How to Build Simple Planters for Vegetables

Planter boxes turn any outdoor area into a place suitable for a vegetable garden because gardeners can fill planters with specialized soil to ensure that their vegetables grow well. Planters work well when placed directly on the ground or even on concrete. Simple planter boxes require only four pieces of lumber and no bottom. You may add landscaping fabric to the bottom, however, to avoid rodents tunneling into the box and to contain the soil on concrete surfaces. In addition to providing an ideal planting environment, planters make cultivation easier for gardeners by raising the soil surface.

2-by-4 lumber, four pieces of 4 feet each
Drill
Wood screws, 3-inch
Measuring tape
Landscaping fabric
Staple gun
Potting soil

Instructions

- 1
  Lay two pieces of lumber upright and perpendicularly with ends touching to form a 90-degree angle. Drill three 2 1/2-inch evenly spaced holes through the overlapping piece of lumber and into the adjoining piece of lumber.
- 2
  Drill 3-inch screws into the three holes.
- 3
  Repeat Steps 1 and 2 with the remaining two pieces of lumber. Join the four pieces together to form a square.
- 4
  Drill 2 1/2-inch holes into the overlapping pieces of lumber and into the adjoining pieces. Drill 3-inch screws into the holes.
- 5
  Measure and cut landscaping fabric 3 inches larger in length and width than the inside dimensions of the planter.
- 6
  Lay the landscaping fabric inside the planter so that the ends fold 1 1/2 inches up the inside walls. Staple the ends of the landscaping fabric to the planter walls with a staple gun.
- 7
  Set the planter in the desired position and fill with potting soil.

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