How to Build a Flower Box

Every spring you can drive down any Main Street USA and see front porches and windows decorated with flower boxes and lovely spring blooms. However, if you go to price even the simplest flower boxes you will quickly find that they can be expensive. It does not have to cost a lot of money to beautify the front of your home, it just takes a little bit of your time to achieve the same look

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plastic rectangular planter 24-inches long by 8-inches wide by 6-inches deep
• One piece of pine board that is 1-inch by 8-inches by 10-inches
• Wood glue
• Wood screws (#6 by 1-1/2)
• Wood filler
• Saw
• Drill
• Drill bit (#4 with counter sink)
• Sandpaper
• Wood primer
• Paint

1. You will want to cut two 24-inch pieces from your pine board and two 10-inch pieces. The 24-inch piece will make up the front and back of the box and the 10-inch makes up the sides of your box. Obviously having an electric saw makes this very easy.

2. With the remaining piece of wood make two pieces that are 3 ½ inches by 8 ¾ inches, these will serve as seats to rest the plastic planter on inside of the box.

3. Drill pilot holes in each of the four-corners of the 10-inch pieces. Make sure the pilot holes are no further than 3/8 center. When you drill with the counter sink bit you only go deep enough so that the head of the screw will be subset.

4. Take one 24-inch piece and glue it to one of the 10-inch pieces. Make sure that the 10-inch piece is on the outside of the box and not sitting inside of the two 24-inch pieces. Make sure that you get a flush seam. Attach with screws.

5. Repeat step four with the other 24-inch piece.

6. Follow step three with the last 10-inch piece of wood. Turn the box over on its side and attach the final end piece to the box.

7. You are now ready for the seats for the plastic planter. Glue the seat’ s 5-inches from each end of the box. Make sure the seats are flush with the ground. Drill pilot holes and then attach with screws.

8. Fill the counter sink screw holes with wood filler and let it dry. Sand it down.

9. Prime the box with wood primer and paint the color of your choice.

10. Once your paint is dry, insert your plastic planter, fill with soil and happy planting!

Tips & Warnings

• You will need 16 wood screws for each box you make.
• Try to find a pine board that is as straight as possible and had few knots and defects.
• Make sure the paint you choose is either outdoor specific paint or very durable.
• If you do not have access to a power saw most major home improvement center will cut the wood for you if you give them the measurements you want.
• You may want to sand the edges of your boards before painting them, just to get rid of any rough edges.