We have planted 2 tiny towers twice and they have died. Planted in planters by tree service with dirt they had been growing in. Facing west/in full sun. We are in zone 9. Don't know what to do. Need tall slim plants

What are Tiny towers? Italian Cypress?
What time of year were they planted? How often did you water them after they were planted? What kind of soil, drainage?

I have no idea what tiny towers are either.
There is a Cupressus sempervirens 'Monshel' Plant Patent #12,933 for a plant called Tiny Tower Italian Cypress; is that what you had planted? Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens Tiny Tower®)

Sky Pencil Holly aka Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil' are tall and slim. The Sky Pencils does not come to a point bt may work for you.

I planted two in full sun in Zone 9B in a southern exposure in May 2018. This dwarf version of Italian cypress needs protection from the afternoon sun otherwise it goes into a stressed state. My local nursery's remaining Tiny Towers all died. This is not a hardy plant for the desert in a full sun scenario. One of my trees died and the other survived. The tree dessicated in the dry winds and harsh sun even with a good heavy watering. No evidence of root rot when removed. Luckily my nursery gave me a full refund (Lowes).

The remaining tree is now protected with a Red Box Gum tree planted to the West of it.

My other 27 Italian Cypresses in the rear of my property are doing well planted in full sun.

Same rule applies to Sky Pencil Holly. Give them plenty of shade in Phoenix and well drained sandy soil. I would think the same thing applies to Texas. I opted to put my Sky Pencils in containers under a shaded patio.

Well, hopefully this is helpful for anyone planning on getting a Tiny Tower Italian Cypress. They are beautiful trees..just very sensitive to dry desert conditions.

Were your plants possibly Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens Tiny Tower®) ? Did the planters have sufficient drainage?

The original poster never came back since January 2018

LOL, I didn't even notice the date of the original post.

Both of my Tiny Towers died over the summer and this fall. This tree is a poor cousin of the standard Italian Cypress. Best to avoid this version of the Cypress family. I think it is best suited for Zone 7-8.