How to Make a PVC Planter

PVC is a lightweight, versatile plumbing product that is also viable as a construction material for a variety of garden projects. Once you learn how to cut and join PVC pipe with fittings, you can create patio furniture, greenhouses, arbors and planters. A PVC planter is a manageable beginner project; make several to increase your outdoor gardening space. Easily camouflage your PVC planter with spray paint, latex or acrylics to hide the white plastic base material.

Things You'll Need

• 2-inch-diameter PVC pipe
• Measuring tape
• Pipe cutter
• 8 2-inch-diameter 3-way PVC connectors
• PVC primer
• PVC cement
• 1-inch-diameter PVC pipe
• Clear, waterproof construction adhesive

Instructions

1. Measure and cut 12 18-inch segments of 2-inch-diameter PVC pipe with a pipe cutter. These pipes are to make the square box-style frame for the PVC planter.

2. Connect the center opening of a 2-inch PVC 3-way connector to each end of four 18-inch pipes with PVC cement. Swab the inside of the connector and the outside rim of the pipe with PVC primer, wait 10 seconds and then swab the same areas with PVC cement. Hold the pipe inside the connector for 15 seconds to allow the cement to set up. These pipes are the corner posts of the PVC planter.

3. Follow the same primer/cement process to attach 18-inch PVC pipe sections to each of the remaining 3-way connector openings on two of the corner pipes. Each of the two corner pipes will have two pipes extending from the top and from the bottom connector. These two pipes are the opposite corners of the PVC planter frame.

4. Join the PVC frame together by attaching the 3-way openings on the remaining two corner pipes to the extended pipes from one of the corner pipes. Follow the same PVC primer/cement process to join the pipes. The box frame for the PVC planter is complete.

5. Measure the height from the top rim to the to the bottom rim of the horizontal PVC frame supports. Cut a length of 1-inch diameter PVC pipe to fit this measurement. Glue the 1-inch diameter pipe to the outside of the PVC frame using clear, waterproof construction adhesive. Place the pipe as close as possible to the corner support. Repeat this step to fill in all sides of the planter with 1-inch diameter PVC pipes; place the pipes with the side edges touching. Use the same process to fill in the bottom of the planter, but space the pipes up to 1/4-inch apart to allow for drainage.

6. Measure a cut a length of 1-inch-diameter PVC pipe to fit across the top rim of each side of the planter. This pipe will cover the visible openings of the vertical 1-inch pipes. Glue the pipe over the rim with clear, waterproof construction adhesive. Omit this step if you prefer the open-hole design.

References

• Ron Hazelton: How to Build a PVC Planter
• PVC Workshop: How to Measure, Cut and Glue PVC Pipe

Resources

• Back Woods Home: Hanging PVC Planter