Beauty will always enhance a playspace, because it draws people into a common area – and into an opportunity to socialize with fellow community members. The planters also provide a unique opportunity for children to tend to a plant and watch it grow!
Sort all materials into piles by like items to ensure you have materials needed to complete project.
Take [6] of the landscape timbers. Cut each into [3] 31" pieces for a total of [18] 31" landscape timber pieces.
Take the remaining [4] landscape timbers. Cut each into [4] 24" pieces, for a total of [16] 24" landscape timber pieces.
Inventory and sort all of your materials.
Sort (2) 24" and (2) 31" pieces. Nail together one course of the planter base using the 6" nails. One person should hold the 4x4 pieces in place to make sure they are properly squared while another person hammers in the nails at the points (•) indicated in the picture.
Repeat step 2 for a total of (8) courses.
Now it is time to nail the courses together. Alternate the 31" and 24" pieces for each level (see diagram). The final planter should be 8 courses high. Hint: You may want to pre-drill these holes to make the hammering go smoother.
Position the planter in its final place.
Fill the first ¾ of the planter box with fill material (peat moss, mulch, dirt, or rocks). Then fill the rest of the box with potting soil and top it off with plants.
KABOOM! is a national nonprofit that works to achieve playspace equity. Kids who don't have access to play miss out on childhood and are denied critical opportunities to build physical, social and emotional health.
We team up with communities to build incredible playspaces that help give every kid the opportunity to thrive.
Our goal is to end playspace inequity. For good.
Sign up for our emails to learn more about our work and how you can help KABOOM! create sparks for change.
Sign up!
An arbor is a latticework bower which you can intertwine with climbing vines and flowers. It's a great project for beautifying your playspace.
A Life-Sized Connect Four board is a great way to engage people of all ages in a fun way. This huge version of the classic game is sure to entertain, challenge, and delight any visitors to your playspace!
Adding garden beds to your playspace gives children the opportunity to learn more about where food comes from and how vegetables and flowers grow. Edible plants can add many great sensory elements to enhance your space!