1st Time Making a Raised Planter Box!

Lucky Home Today
by Lucky Home Today
4 Materials
$100
3 Hours
Easy

Mary, Mary quite contrary how does your garden grow?


I don’t know! I’ve never had one before!


Sure I’ve rented apartments and houses before. but there is nothing like having a blank canvas to start fresh. And when I mean blank canvas, I mean I get overwhelmed with the endless possibilities of choices!


Mr. G and I were wondering around Home Depot about a month ago looking for pots and plants. He immediately snagged 2 rose bushes (TBD where they were going to go). and I guess I wanted to do a herb trough somewhere.


Can you tell Mr. G is the gardener in the family yet?


We looked at each other and knew we could do it. I quickly calculated the number of bricks needed. I wanted it high like the picture so we grabbed 12 bricks. Mr. G grabbed potting soil (10 bags, geeze do we need that much?!?!).

We finalized where it was going to go – on the end of our patio and I took the measurements for the wood inserts. I had to set the bricks, roughly where they would be placed and measure from cut out to cut out. The bricks also a a center hole. To help strengthen I drove a 24 inch rebar down into the ground as I got the final placement figured out. In the New Mexico dirt, it wasn’t that hard.


Weather turned again and I had to delay finishing up the project, but once it was done, it came out pretty darn good!

Filling up the bottom with gravel

At this point, we filled the bottom third with gravel to ensure we had good drainage. We still needed to add on the top pieces and decide what to plant.

Then it became even better! Inspired by Pintrest a few years ago (and I never made it till now), I was thinking of building a living wall. We decided to plant Morning Glories. The house we rented in San Diego had them and they made an excellent backdrop for photos and shade.


Mr. G surprised me the other day stringing up twine so the plants have something to climb. I am hoping this will not only be a living wall, but also help keep the patio cooler during the hot summer months.


Below are the latest photos - it’s been 3 or 4 months since we built and planted the Morning Glories. It’s coming out beautiful and we’re learning how to garden in the New Mexico high desert!

Completed project with Morning Glories
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Frequently asked questions
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3 of 8 questions
  • Kathy Pereira Kathy Pereira on Jul 12, 2019

    Can this be made to be put inside so it doesn't leak?

  • Kathy Kathy on Jul 14, 2019

    You say you bought the corner blocks at Home Depot?? Home Depot doesn’t carry these. Any other suggestions for where to get them? What are these particular blocks called?

    love this idea though and would really like to make some plant beds like yours👍

  • Laura Laura on Jul 17, 2019

    What did you put on top of your gravel or dud you use all soil

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  • Linda Brankley Linda Brankley on Jun 25, 2020

    I love this! I’ve always wanted a raised garden. But I’m not handy and my husband is even less handy! I can do this! Thank you so much for sharing this.

  • Sassycoupleok Sassycoupleok on Jun 25, 2020

    Great idea !!! Very clever.


    Ms. K

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