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The cheapest waist-height planter that still looks bought: four dog-eared pickets, a 2x2, and a 1x2 make a legged box with a slatted, draining bottom.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legs | 4 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 23 3/4" | 2x2 | ☐ |
| Side boards Two per side, stacked. | 4 | 5/8" × 5 1/2" × 35 1/2" | Cedar fence picket | ☐ |
| End boards | 4 | 5/8" × 5 1/2" × 17" | Cedar fence picket | ☐ |
| Bottom cleats Measure and cut to fit YOUR box — picket thickness varies and the inside length moves with it. | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 34" | 1x2 | ☐ |
| Cleat ends | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 14" | 1x2 | ☐ |
| Bottom slats Laid with gaps — the drainage plan. | 4 | 5/8" × 5 1/2" × 17" | Cedar fence picket | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar fence picket, 5-1/2" x 72" (Cedar) Dog-eared is fine — plan the cuts so the clipped ends land in scrap or under soil. | 4 each | ☐ |
| 2x2, 8 ft Legs. Furring-strip grade is fine; pick a straight one. | 1 each | ☐ |
| 1x2, 8 ft Bottom cleats. Furring strip fine. | 1 each | ☐ |
| Self-tapping wood screws, 1-1/4" | 50 each | ☐ |
| Landscape fabric Lines the slatted bottom — holds soil, passes water. | 1 each | ☐ |
Overall cost: $. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Tape Measure. Materials: Cedar fence picket, 5-1/2" x 72", 2x2, 8 ft, Self-tapping wood screws, 1-1/4"
Screw two 17" picket boards across a pair of legs — two 1-1/4" screws per joint, everything flush to the outside edges. Build the second end on top of the first so they match.
Flush matters here more than usual: the pickets are the structure, and a flush skin is what makes the box rigid.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: Cedar fence picket, 5-1/2" x 72", Self-tapping wood screws, 1-1/4"
Stand the two end assemblies up and screw the four 35-1/2" side boards to the legs, outside edges flush, two screws per joint. The floppy pieces become a rigid box on the last board.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Miter Saw, Tape Measure. Materials: 1x2, 8 ft, Self-tapping wood screws, 1-1/4"
Measure the actual inside of your box — not the cut list; picket thickness moved it — and cut the 1x2 cleats to fit. Screw them to the legs and lower board, two screws per joint, level with each other. These four sticks carry all the soil weight, so screws into the LEGS, not just the thin cladding.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: Cedar fence picket, 5-1/2" x 72", Self-tapping wood screws, 1-1/4", Landscape fabric
Lay the four bottom slats across the cleats with even gaps and tack each with a single screw per end. The gaps are the drainage — do not close them up.
Line with landscape fabric, carry the planter to its permanent home, THEN fill. Wet soil at this volume is a two-person regret if you fill it in the garage. Plant herbs, lettuce, or the tomatoes that will absolutely outgrow it.