DIY Raised Planter With Trellis

4 Materials
I was at Home Depot a few weeks ago looking around the garden department for some new plants and I came across this gorgeous climbing plant with bright red flowers. I HAD to have it! I’ve been trying to add more color to our back yard and deck area. Because of our location in the foothills of Northern California, in the summer everything is brown and looks dead (except for our Oak trees, but even those aren’t very green), especially with the drought we have been having. I don’t want brown. So, I have been trying to find low water plants with bright colors to plant around our property. When I saw this vine with the pretty red flowers, I bought it (even though I didn’t have anywhere to really have the vine grow….).
Mandevilla plant
At first I was just going to stick a plastic trellis in the ground and plant the vine at the base of the trellis. But after contemplating that for about two seconds, I decided I wanted to make something that looks a little nicer, so I decided to make a raised planter to put on my deck with a trellis attached for the vine! Brilliant, I know! 😉


First, I built the planter box portion of the planter. I cut the plywood to 21″ x 14″, this will be the bottom of the planter box. Next, I cut the 20 2×4 pieces to 11 3/8″ each, which will comprise the sides of the planter box. Then I cut the 2×2 boards so i had two that were 72″ long and two that were 36″ long, these will be the legs of the planter. Once I had those boards cut, I began assembling the planter box.


First, using wood glue and 2 1/2″ exterior wood screws, I attached the 11 3/8″ 2×4 boards around the base of the sheet of plywood I had cut (make sure to predrill the holes for the screws). I placed one screw at the base of each 2×4 to attach it to the plywood. I did the front side first, and then attached the 36″ 2×2 boards as the front legs by attaching them to the front 2x4s with 2 1/2″ wood screws.
Building front of planter box.
Once the front boards and both front legs were attached, I attached the side 2x4s to the sides of the plywood sheet using wood glue and 2 1/2″ wood screws and then attached the back 2x4s.
Planter box without back legs
I then attached the 6′ 2×2 back legs using wood glue and 2.5″ wood screws.


Planter box with back legs attached.
Planter box with back legs attached.
Next, I cut a 2×4 to 30″ using my miter saw, this will be the top board of the trellis. Using an empty can of stain, I drew the pattern to cut out the curves at each end. Once the curves were drawn on each end, I used my jig saw to cut the curves.
Curve cut into 2x4
Attach the top trellis board to the top of the back legs of the planter using wood glue and 4″ wood screws (predrill first). Once the top trellis board is attached, cut the top trim pieces for the planter box.
Add top trim pieces for planter box.
I then cut the trim pieces to make the trellis. I cut 10 of the 1 1/8″ trim boards to 24″ in length each, and I cut 4 of the 3/4″ trim pieces to 35 1/2″ in length each.


First, I attached the 1 1/8″ trim boards horizontally to the back legs, spacing them about 3 1/4″ apart. I used wood glue and my Ryobi Airstrike nailer with 5/8″ finish nails to attach the pieces to the back of the back legs.
Horizontal trellis trim pieces added
Next, I added the 3/4″ trim pieces vertically, evenly spacing them across the back. Because these boards or so thin and lightweight, I only used wood glue to attach these (glued them to the horizontal trim pieces making up the trellis).
Trellis complete
Next, I cut and added the 1×3 trim pieces to the front and sides of the planter box. I then attached the 1×3 trim pieces using wood glue and 1 1/2″ wood screws.
Front trim pieces added.
I then added a wood applique that I purchased at Hobby Lobby (called Artistic Appliques) to the front of the 2×4 at the top of the trellis. I used wood glue to attach the applique. I then used Minwax Ash stain to stain the entire planter (except for the inside of the planter box since that will be filled with dirt and plants).


While the stain was drying, I took three more wood appliques purchased from Hobby Lobby and painted them white using Rustoleum Heirloom White spray paint. Once the stain and paint dried, I attached the appliques to the front of the planter with wood glue.


Once the glue dried behind the appliques, I coated the entire planter (including the inside of the planter box) with four coats of outdoor spar urethane. I used a spray can of urethane because it was much faster and easier to coat the trellis with a spray can than with a brush. Here is the completed planter with the Mandevilla planted in it:
Pinspired to DIY
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
Go
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
  3 questions
  • Dianna Williamson Dianna Williamson on Apr 28, 2018

    Super cute. Did you cut holes for drainage?

  • Lee Anne H. Lee Anne H. on Apr 28, 2018

    You stated that the planter box is made of 2x4 lumber. Yet in the photos the boards appear to be 1x4. Is this an optical illusion? Please clarify. Thank you.

    I really like your planter trellis!

  • JoAnn Vigil JoAnn Vigil on Apr 28, 2018

    What ideas are there for left over aquarium gravel?

Comments
Join the conversation
2 of 55 comments
Next