaking the bank or overthinking it.

Here’s what to do:

Step 1: Create the Mold for Your Flower Pockets

Start with a large flower pot and fill it about halfway with soil. Grab a metallic stand (something like a lantern stand, hanging plant hook, or anything sturdy enough to hold a small hanging planter). Place it right in the center of the pot, like it’s claiming its throne. Wedge about five small flower pots into the soil around the stand. Angle them however you like—just make sure they don’t touch the edges. Fill the big pot the rest of the way with soil until the smaller pots are completely buried. Drench the soil with water, then gently pull out the small pots, leaving perfect holes like cookie cutters in dough.

Step 2: Fill the Holes with Flower Power

Take flowers from those small pots—bonus points if you use bright annuals like marigolds, impatiens, or petunias—and plant them right into the holes you just created. Instant texture, instant color, and zero guesswork on spacing. This pocket method gives each plant a snug little nook to settle into, which means less competition for roots and a cleaner, more intentional look than the classic “dump and hope” planting technique.

Step 3: Hang Another Pot on The Stand

Pick a smaller plant that loves to spill over its pot like it’s trying to escape—trailing lobelia, or creeping jenny, are perfect for this. Pop it into a sisal or woven hanging planter and hang it from the metallic stand right above the center of your main pot. When you water the top plant, the runoff drips into the soil below, keeping your entire floral tower hydrated from the top down.

Best Flowers for Patio Pizazz

You may be just stuffing flowers into holes, but a little strategy doesn’t hurt. These are some patio-friendly blooms that pull their weight:

1. Petunias – Loud, proud, and blooming like they’re on caffeine. They thrive in full sun and drape beautifully over the sides of containers, giving you that lush, overflowing look without needing daily attention.
2. Marigolds – Tough as nails and not afraid of heat. These guys keep blooming through the summer and even help repel pests. Their bright orange and yellow tones pop against neutral patio furniture.
3. Impatiens – If your patio gets more chill than sunshine, impatiens will still show up with color—and they don’t sulk about it.
4. Sweet Potato Vine – This one’s here for the drama. It doesn’t bloom, but the lime green or deep purple foliage cascades like a waterfall and makes everything around it look better.
5. Creeping Jenny – Basically a living necklace for your pot. It grows fast, loves water, and hangs like it’s in a slow-motion shampoo commercial.

Pick two to three that work with your light conditions and color scheme, and you’ve got yourself a showstopper.