Fence Picket Bench Planter

Attach a front leg and an outside back leg to each box end piece. Build the two assemblies as MIRROR images — lay them out facing each other before a single brad goes in, because two identical assemblies make half a planter twice.

Nail each arm across the top of its front leg and into the back leg. The arms are decorative structure — glue them well; they tie each side into a rigid triangle.

Nail the side assemblies to the box front and back pieces with the 1-1/4" brads — and if you have the 3/4" brads loaded, pin through the legs into the front and back as well for extra grab.

Nail the two ripped 1x2-ish strips inside the box at the bottom, fastened from all four sides with 1-1/4" brads. These little rails carry the soil load — the glue matters here more than anywhere else in the build.

Set the bottom pieces onto the supports inside the box, nailing from the outside if you want them fixed. Leave small gaps for drainage either way.

Stand the two dog-eared inside slats between the outside back legs, even gaps, ears up — check them plumb, then pin through the box back with the 3/4" brads. The ears across the top are the whole charm of the piece; step back and check the line they make before committing.

Nail the 20" support strip across the back slats from the front with 1-1/4" brads — it ties all four verticals together so the back never fans.

Sand lightly (it's decor, but splinters aren't rustic), line the box or drop in a pot, and plant something that spills over the little arms.