$30 Large Cedar Planter Box

Build this tall cedar planter using just 9 fence boards. The simple design uses L-shaped legs, straight-cut trim, and basic glue-and-staple assembly.

Materials

Cut the 3 1/2″ wide cedar pickets into eight 20″ pieces for the legs.
Join two 20″ pieces at a 90-degree angle to form an “L.” Apply glue along the edge and staple the boards together. Repeat to make four legs.
Position two legs about 20″ apart for each side of the planter.
Cut the 5 1/2″ wide cedar pickets into 12 20″ pieces. Starting at the top, glue and staple three boards between each pair of legs to build the planter walls. Continue assembling the remaining sides.
Rip four cedar strips approximately 1″ wide and cut them to about 18″ long. Glue and staple the strips along the inside bottom edges of the planter to support the floor.
Measure the inside opening and cut floor boards from the remaining cedar. Mix 5 1/2″ and 3 1/2″ wide pieces as needed to fill the opening, then glue and staple them to the support strips.
Cut 3 1/2″ wide cedar pieces to fit around the top edge. Attach them as a simple square top lip using straight butt joints instead of mitered corners.
Drill a few drainage holes through the bottom before adding soil or a planter insert.

If your narrow crown staples are slightly too long and poke through, carefully hammer the exposed ends back into the wood.
Check the actual width of your fence pickets before cutting because cedar picket dimensions can vary.
Measure the inside of the planter before cutting the floor pieces rather than relying on estimated dimensions.
Exterior-rated glue and fasteners are recommended for outdoor use.
Adding a liner or removable planter insert can help protect the cedar and extend the life of the planter.

Difficulty: Easy

Estimated Time: 2-3 hours