How to Make Your Own Garden Cart

A rustic garden cart.

Garden carts haul heavy loads around the yard. They are sold commercially at garden centers and home improvement stores. You can make your own in your home workshop. Most of the materials may already be on hand. Since a garden cart is a utilitarian device, there is no need to worry about its aesthetic appeal, although you can make it as elaborate as you would like. What's essential is that the cart can haul dirt, plants, gravel, stones and mulch around in order to save you from heavy lifting.

Things You'll Need

• 1 3/4-by-24-by-36-inch plywood panel
• 2 2-by-4-by-60-inch boards
• 1 box of 3-inch coated screws
• Screw gun
• 2 3/4-by-18-by-36-inch plywood panels
• 1 3/4-by-18-by-25-inch plywood panel
• 2 L-brackets with hardware
• 2 2-by-4-by-36-inch boards
• 1 garden cart wheel kit with mounting hardware
• Wood finish of your choice

Instructions

1. Place the 3/4-by-24-by-36-inch plywood panel on a work surface. Place one 2-by-4-by-60-inch board on either 36-inch side with the 4 inch side down against the plywood. The outside edges of the boards should be flush with the panel. The ends of the boards should be flush with the 24-inch edge. The boards are the handles, the panel the bottom.

2. Use a screw gun to fasten the handles to the bottom using six 3-inch coated screws spaced approximately six inches apart per handle. Screw through the handles into the plywood bottom.

3. Place one the 3/4-by-18-by-36-inch plywood panels one either side of the handles so that they are aligned with the bottom panel. These are the side panels. Use a screw gun to screw through the side panels into the handles using six evenly spaced 3-inch coated screws per side to fasten the sides to the handles.

4. Place the 3/4-by-18-by-25-inch plywood panel against the back edges of the sides and bottom of the cart. This is the back of the cart. Fasten the bottom of the back to the ends of the handles using a screw gun and 3-inch coated screws. Use two screws per handle. Place an L-bracket on the top inside corners, where the side and back panels meet. Fasten the brackets using the included screws and a screw gun. Place the brackets down approximately one inch from the top of the cart.

5. Align the wheels so that the back edge of the wheel is in line with the back end of the cart. Fasten the wheels to the cart handles using the included hardware and a screw gun.

6. Place the one 2-by-4-by-36-inch board on either side of the cart at the front edge of the side panels. The top of the boards should be flush with the top edges of the side panels. Fasten the boards to the panels using a screw gun to drive 3-inch coated screws from the inside of the side panel into the back side of the boards. Space the screws every three inches. These are the cart legs.

7. Apply an exterior wood finish to the cart. Allow the finish to dry before use.

Tips & Warnings

• Build a box to set inside the cart to organize your gardening tools.

• Wear eye protection when working with wood.

References

• Vintage Projects: Garden Cart
• Sondahl: Garden Cart

Resources

• Garden Cart Blog