How to build a planter box
| 3 hours | Landscaping |
| 4 volunteers | Easy |
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!
Materials & Tools
| Materials | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Landscape timbers | 10 |
| 60d 6" galvanized timber tie nails | 7lbs |
| Fill dirt | 4 cubic feet |
| Potting soil | 2 cubic feet |
| Plants/Flowers | (varies) |
| Tools needed |
|---|
| Miter Saw |
| Pencil |
| Tape measure |
| Safety glasses |
| Carpenter's square |
| Drill |
| Screwdriver bit |
| ⅜" drill bit |
| Hammer |
| Sandpaper |
Preparation Instructions
-
Sort all materials into piles by like items to ensure you have materials needed to complete project.
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Take [6] of the landscape timbers. Cut each into [3] 31" pieces for a total of [18] 31" landscape timber pieces.
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Take the remaining [4] landscape timbers. Cut each into [4] 24" pieces, for a total of [16] 24" landscape timber pieces.
Build Instructions
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Inventory and sort all of your materials.
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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.
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Repeat step 2 for a total of (8) courses.
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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.
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Position the planter in its final place.
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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.
Good luck with your project!
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.
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