Wooden planter box with trellis on a porch

Do it yourself

How to Build a Planter Box with Trellis

This planter box with trellis is perfect for creating private areas on your deck or yard. Just add vines or a few other climbing plants and you’re good to go!

Difficulty level: Pro

Duration: 1 day

DOWNLOAD THE PLAN

Before You Start

If you plan on growing climbing vegetables in your planter with trellis, use cedar wood.

It’s better suited to organic farming and is naturally mould-resistant. Download the plan and get familiar with the project before starting.

Material

2x2x8 Treated Wood (14)5/4x6x8 Treated Wood (5)1x4x8 Treated Wood (10)36"x24" Geotextile Landscape Fabric 1 ½" Treated Wood Screws (200/Box)2 ½" Treated Wood Screws (200/Box)3/8" Staples for T-50 (22CA)Wood Preservative

Tools

Tape Measure Mitre Saw Drill T-50 Staple Gun Carpenter Square

Building the Box Base

1.1 - Cut the 5/4x6 boards to get three 46” pieces (base), then cut a 2x2 board to get two 16.5” pieces (legs).
1.2 - Set down the three 5/4x6 boards side-by-side then join them together by screwing a 2x2 piece in each end using 2 1/2” treated wood screws.

Person adding a row of planks on a planter box

Person adding a second row of planks on a planter box

Finish the Box

2.1 -
Measure and cut the 5/4x6 boards to create the sides of the box, which will be two boards tall:
- Front/back boards: Four 48” boards
- Side boards: Four 16 1/2” boards
2.2 - Starting with the side boards and finishing with the front and back boards, set up the boards to create the first row. Make sure that the corners are at 90° using a square, then screw the side boards on the edges of the 5/4 base boards using 1 1/2” treated wood screws.
2.3 - Cut 2x2s to get two 10” pieces and two 6’ pieces.
2.4 - Using 2 1/2” treated wood screws, install the two 10” 2x2s vertically in the box’s front corners to strengthen the structure. Next, install the 6’ 2x2s in the back corners.
2.5 - Secure the boards forming the second row to the vertical 2x2s.

Person securing a piece of wood to a planter box

Person adding vertical wooden planks to a structure

Lay Out the Trellis

3.1 - Cut two 2x2 boards to get a 46” piece and a 43” piece.
3.2 -
Assemble the trellis frame:
- Bottom: Secure the 43” piece of 2x2 horizontally by screwing it inside the vertical 2x2s.
- Top: Secure the 46” piece of 2x2 horizontally by screwing it on top of the vertical 2x2s.
3.3 - Cut 10 pieces of 1x4 to a length of 62”. Secure the first five pieces on the back of the 2x2 frame using 1 1/2” treated wood screws making sure they are equally spaced from one side to the other (one piece at each end, one right in the middle, one at the quarter and one at three quarters of the frame).

Perso using a level to trace a line on a wooden plank

Person securing pieces of wood in a chevron pattern

Create the Chevron Pattern

4.1 - Cut 40 pieces of 2x2s at a length of 11”.
4.2 - Starting from the top of the structure, make a mark on the vertical 1x4s every 5 1/2” using a long ruler or level.
4.3 - From the bottom to the top, use 1 1/2” treated wood screws to secure the 11” pieces of 2x2s at an angle aligned with the marks. Screw the pieces from the back of the trellis so they are solid and secured. Repeat each step for each chevron zigzag up to the top. Check to see that the chevrons are parallel as you go along.
4.4 - Using 2 1/2” treated wood screws, secure the five 62” pieces of 1x4s over the chevron joints. In addition to hiding the joints, this will ensure that the 1x4s are firmly held in place.

Pro Tip

To make the project easier and since the cuts are hidden by a 1x4 piece, we’ve chosen to cut the chevrons at a 90° angle. If you want to cut the chevron pieces at an angle, you can determine the cut angle after having traced two chevron diagonals directly on the trellis (step 3.6). To do so, use a carpenter’s protractor or sliding T-bevel to find the angle at the vertical 1x4 joints then transfer that angle to your mitre saw.

Person adding a geotextile sheet to a flower box

Finishing Touches

5.1 - Add a geotextile sheet in the flower box using a stapler gun.
5.2 - Cut the excess geotextile sheet using scissors or a utility knife.
5.3 - Apply wood preservative to all the cut surfaces to extend the life of your planter box with trellis.

Pro Tip

All you need to do now is go to a Garden Centre to choose one or more climbing plants to finish off your project!

FIND A GARDEN CENTRE

Disclaimer

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