How to Build an Awesome Flower/planting Box

I wanted to build a special flower box for my wife - Miss Martha as I call her - so I designed and constructed this one. You can build one too with just a little effort. I wanted it to be eye pleasing, practical, easy to build and long lasting. I was rewarded for my efforts, since this box has remained attractive planting after planting, year after year. It turned out to be very simple to construct, and it was no time at all before I was adding gravel and earth and Miss Martha was putting in her first plants. The plans are flexible and can be sized up or down to suit your space. If you have some scrap materials so much the better.

Claw hammer
Hand saw and/or Sawzall with wood cutting blades
2 sheets of pressure treated 3/4 in. 4ft x 8ft plywood
2 sheets of 4ft x 8ft pressure treated decorative wood lattice
One pressure treated timber - 5 x 5 x 10ft
2 pressure treated 8ft 2 x 4
Electric or battery powered drill
Driver bit for bugle head screws (Phillips or to suit your screws)
Power saw
Extension cord - heavy duty
Framing square
Measuring square - optional
Tape measure - 10ft or longer
Carpenters pencil
Safety glasses
Dust mask
Leather gloves
60 no. 8 galv. Bugle head screws x 2 1/2 in. long for
Attaching top trim strips (some extras provided)
42 no. 6 galv. bugle head screws x 1 in. long for lattice panels (extras provided)
A few pounds of 8 penny nails - galvanized are OK but not mandatory
A few pounds of 12 penny nails - galvanized are OK but not mandatory

Instructions

- 1
  
  Make the two posts. Refer to drawing. Cut 4 posts 30 in. in length, then miter the tops as shown. If your power saw blade will not reach through the 5" material, use a hand saw or a Sawzall to finish the cuts.
- 2
  
  Make the two side panels. Panels can be clamped together after they are cut to size. Layout the curve cut out on the top edge (refer to drawing) and cut both at the same time. Make sure your saber saw blade is long enough to cut both thicknesses at the same time, or you will have to cut them separately.
- 3
  
  Make the two end panels. Panels can be clamped together after they are cut to size. Layout the curve cut out on the top edge (refer to drawing) and cut both at the same time. You can use the scrap curve material from the side panels as patterns or lay out the curves to a different depth using the method outlined for the side panels.
- 4
  
  Cut the two side lattice panels to size and then use the side plywood panels to mark the curve on the top edges of the lattice. Use your saber saw to make the curve cuts.
- 5
  
  Cut the end lattice panels to size and then layout the curve on the top edges of the lattice. You can use the scrap curve material from the side panels as patterns or lay out the curves to a different depth using the method outlined for the side panels. Use your saber saw to make the curve cuts.
- 6
  
  Assemble the side panels to the posts using 10D nails. Stagger the nails so they are not all in one line. The inside to inside dimension of the posts should be 62 in. with a 2 in. lap on each post as shown in the drawing. Cut 4 2 x 4's that are 22 in. long and nail two to each side panel assembly. Make the bottom ends of these 2 x 4's flush with the bottom of the panels
- 7
  
  Add the end plywood panels to the side assemblies by nailing the end panels to the 2 x 4 nailers that are part of the side panel sub-assemblies. Make sure the box construction is square. Use your framing square but also use the diagonal measure method. Measure from the inside corner of one post to the inside corner of the far end post on the opposite side of the box. Now measure between the inside corners of the other two posts. These measurements should be the same or nearly the same.
- 8
  Add a cross strut as shown in the drawing above with this step. Cut 2 - 2 x 4 nailers that are about 1ft long and nail one each to each side panel near the mid point of the panel length. These should be directly across from each other when in place. Do your nailing from the outside of the panel using 10 penny nails. If the nails come through the 2 x 4 then just bend them over. Measure between the side panels and cut a 2 x 4 strut that is about 1/8 in. or so shorter. This length should be about (40-1.5-.125) 38 3/8 in. long.
- 9
  Attach the side lattice panels making sure the tops are flush with or below the side panel top edges. Attach the end lattice panels in the same manner. Refer to the exploded view at step 7 for this.
- 10
  Attach the side panel top trim strips. These must be fit into place since they are screwed to a curved edge. Place one end down against a post face and determine about how much must be trimmed from the other end so that it will fit against the face of the opposite post. Be careful not to cut it too short, although it doesn't have to be a hairline joint. The inside edge of the strips are to be flush with the inside face of the plywood panels. Attach the end top trim strips in a similar fashion. Refer to the exploded view at step 7 for this.
- 11
  
  After the completed planting box is in its final location you can begin to fill it as shown and noted in the drawing. Field stone, crushed stone, gravel can be used for the first say 8in to 10in. Add topsoil over the stone to a depth of 8 - 10 or 12 inches. A good potting soil mixture can be worked in to this. Water the mixture well and let it set a half day before planting. This will give everything a chance to settle.

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