Today I have a set of DIY Planter box plans to share with you! Raised garden beds can be expensive to buy, so building your own will save you some cash. And don’t fret, this raised garden planter box is a beginner project you can tackle in one afternoon. The plans can be adjusted to fit whatever size you need. Who knew that building a planter box would be this easy?! Enjoy!
If you’ve been on the hunt for a portable planter box, need vegetable planter box ideas, or you want to learn how to build garden boxes you’ll want to save this post. This DIY cedar planter box is easy to build. The tall design allows for weeding without bending forward too far. That alone makes me smile. Build one for yourself and your back will thank you!
This cedar planter box is not only pretty to look at, but it is also sturdy and durable. The savings of building your own are pretty substantial, too. These raised planter boxes on legs can be pricey go buy. A similar one at the big box store will cost $200-$300. I was able to build this DIY raised planter for about $90. Not too shabby, eh?
Sadly for me, this deck planter box is going to my sister. But no worries, I already have plans to build one (or two!) for myself. I currently have the traditional raised flower beds that Duane built out of vinyl fencing a few years ago. I plant tomatoes and peppers there every year. But I’m telling you, after finishing this elevated planter box, I really enjoyed the waist-high design. Besides planting vegetables, other planter box ideas I ran across show these beauties covered in beautiful cascading flowers, while others use them as a kid’s’ planter box! How fun is that?!
DIY Raised Planter Box- Materials and Tutorial
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To build a planter box like this one you will want to make sure you buy wood that will withstand the elements. Cedar or redwood are great choices of wood for outdoor planter boxes.
Step 1: Cut the lumber
This DIY outdoor planter box requires a lot of cuts that are the exact same size. Before you get started, check out the video below for a tip on doing this accurately. Then get cutting according to the measurements in the materials list. Remember that you can download a set of plans for this DIY raised garden box.
Pretty soon you’ll have a few stacks like these and you’ll be ready to put together your raised wooden planter box!
Step 2: Drill pilot holes
This large planter box has two long sides and two short sides. To make assembly easier (and keep the swear words to a minimum), I highly recommend you drill pilot holes on your side pieces before you assemble it. This will help the screws go in easier and keep the cedar from splitting. The long side pieces of this DIY planter box are the four 48″ pieces and the four ~21″ pieces are the short sides that you will measure at the end. Notice that I doubled up when drilling the pilot holes. I drilled two pilot holes on each end of the sideboards.
Step 3: Assemble the Long Sides
You will begin by assembling the two long sides of the raised planter box. Attach the two 48″ 1x6s to the 2x4s. The top 1×6 will be flush with the top of the 2x4s leaving no space between it and the bottom 1×6. Use wood glue and 2-3″ wood screws and drill from the front side.
Step 4: Do it again for the other side
You can see why it’s so important that the legs are straight and exactly the same size. Raised flower boxes with wobbly legs and slanted bottoms aren’t cool, so take your time to make sure your cuts are accurate.
It helps to use the side you assembled to mark the other side. And just like that, the sides of your DIY patio planter are built.
Step 6: Add Floor Support
Now it’s time to add the piece that holds the bottom boards of your planter box. I didn’t take a good photo of this step so be sure to download the raised planter plans for a better visual.
As you can see from the picture above, the 1x4s attach to the 2x4s on the opposite side of the 1×6’s, slightly overlapping the bottom of the 1×6. I attached mine about 10 1/2″ from the top, give or take. Just be sure they’re both placed at exactly the same height and that there is no gap between the floor and the sides of the planter when the floorboards are on.
Step 7: Assemble the Floor Ends
Now it’s time to put together the floor of the garden box. Begin with the two end pieces. These will be tricky because they will need to be cut to go around the 2x4s. Mark them on the spot with a pencil and use a jig saw to cut the pieces.
Once you’re certain that they fit, attach them with wood glue and brad nails. I used my battery-operated nail gun for this part. It helps to get a second set of hands to hold the piece while you nail that first side piece. It’s tricky to hold the nail gun in one hand and the piece on the other while keeping it level. I do love how easy this nail gun is to use without a power cord or compressor. And yes, it’s still super powerful!
Once you have it all squared away, shoot nails from the top down into the edge of the 1×4. Be sure to aim straight 🙂 At this point, you will be so glad that this DIY garden planter box can actually STAND up on its own 4 legs.
Step 8: Assemble the Floor
Attach the rest of the 1x6s in the same manner. All of them should fit without cutting down the width. However, there’s a chance you may need to rip one down depending on the width of your boards.
If you end up with a looser fit, spread the boards out and leave a small, even gap in between, which will be perfect for drainage!
Step 9: Drill Holes for Drainage
It’s important to give these wooden planter boxes some drainage. If your boards fit pretty tight, you will want to drill a few holes on the bottom to allow for proper drainage.
Step 10: Measure, Cut, and Attach the Sides
Lastly, you will measure and cut the short side pieces to finish up this masterpiece. Be sure they overlap the entire short side. Like the long sides, the short sides are attached with wood screws into the 2x4s. Don’t forget the pilot holes!
I’ll have to remember to update this post once this elevated garden box is all lined and planted! Lining a planter box is important, especially with this raised design. You don’t want to have dirt coming through the joints 🙂
If you love this project you may also like my Modern Redwood Planter and my Scrap Wood Plant Stand
I hope you like this project! My favorite thing about DIY planter box designs and other outdoor projects is that I’m not forced into sanding and painting. It’s beautiful and “good to go” as is! Woot!
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Pin it Now, build it later!
No judgement if you prefer to buy a garden box instead!. Shop some pretty designs or get more raised garden box ideas!
