Gardening | 31 May 2017Make a Rolling Planter Container Garden Share article facebook twitter google pinterest Follow along step-by-step as author Michael R. Johnson explains how to build an elegant, rolling planter in Deck & Patio Furnishings. Fill it with veggies, container plants, or even your favorite cold beverage! Deck & Patio Furnishings: Seating, Dining, Wind & Sun Screens, Storage, Entertaining & More A raised planter is an excellent way to create a garden with a compact and easy-access footprint. It can provide all the benefits of a typical container garden while keeping the plants at a comfortable height. No bending or reaching is required, making it easier and more enjoyable to care for garden plants. This rolling raised planter design makes a great addition to any deck, patio, or balcony. While its clean lines and solid construction may be its best feature, it’s deceptively easy to build. The 10-inch-deep planting area allows for bigger plants like tomatoes and even some root crops. It can hold containers of plants, or be lined with plastic and filled directly with soil. Or fill the planter box with ice to make a beautiful, sturdy beverage cart. A shelf adds storage and casters give it mobility, allowing the planter to be moved to maximize sun exposure (or your thirstiest guest). Materials List (Cedar or pine) 1 4 x 4 in. x 8 ft. 1 2 x 4 in. x 10 ft. 1 1 x 10 in. x 10 ft. 1 1 x 6 in. x 8 ft. 1 1 x 4 in. x 10 ft. 1 1 x 2 in. x 8 ft. 1 24 x 48 in. ¾-in. exterior plywood 1¼-in. deck screws 1½-in. deck screws 2-in. deck screws 2 ½-in. deck screws ?-in. exterior screws 1 ¼-in. pocket screws 2-in. galvanized corner brackets 4 2-in. swivel casters 6-mil plastic Tools List Drill/driver Pocket hole jig ½-in. drill bit Square Tape measure Circular saw Straightedge Clamps Assembly Diagram HOW TO MAKE A ROLLING PLANTER (#1) Cut the legs from 4 x 4 stock, cutting 30-degree angles on one end. If you have a power miter saw, this is a snap. But it’s also very easy to do with a handsaw. For the legs on the project as shown, we used relatively dark cedar post stock, which gives a nice contrast to the lighter, flat-sawn cedar 1 x 12s we used for the box sides. ………… (#2) Cut the crossbraces to length. Using a pocket hole jig, drill holes on the ends of the front, back, and side crossbraces. Drill outer and inner pairs of pocket holes on the two outer side crossbraces. ………… (#3) Attach the front and back crossbraces to the side crossbraces with pocket screws. Note the two pairs of pocket holes and the offset alignment of the outer side crossbraces. ………… (#4) Cut the shelf frames and shelf cleats. Assemble the frames into a box using 1¼-inch pocket screws (or you can use 2½-inch deck screws driven through the overlapping frame member and into the end of the adjoining board). Attach the shelf cleats to the long box frame members so their tops are recessed ¾ inch from the top of the frame. ………… (#5) Use 3½-inch scraps to support the crossbracing, and then drive 2½-inch deck screws to attach the crossbraces to the legs. ………… (#6) Turn the assembly over and repeat the process, this time using clamps to secure the shelf frame members to the legs. ………… (#7) Set your circular saw to a 45-degree cutting angle and, with a straightedge, make the mitered end cuts on the 1 x 12 box panels (take care to make sure the box panels are the correct length). You could also use a jigsaw set at a 45-degree angle to make these cuts. ………… (#8) Drill pilot holes in the bottoms of the panels for attaching them to the crossbrace assembly. ………… (#9) Glue and clamp the box panels to assemble the box. Drive 1.-inch deck screws through the side panels at the bottom of each of the four corners. Install 1. x 1.-inch L-brackets at each inside corner, placed between 2 and 3 inches down from the top, to reinforce the joints. Attach them with ?-inch exterior-rated screws. ………… (#10) Place the planter box assembly between the legs and on top of the crossbracing assembly. Use a mallet and wood scrap to seat the panels against the crossbracing. ………… (#11) Drive 1.-inch pocket screws to attach the box panels to the crossbracing. ………… (#12) Use 2-inch deck screws to attach the shelf slats to the shelf cleats, being careful not to drive the screws too far and through the top surface of the shelves. ………… (#13) Attach 2-inch swivel casters to the bottoms of the legs. ………… (#14) Cut the bottom panel from a sheet of ¾-inch plywood and drill ½-inch drainage holes every 4 inches. Line the box with plastic and fill with potting soil. Poke holes into the plastic through the drainage holes for drainage. You can also use containers set directly inside the planter instead of filling the cavity with dirt. ………… Buy from an Online Retailer US: UK: AU: Get everything you need to know to build 25 outdoor projects, from benches to birdbaths! Deck & Patio Furnishings is a collection of easy to intermediate projects that any homeowner with basic tools can build. These practical projects for outdoor living range from seats, benches, tables, and lounges to overhead arbors, wind and sun screens, deck boxes, storage, bars, and even side tables and cooler stands. Most are made with standard dimensional lumber, so finding the right materials will be a snap! Each of the 25 original, never-before-published projects includes dimensioned plan drawings, cutting and shopping lists, complete step-by-step instructions with clear how-to photos, and a gorgeous finished photo so you can be sure your work will go smoothly. Michael Anderson is an art director, photographer, and writer with a passion for designing buildable projects with simple elegance. In addition to his magazine and advertising work, he has supplied the illustrations for several Cool Springs Press books and shot all of the photography for the 2013 title Easy Birdhouses & Feeders. He lives in Chanhassen, Minnesota. Share article facebook twitter google pinterest If you have any comments on this article please contact us or get in touch via social media.
