How to Build a Pergola With Planters

Pergolas are perfect for large, climbing plants.

Attractive garden structures include archways, gazebos, arbors and pergolas. They add vertical visual interest as well as serving as support for climbing, vining plants and flowers. Vertical garden structures are even more practical when seating or planters are added to them, offering double duty and a bigger return on your investment of time, effort and money. With some pressure-treated lumber or cedar, some hand tools and simple carpentry, you can build a pergola with planters for your garden in a weekend.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Post hole digger or sharp spade
• Gravel
• Cement
• Large utility bucket or wheelbarrow
• Large hand trowel
• Level
• 4 landscape posts, 4-inch by 4-inch, 12 feet long
• 4 support planks, 1/2-inch by 6-inch, 10 feet long
• 7 top planks, 1/2-inch by 6-inch, 12 feet long
• Large clamps
• Marking pencil
• Hand saw or jigsaw
• Power drill
• 1 box of 2-inch long galvanized screws
• 4 large wooden whiskey barrels

Instructions

1. Measure a square area 10 feet by 10 feet where you'll build the pergola, marking the four corners.

2. Dig a post hole 24 inches deep and 10 inches in diameter at each corner. Put about 1/2 inch of gravel in each post hole.

3. Mix the cement and put a small amount in the bottom of each post hole, then place a post in each hole and fill it in with cement. Check the tops of each post to make sure they're level. Brace the posts while the cement dries to ensure they stay straight and level, using a lawn chair or large garbage can on each side of the posts.

4. Attach the support planks to the posts after the cement is completely dry. Place two 10-foot support planks on the outside of parallel posts 6 inches from the top of the posts, and two more 10-foot support planks on the inside of the same posts. Screw them into place, using the clamps to hold them until you have all the screws drilled.

5. Attach the two 12-foot support planks to the outside of the posts opposite the first, even with the top of the posts, with 1 foot extending out on each end. Screw them into place.

6. Stand one top plank up horizontally on its 1/2-inch edge on top of the pairs of 10-foot support planks, also with 1 foot extending out on each end. It should be parallel to the 12-foot support planks, 20 inches in from one of them. Mark on the 12-foot plank where the two sets of parallel planks touch it on each end to cut notches.

7. Mark each of the other four 12-foot support planks in the same places as the first. You’ll have four notches on each support plank, each one 2 inches-by-2 inches. Cut the notches out with the hand saw or jigsaw.

8. Fit the five notched 12-foot support planks onto the top of the pergola, placing the first one 20 inches from the outside. Set them 20 inches apart.

9. Place a whiskey barrel at the outside base of each pergola post.

Tips & Warnings

• Paint or stain the wood pieces before building if you’d rather not leave them natural.

• Use two or three whiskey barrels around each post if you have a lot of plants.

• Plant climbing roses or some other large climbing plants at each post to grow up and cover the pergola structure, and use the planters for annuals or vegetables such as tomatoes.

References

• Outdoor Woodwork: 16 Easy-to-Build Projects for Your Yard and Garden; Alan Bridgewater and Gill Bridgewater
• Popular Mechanics: How to Build a Backyard Pergola