How to Build a Planter Box for Your Porch

Building the Planter Box

1. 1 Cut lumber

   I started by cutting all of the lumber.

   

   
   

2. 2 Assemble with wood glue

   Once everything was cut I set the 9 ¼ inch 1x8 on their short end about 24 inches apart. And with a little exterior wood glue on each end, I set the longest 1x8(25 ½ inches) on top.

   

3. 3 Add screws in each corner

   Making sure the edges were flush, I attached a 1 5/8 inch deck screw in each corner.

   

   
   

4. 4 Continue to add support with screws

   Then I came back and added another screw in the middle, making sure the spacing of the screws was aesthetically-pleasing since it would be the front of the finished planter. This is also a great reason to use tan deck screws versus the grey-colored exterior screws.

   

   With 3 sides down, there was only the back piece left to go. It slid between the two sides and was attached by going through the side pieces. I used 3 screws again for each end.

   
   

5. 5 Sizing the bottom support

   With the main part of the box assembled, I took the 23 ¾ piece of 1x2 to create the actual “support” for the window box insert. You can see the insert has some “feet”, but the 1x2 easily sits in the middle between them.

   

6. 6 Attach bottom support

   So I set it flush with the bottom of the wood box and centered. Then using 1 screw each I attached it from both sides.

   

   (planter box-8.jpg)

7. 7 Add trim

   To make it a little fancier, I used the 1x2 to create some trim. I wanted it to have a ½ inch overhang on the front and 2 sides, so they needed to be flush with the inside edge of the 1x8 pieces. It's a little difficult to nail tiny finish nails and hold the 1x2 in place, so I pre-nailed them the entire length.

   

   Then I held it flush with one hand and nailed with the other. The 2 side trim pieces were nailed the same way, but I made sure they were flush with the back of the box as well as the inside
   
   

8. 8 Sand the rough edges as desired

   Then it was time to switch to the sander!

   

9. 9 After sanding, add waterproofer

   I used the 240 grit that came with the sander attachment since it just needed a little smoothing before the waterproofer was applied with a paint brush.

   

10. 10 Plant flowers

    While the waterproofer was drying, I planted some fall-blooming flowers in the insert.

    

11. 11 Mark to prepare to hang the box

    When it was time to install the box, I held it up centered on my handrail and marked where the railing spindles were located.

    

12. 12 Prepare box to hang

    Using 2 inches screw at a slight angle, I drilled them into the box just enough so they were barely poking out the back.

    

13. 13 Hang box on porch

    Then I held it up the railing again and screwed them into the spindles. I used 4 screws total.

    

14. 14 Final step, enjoy

    And with the insert set in place, it was time to sit on the porch and enjoy the view!