With spring already in full swing here in Arizona (can we even call it spring when it is in the 90s?), and it has been refreshing to see green leaves pop up on the trees outside our place. It seems that with talk of Easter, spring, and all the new life happening outside, we ought to channel some of that springtime green inside with a simple and modern planter.
Materials:
- Pine 1×6″ (we went to Home Depot), cut to:
- 2 at 5 1/2″ (short sides)
- 2 at 24″ (long sides)
- 1 at 22 3/4″ (base)
- Wood glue
- Wood stain
- Polyeurethane
- Landscapers cloth (optional)
(For our base, my husband grabbed a piece of vented frieze board, whatever that is, by the cutting area in the hardware store. It was a bit narrower at 4 1/2″ so our cuts are slighty different. Oh, and the 1×6″ you buy at the hardware store isn’t actually 1×6 so don’t get confused.)
1. Drill small holes in your base piece- ours had the vents so we didn’t bother with more holes.
2. Sand and prep your wood.
3. Assemble your wood pieces by first gluing the short side pieces to your base piece, and then glueing the long sides on. Wipe away excess glue, since it typically doesn’t take stain. Hold in place overnight using clamps.
4. When the wood glue has dried, bust out your choice of wood stain. Apply it with a rag or brush, making your brush strokes go with the grain of the wood. Depending on your stain, you may have to do a second coat.
5. When the stain has dried, apply a coat or two of polyeurethane to protect the wood against water, applying with the grain.
6. At this point, you can line your box with landscapers cloth to catch any dirt from dropping out the holes on the bottom of your planter.
7. Fill your planter box with potting soil, and plant your greenery of choice!
Right now we are sporting cheap plastic grass from Hobby Lobby. Not the loveliest, I know, but something had to be in the picture, right? The real inhabitant of this planter box will be Wheatgrass, when it grows in all the way (We used instructions from Make and Takes for our wheatgrass). Wheatgrass is a great option for the season, and for the modern home. You can find it at most health food stores and it grows very fast. You can even benefit from its crazy healthy qualities while you are at it!
Make sure you have something under your planter to catch any water runoff, or simply hold it over your sink until any drips stop after you water your plants.
So there you have it. A modern, EASY, planter box to bring in some Spring. Since I had most material on hand and only had to buy wood (and I always check out the scrap wood pile first), this cost me a grand total of $3.96. Not too shabby.
And don’t forget to keep your plants well watered, fertilized, and pruned – your spring garden will thank you for it! Learn more about How To Get Your Yard Ready This Spring.
