Introduction

Flowers, herbs and vegetables are an attractive way to liven up any yard or patio. But many store-bought planter boxes can be expensive—and they limit you to the color and texture of their wood. That’s why it makes sense to build your own planter box from scratch. It’s not as hard as you might think, and the results are well worth your time and effort. Keep in mind that making a planter box requires some carpentry skills—but nothing out there is beyond the reach of a determined DIYer with a few basic tools! Here’s what you need to know about making your own planter box:

Select the right wood.

Selecting the right wood is important. Look for straight pieces of lumber that are free of knots and dry, as well as not warped. The wood should also be fairly light in weight; if it’s too heavy, your planter box might be difficult to move around or even break under its own weight. The wood should be neither too hard nor too soft; it should have a medium-fine grain so that it can resist splitting when you join two planks together with screws or nails. Lastly, choose a type of wood that isn’t particularly fragile—if put into contact with water or soil (as will happen when you plant something in your planter), the wood shouldn’t crack easily when wet or become rotted away over time.

Build your planter box by cutting the lumber to size and assembling it.

• Cut the lumber to the desired size.
• Measure each piece of wood and use a tape measure to ensure that you have cut it correctly.
• Use a saw or jigsaw to cut your lumber, depending on what you have available in your toolbox and whether or not you are comfortable using it safely and effectively (check out this handy guide from DIY Network for tips on how to use different types of power tools).
• Assemble your planter box according to the instructions provided by whatever source you choose (whether it’s a video tutorial online, written instructions for building planter boxes, or just common sense).

Waterproof your planter box.

Waterproof your planter box.

• Use a waterproof sealant to seal the joints between all of the pieces, including the bottom and top boards, and at any places where there are exposed ends of wood.
• Use a paint that is designed for outdoor use.

Improve your soil and plant your plants.

Once you’ve got your planter box built and ready to go, it’s time to fill it with plants! The first thing to consider when selecting your plants is how much sun they will need. If you have a sunny spot for your planter box, choose vegetables or flowers that thrive in full sun. In contrast, if you’re growing in a shadier area, select ferns or perennials that prefer shade.

If you live somewhere temperate like I do (we never really know what season it is), then plant cool-season crops like lettuce and peas in the springtime and warm-season crops like tomatoes and peppers in late summer/early fall. Your climate zone will influence which kinds of food are right for your area; check out this handy tool from US Department of Agriculture (USDA) here: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/.

Once everything has been planted, water the soil thoroughly but not excessively—you don’t want to drown them! If possible, rotate your containers every few days so each plant gets equal sunlight exposure on all sides as well as good drainage from beneath itself into the soil below its roots (not over them). You’ll also want to fertilize every few weeks until harvest; use water soluble fertilizer according as directed on package instructions or ask advice from someone who knows about gardening at least once per week during this time period so that nothing goes wrong!

You can get some great-looking planters at a fraction of the cost by making them yourself!

If you’re looking to save money while adding some style and personality to your garden, consider building a planter box! You can get some great-looking planters at a fraction of the cost by making them yourself!

Building your own outdoor planters is easy. Planters can be made in any size or shape that suits your space, style and plants. The only limitations are your imagination and the materials available for construction.

Conclusion

And there you have it: you’ve now got the basic steps to building a wooden planter box! If this seems like a lot of work, don’t worry—the great part is that once you’ve built your first one, the process will get easier every time. For example, if you have an old planter box or some spare boards lying around, you can reuse those and skip a lot of the measuring, cutting and assembling steps. And if you need help finding materials or supplies for making your boxes, we recommend checking out local resources in your community—it doesn’t just save money; it also supports local businesses and your neighborhood as well!