The planter box will consist of two sections. The first section, the larger part that sits on the decking and is anchored with a post, will contain drainage holes to allow excess water to flow out before it fills up too high. When installing trellises or fencing in your planter boxes, remember to leave enough space for the roots of your plants to grow outwards, so avoid putting anything over the top at this stage. A planter box is one of the easiest and most attractive ways to add greenery to your home. Planters are also an excellent way to grow vegetables, herbs, or even some small fruits if you have enough sun. Planning out the size needed for your planter box will depend on what plants you wish to grow. Check with local nurseries for best results with particular types of garden plants.
Planters are useful for all kinds of plants, but they’re particularly effective at growing herbs and vegetables because they shield them from pests and weeds while keeping soil moist and warm. The planter box you build here can be used as a base for a raised bed garden or as an elegant platform to display a collection of potted plants. I’ve designed this planter box so that it can rest on a patio or porch without taking up too much space. It’s also sturdy enough to handle being moved around, which is handy if you have a small yard or need to move your planter out of the way during bad weather. I like how the wood finished off with clear sealer looks natural in my backyard, but you could paint yours if you want it to stand out more
For a neat finish, you can opt to line the bottom of the planter with landscape fabric.
If you want to keep the bottom of your planter box free from weeds, you can opt to line it with landscape fabric. This is a fabric that prevents weed growth while allowing water and nutrients to pass through. It’s available at most garden centers and is easy to install.
You can space the decking to create a drainage gap between each board if you like.
You can space the decking to create a drainage gap between each board if you like. This is especially useful if you’re using pressure-treated wood and want to keep an eye on water penetration, but it also makes for a neater look.
If your outer box has been fastened with 1-1/4 inch wood screws (as described above), you’ll need to use longer screws when attaching it to your inner box.
The inner box will be attached from below, so make sure that any holes are located in sections of wood where they won’t be visible from above once the planter is finished.
Attach the sides to each other using 1/2″ exterior-grade pocket hole screws.
- Use a drill to make pilot holes for each screw, and then countersink the heads of each screw so they’re below the surface.
- Use a jig saw to cut notches in the sides of your planter box where they’ll meet at 90 degrees, so that its front can be attached to its back with ease.
- Drive screws into place using a screw gun or cordless drill equipped with a Philips head bit and large capacity battery pack (or both).
For a larger planter, repeat this process for each tier.
For a larger planter, repeat this process for each tier.
- Cut the pieces of wood to size, and assemble them in the same way as you did on top.
- Once all of your tiers are built and secured together, add a bottom if desired (this will create more space for soil). It’s best to cut this piece last so that you can set it into place easily after you have finished building your frame.
- Add a top cap; it’s also best done at this point so that when everything is assembled and secured with screws or nails, it will be easy enough to put on top as well.
Start by inserting a wooden stake into each corner of the trench and cut it off flush with the top.
Start by inserting a wooden stake into each corner of the trench and cut it off flush with the top.
These stakes will be temporary supports for your planter box frame, so make sure that any digging you do doesn’t damage any other pipes or cables in your yard.
Once all four stakes are in place and cut to length, attach them to the ground with a hammer (you may need someone to help hold them while you’re tapping).
Square up the frames.
If your frames are not square, you can adjust them by adding or removing wood. To make sure the frames are square after adjusting them, use a framing square to check that each corner is 90 degrees.
If you need to adjust the frames because they are not square, do so using this method: mark off where the frame will be cut with a pencil; use a circular saw to cut through one of the corners; place new wood in place and secure it with nails or screws; then use a hammer to secure it on all sides.
If you are planting a tree or shrub, consider building the planter in place around it.
If you are planting a tree or shrub, consider building the planter in place around it. This will help ensure that the container is deep enough to accommodate the roots and wide enough to provide adequate support for its growth. Make sure you dig a hole at least 1 foot deeper than what your plant’s root system will be able to grow into; this gives room for those roots to spread out without getting tangled up at any point.
Fasten the inner box to the outer box using 1-1/4″ wood screws driven through pilot holes in the sides of the inner box and into the ends of each outer box side.
You’re ready to fasten the inner box to the outer box using 1-1/4″ wood screws driven through pilot holes in the sides of the inner box and into the ends of each outer box side. Make sure you use screws long enough to go through both boxes, but make sure they are not so long that they will interfere with other components later on. Use a drill for making these pilot holes; make them small enough that your screwdriver won’t slip off when you tighten them down.
Then dig out your trench and level it as best as possible by tamping down soil clods with a 4 ft.-square piece of plywood.
- Then dig out your trench and level it as best as possible by tamping down soil clods with a 4 ft.-square piece of plywood.
- Plant the plants in the planter box, spacing them according to their needs (see “Planning Your Vegetable Garden”). Water them well, then check on them regularly and water again if needed.
- Use a garden rake to remove weeds as they appear, but try not to disturb plant roots unnecessarily; this will keep them healthy and thriving so you’ll have fresh produce all season long.
Planters are useful for all kinds of plants, but they’re particularly effective at growing herbs and vegetables because they shield them from pests and weeds while keeping soil moist and warm
Planters are useful for all kinds of plants, but they’re particularly effective at growing herbs and vegetables because they shield them from pests and weeds while keeping soil moist and warm. A planter built with decking is sturdy enough to support a wide variety of fruits, nuts, berries and flowers.
You can build your planter in any size or shape you want to accommodate the plants that you have available. If you’re looking for something that requires less maintenance than a traditional garden plot, consider building multiple smaller-sized planters instead of one large one—especially if some of your favorite herbs require regular harvesting (such as mint).
Final words
We hope this has helped you decide on the right size and shape of planter box for your needs. If it seems like too much work, there are plenty of ready-made options available online or in garden centers. We will continue to add new content about how to make your own planters and other garden features.
