by Raymond Alexander Kukkee

Created on: May 09, 2008   Last Updated: February 26, 2011

        How to build a wooden planter

Would you like to beautify your yard or deck ?  You can transform an ordinary corner of the yard or deck into a thing of beauty  with plants, bushes, or flowers with the addition of a  handsome wooden planter you can build yourself.   Basic carpentry skills and a few tools are all you need as you follow these easy steps to build one.  Let’s get creative and build a beautiful wooden planter! 

1. Think simplicity.
A wooden planter can be a very simple rustic  container enclosing a large flower pot,  or it can be  a  well-built  stand-alone  unit , suitably designed to create and blend into the landscape you desire.  A planter  may be  rustic,  plain, or fancy,  and square, rectangular or hexagonal  but in all cases, must be solid enough to bear the weight of soil, plants or any  trees you intend to plant in it.  Garden soil  by itself can weigh  50 lbs per cubic foot or more, depending upon the mineral content.   A   2x2x2' high planter can,  therefore,  weigh more than 400 lbs. when filled with soil, so plan on using sturdy materials.

2. Plan ahead.
Decide on the placement and outside measurements of the planter you want to build. If you have plenty of room for your project, remember a larger planter can be more versatile,  if only because you can put a greater variety of plants in it, including  bushes, or even small trees. It does not take much more time and effort to build a 4' x 2' planter than it does to make a 2'x2' planter, so plan for the most versatile planter possible.

3. Draw a plan to  scale
Draw a simple plan dimensioned to scale before you buy material. You can save money by optimizing  dimensions as closely as possible. Building materials are offered in standard dimensions, and careful planning can minimize cutting and waste.

4.   Materials, connectors and construction:
Garden and deck  planters are subject to deterioration from moisture and sunlight, so it is a good idea to  plan on using coated or anodized  rustproof  fasteners.  Similarly, to avoid wood rot and early failure,  use treated dimensioned lumber if you cannot obtain Redwood or Cedar.  If you wish to build your project with log, choose cedar, dimensioned redwood timbers,  or other species that will resist

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