DIY Planter Box: Free Woodworking Plans

Now that I have finished my DIY Floating Deck project, I have been planning the furniture and decor I want to build for my new deck.  Gotta accessorize! 😉 I had some redwood left over from building the deck and realized it would be perfect for building a DIY Planter Box.  So, a planter box is what I built!  And this box is BIG!  It measures 2′ x 2′ and is quite a heavy and sturdy beast.  But I do love it!

To add a little pizzaz to the planter, I added a diamond design into the center of the planter box. I mean, redwood diamonds are a girl’s best friend…  If you would like a redwood diamond  planter box,  follow the instructions below to build yours:

DIY Planter Box Tools & Supplies

*Note that this post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission if you purchase some of the items through the links below. In addition, these are the tools I used, you may choose to use different tools for your project, or you may not need all of the items below, depending on your situation.

Drill/Driver	Compound Miter Saw	Kreg Pocket-Hole Jig
Kreg 2 1/2″ Exterior Pocket Hole Screws	2 1/2″ Exterior Wood Screw	Thompson’s Timber Oil – Walnut
Golden Oak Wood Stain	Orbit Sander	Orbital Disc Sander Paper

DIY Planter Box Wood List:

Quantity	Board	Length
5	2×6	8′
1	2×4	8′
1	2×2	8′
1	1×4	10′

 

DIY Planter Box Cut List:

 

Section	Quantity	Board	Length
Front & Back Panels (top and bottom boards)	4	2×6	24 1/2″
Left & Right Side Panels (top and bottom boards) and Planter Box Bottom boards	8	2×6	21 1/2″
Front & Back Middle boards (around diamond)	8	2×6	12 1/4″ end to long end with one end cut at 45º
Left & Right Middle boards (around diamond)	8	2×6	10 3/4″ end to long end with one end cut at 45º
Triangle for Diamond Shapes	8	2×6	7 3/8″ x 7 3/8″ x 10 1/4″
Front & Back Legs	4	2×4	24″
Left and Right Legs	4	2×2	24″
Top trim	4	1×4	27 3/4″ long end to long end with each end cut at 45º

 

DIY Planter Box Instructions:

1. Cut the boards for the front, back, and side panels.

A.  Front and Back Panels:

a.  Cut four 2×6 boards to 24 1/2″ in length each

b.  Cut eight 2×6 boards to 12 1/4″ from end to long end, with one end cut at 45º angle

c.  Cut four triangles at 7 3/8″ x 7 3/8″ x 10 1/4″ (the shorter sides are cut at a 45º angle

 

 

 

B.  Right and Left Side Panels:

a.  Cut four 2×6 boards to 21 1/2″ in length each

b.  Cut eight 2×6 boards to 10 3/4″ from end to long end, with one end cut at 45º angle

c.  Cut four triangles at 7 3/8″ x 7 3/8″ x 10 1/4″ (the shorter sides are cut at a 45º angle

2.  Drill pocket holes into all but the bottom board on each of the four sides using the picture below as a template for where to drill holes:

 

3.  Use wood glue and 2 1/2″ exterior pocket hole screws to assemble each side panel.

 

 

Once all panels are assembled,  you should have two 24 1/2″ wide panels and two 21 1/2″ wide panels.

 

4.  Cut and assemble the boards for the planter box bottom.

A.  Cut four 2×6 boards to 21 1/2″ in length each

 

B.  Drill three pocket holes in three of the four boards

C.  Attach the bottom boards to each other using wood glue and 2 1/2″ exterior pocket hole screws

 

 

5.  Attach the front panel of the planter box (one of the 24 1/2″ wide panels) to the right and left panels of the planter box (the 21 1/2″ panels) using wood glue and 3″ exterior wood screws. Predrill holes through the front panel, and attach screws through the front of the front panel into the sides of the right and left side panels.

 

6.  Attach the bottom panel of the planter box to the front and side panels using wood glue and 3″ exterior screws.  Predrill through the front and side panels and then attach the bottom panel with 3″ screws placed through the front and side panels into the bottom panel.

 

 

 

7.  Attach back panel of planter to right and left side pieces and bottom panel using wood glue and 3″ exterior wood screws.

 

 

8.  Cut the boards for the legs

A.  Cut four 2×4 boards to 24″ in length each

 

B.   Cut four 2×2 boards to 24″ in length each

 

9.  Attach the legs to the planter box

A.  Attach the 2×2 legs to each side of the right and left panels using wood glue and 3″ exterior wood screws (predrill holes first).  The edge of the legs should line up with the edge of the planter box. (This step is easiest with the planter box upside down, then line the top of the legs with the top of the planter and the ground)

 

 

 

B.  Attach the 2×4 legs to each side of the front and back panels using wood glue and 3″ exterior wood screws (predrill holes).  The edge of the 2×4 should cover the edge of the 2×2 leg (only 2″ of the leg will be in contact with the 2×6 boards of the front and back panel, the remaining 1 1/2″ will be in contact with the 2×2 leg).

 

 

 

10.  Cut and attach the 1×4 trim boards

A.  Cut four 1×4 boards to 27 3/4″ long end to long end, with each end cut at perpendicular 45º angles.

 

 

 

B.  Attach the trim boards to the top of the planter using wood glue and 3″ wood screws.

 

 

11.  Sand the planter box until smooth. moving from lower grit to higher grit sandpaper.

 

 

12.  Stain the planter box.  I used Minwax Golden Oak stain to stain the top trim pieces, the legs, and the diamond on each side of the planter.  I used Thompson’s Timber Oil in Dark Walnut to stain the remainder of the planter (same stain I used on the deck).  I then coated the boards that had been stained with the oak stain with three coats of exterior spar urethane (you could also use a different color of the Thompson’s timber oil instead of a plain stain to avoid this step).

 

13.  Move the planter to its final location and add a large plant of your choice!  I planted a pygmy date palm (I love tropical plants and trees!)

 

 

 

I love how this planter turned out and I love that I have a planter large enough to  fit a small palm tree!  What plants would you have planted in this giant planter?

Now,  I’m off to build some outdoor seating for my new deck.  Keep checking back for those plans to show up on here! 🙂