Who’s ready to beef up their outdoor space with a tall planter? Today I’m sharing this $10 tall fence picket planter as part of the Great Outdoors Challenge organized by my friend Katie at Addicted 2 DIY.
A DIY tutorial to build a tall planter using inexpensive fence pickets. Make a tall tapered planter for your outdoor space with these free plans.
We’ve done a few of these group challenges in the past. I have participated in the One Board Challenge, the Re-Purpose It Challenge, and the Organize Build Challenge. Today is all about the great outdoors where we were challenged to spruce up our outdoor space using wood, concrete, metal, etc. Seven DIY bloggers are participating and sharing their amazing projects:
- Addicted 2 DIY
- The Ugly Duckling House
- Pneumatic Addict
- That’s My Letter (you’re here!)
- My Repurposed Life
- My Love 2 Create
- Her Tool Belt
We have this awkward space next to the back door steps that was just calling out for a planter. I wanted something tall enough to rise above the steps and not block the pathway but provide a nice filler for that corner. So I designed this tall planter made from 3 fence pickets and 4 square balusters for a whooping total of $10.
This planter sits up 2″ off the ground for breathing room and good drainage. It’s the perfect amount of natural wood and greenery against the red shingled siding and concrete steps.
Below are step by step instructions to build this tall fence picket planter. As usual always read through all steps before beginning and be sure to follow all safety precautions when operating power tools.
Supplies:
- 3 – 1×6 dog-eared fence pickets
- 4 – 2x2x3 pressure treated balusters
- 1 ¼” pocket hole screws (exterior)
- scrap wood for cleats
Cut List:
- 4 – 2×2 @ 29 5/8”, both ends
parallel miter cut 5 degrees (legs) - 10 – 1×6 @ 10” (straight sides)
- 2 – 1×6 @ 12 3/8”, both end miter
cut 5 degrees NOT PARALLEL (sides – top piece) - 2 – 1×6 @ 11 1/2”, both end miter
cut 5 degrees NOT PARALLEL (sides – top piece) - 2 – 1×6 @ 10 1/2”, both end miter
cut 5 degrees NOT PARALLEL (sides – top piece) - 2 – 1×6 @ 9 5/8”, both end miter
cut 5 degrees NOT PARALLEL (sides – top piece) - 2 – 1×6 @ 8 5/8”, both end miter
cut 5 degrees NOT PARALLEL (sides – top piece) - 4 – scrap wood 1×6 @ 7” (cleats)
Step 1: Make straight sides. Attach (5) 1×6 @10” pieces to legs flush to interior, keep long edge of leg to exterior. Use wood glue and exterior grade 1 ¼” pocket hole screws.
Make 2
Step 2: Attach angled side pieces to straight sides using wood glue and exterior grade 1 ¼” pocket hole screws. HINT: A right angled drill works wonders for this tight space.
Step 3: Attach other set of angled side pieces to form box using wood glue and exterior grade 1 ¼” pocket hole screws.
Step 4: Optional – depending on your plant container size. I choose to add cleats to the interior to hold the plant container snug and keep it from sliding down.
I Am a Homemaker says
April 29, 2016 at 12:33 PMLove this Jaime! Adding them to my list.
Sarah Fogle says
April 29, 2016 at 1:30 PMStop. These projects are making my impossibly long to do list longer. Ha!
Gail Wilson says
April 29, 2016 at 2:13 PMJaime,
I love yout tall planter…. and you can't beat the price.
You got me thinking "what could I hide in all that empty space? gardening tools, a pocket hose, something else….
great tutorial, pinning of course!
gail
Katie @ Addicted 2 DIY says
April 29, 2016 at 2:49 PMIt turned out beautiful Jaime! You are right, it fits perfectly into that space! What a great price, too!
Mindi Carwin says
April 29, 2016 at 3:01 PMThis is beautiful Jaime, and for $10!! You can't beat that price! I love how tall it is too!
Elisha Albretsen says
April 29, 2016 at 3:29 PMI can't believe they only cost $10! I love the fact they they are pretty narrow so they can fit almost any space. Great work!
Julie Spear says
April 29, 2016 at 5:33 PMOh, I just love this!!! for $10!!!?!??!!??!? This would cost a fortune to buy this tall of a planter at a retail store! And I love the unfinished wood look, but you could also paint or stain, or that AWESOME colored wood stain that you used on your dresser the other day would look great too, so you could still see the wood grain!!! Hmmmmm, so many great ideas! THANK YOU for sharing the awesome plan, and for the GREAT inspiration, as always!!
Amy Baesler says
April 30, 2016 at 5:14 PMLove the style of your planter Jaime, it's perfect! I kinda love that green look on the cedar, is that how your boards came? Great job!