How to Build a Wooden Planter Box

Do you love gardening but lack the space for planting? Perhaps your house has plenty of space, but the soil is too poor for gardening? A wooden planter box, affordable and easy to make, could be the perfect solution! Planter boxes come in various shapes, sizes, and materials. In this guide, you can quickly learn how to build a wooden planter box without spending much.

Think about what size you want your planter box to be. The size of the planter box will depend on how many plants you intend to grow in it and the space available for placing it. In this guide, we'll be building a small planter box with dimensions approximately 120 cm by 60 cm.

Buy wood. Untreated wood or cedar is ideal for this project as it is easy to work with and can withstand rain and sun exposure when placed outdoors. For a small planter box about 120 cm x 60 cm, you can purchase lumber approximately 360 cm long and cut it into the sides of the planter box. The wood planks should be at least 24 cm wide. You will also need a piece of wood for the bottom if the planter will sit on a porch floor or similar flat surface. If the planter box will sit directly on the ground, you can flatten a cardboard box and use it as a liner at the bottom to prevent weeds from growing.

• Wood treated with pressure treatment containing chemicals can harm plants in the box and contaminate food with toxic substances such as arsenic if you grow vegetables in the box. You can opt for ACQ-treated wood, a non-toxic wood treatment process that does not use harmful chemicals.

Cut the wood pieces to the correct dimensions. Use a tape measure to measure each side, marking the cutting positions with a pen or pencil. Use either an electric saw or a hand saw to cut the wood pieces to the correct dimensions (two pieces at 60 cm and two pieces at 120 cm), making sure to cut as straight as possible.

• If you don’t have a saw or don’t want to cut the wood yourself, you can ask a store employee to cut the wood to the required dimensions. You may need to pay a small fee, but some stores will cut the wood for free.

Drill pilot holes in the wood pieces. Pilot holes are drilled into the wood to prevent it from splitting when screws are inserted. Drill these holes at both ends of the short planks. Space the holes about 2 cm from the edge of the wood. The hole in the center should be placed exactly in the middle of the width of the plank.

Use galvanized screws to fasten the wood pieces. It’s better to use galvanized screws for outdoor wooden planter boxes because galvanized metal is resistant to weather elements and won’t rust. Arrange the planks so that the pilot holes are at the outer corners. Use a drill and drill bit to ensure each screw goes through each hole and into the adjacent wood plank.

• You can also use a screwdriver instead of a drill and drill bit.

Measure the internal length and width to determine the size of the bottom of the container. Use a saw to cut a piece of wood to match the measured dimensions for the bottom. Once the wood piece is cut, place it inside the container. Use a drill and galvanized screws to attach the wooden piece to the bottom of the container and secure it to the container's sides.

• Note that this step is only necessary if you plan to place the container on a hallway floor or similar flat surface.

Drill drainage holes in the bottom of the container. Turn the completed container upside down and use a drill to make 4 or 5 drainage holes in the bottom. These holes are crucial because most plants will develop diseases if they are waterlogged, meaning their roots stay in moist soil for too long.

• If the container is large, consider drilling additional drainage holes for better water flow.
• As a reminder, if you plan to place the container on the ground, this step is not necessary. Simply open the cardboard box flat and line the wooden bottom of the container with it.

Lay down a plastic or vinyl liner at the bottom of the container. This liner will protect the wooden bottom of the container. Cut the liner to match the size of the wooden bottom piece. Lay the liner in the bottom of the container and use a few small nails to secure it in place. Be sure to punch drainage holes through the liner to align with the holes in the container bottom if it has one.

Smooth the rough edges of the container. This step is primarily for aesthetics but isn't absolutely necessary. Use a sander or sandpaper to smooth along the edges and corners of the container. Sand the surfaces of the container to remove any potential splinters.

Paint the wooden container with paint, primer, or wood stain. Choose a paint color that complements your home or garden décor, or use wood stain to highlight the natural wood color. You can also leave the wood untreated, as cedar wood is naturally beautiful.

• Do not paint the inside of the container as chemicals may contaminate the soil and plants. Instead, line it with a plastic liner (perforated) to protect the wood.

Spread a thin layer of gravel at the bottom of the container, then fill it with compost or potting soil. The gravel layer ensures proper drainage in the planter. The type of soil or compost you use depends on the kind of plants or flowers you intend to grow in the wooden container.

Plant flowers, trees, or sow seeds of the plants you want to grow. Don't forget to water them! For inspiration on what flowers and plants can be grown in a wooden container, you can check out articles on Mytour.

Enjoy your newly planted wooden container!

• Bạn có thể dùng hướng dẫn này và giảm kích thước để đóng các bồn trồng cây ngoài cửa sổ.

• Như thường lệ, khi làm việc với các dụng cụ, bạn đừng quên trang phục bảo vệ mắt và tay.

• 4 mảnh gỗ dài. Chúng ta dùng các thanh gỗ dày 5 cm, rộng 24 cm (2 mảnh dài 120 cm, 2 mảnh dài 60 cm)
• Một mảnh gỗ khác cắt theo kích thước của đáy thùng
• Máy khoan hoặc tuốc nơ vít và vít mạ kẽm
• Tấm lót ni lông hoặc vinyl
• Đinh nhỏ và búa
• Đất trồng cây
• Cây hoặc hạt giống