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A clean-lined raised planter with waterfall-mitered corners, built as a cheap 2x4 skeleton wrapped in cedar pickets. Seven sizes from 18" square to a 6-foot garden bed.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frame legs Two per frame, four frames for the 72" length. 22-1/2" for the four-board-tall versions. | 8 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 17" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Frame rails Rail length sets the planter width: 32" for the 36" bed, 20" for 24", 14" for 18". | 8 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 32" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Side pickets Both ends beveled 45°, long point to long point, ends NOT parallel — the grain wraps the corner. | 6 | 5/8" × 5 1/2" × 72" | Cedar fence picket | ☐ |
| End pickets Same bevels. Cut to fit against the assembled sides. | 6 | 5/8" × 5 1/2" × 36" | Cedar fence picket | ☐ |
| Floor pickets | 5 | 5/8" × 5 1/2" × 70" | Cedar fence picket | ☐ |
| Top trim, long Mitered 45° both ends, long point to long point. 1x3 substitutes. | 2 | 5/8" × 2 1/2" × 72" | Ripped fence picket | ☐ |
| Top trim, short Mitered 45° both ends — cut to fit the assembled rim. | 2 | 5/8" × 2 1/2" × 36" | Ripped fence picket | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| 2x4, 8 ft Inner frames. Hidden inside the box — plain lumber is fine, treated lasts longer against soil. | 5 each | ☐ |
| Cedar fence picket, 5-1/2" x 72", not dog-eared (Cedar) Cladding, floor, and top trim for the 72x36 size. Buy straight ones — sight down every board. | 16 each | ☐ |
| Exterior deck screws, 2-3/4" Frame assembly, two per joint. | 50 each | ☐ |
| Exterior deck screws, 1-5/8" Attaching cedar to the frames. 6D galvanized framing nails also work. | 150 each | ☐ |
| Exterior wood glue On the miters and cladding — recommended for durability. | 8 oz | ☐ |
| Exterior wood stain A penetrating stain rated for fences. Or leave the cedar to silver. | 1 qt | ☐ |
| Landscape fabric Liner if planting directly instead of dropping in containers. | 1 each | ☐ |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Speed Square, Tape Measure. Materials: 2x4, 8 ft, Exterior deck screws, 2-3/4"
Screw each frame together — two legs, two rails, two 2-3/4" screws per joint. You need a frame at each end and one about every 24" of planter length, so the 72" bed takes four.
Build them identical and square. The cedar skin will faithfully reproduce whatever shape these frames are, so a racked frame here is a twisted planter later. Check each one against the first.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Circular Saw, Drill / Driver, Tape Measure. Materials: Cedar fence picket, 5-1/2" x 72", not dog-eared, Exterior deck screws, 1-5/8", Exterior wood glue
Bevel the long side pickets first — 45°, long point to long point, both bevels leaning the same direction. Stand the frames on a flat surface, space them evenly, and attach the pickets with glue and 1-5/8" screws, keeping the bevel points exactly at the frame corners.
You can pin the boards with galvanized brads to hold layout, but follow up with screws — brads alone won't survive years of wet soil pushing outward.
Tools: Circular Saw, Drill / Driver, Tape Measure. Materials: Cedar fence picket, 5-1/2" x 72", not dog-eared, Exterior deck screws, 1-5/8", Exterior wood glue
Measure between the long sides' bevel points and cut the end pickets to fit — measure your actual box, not the cut list, because picket thickness varies and the miters have to close. Attach the same way.
If a miter won't quite close, a few passes with a sanding block on the back of the joint sneaks it tight without changing the show face.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Circular Saw, Drill / Driver, Table Saw. Materials: Cedar fence picket, 5-1/2" x 72", not dog-eared, Exterior deck screws, 1-5/8"
Rip pickets in half to about 2-1/2" wide (or use 1x3), miter the corners at 45°, and cap the rim. Cut to fit against the real box, sneaking up on each miter.
The trim covers the top edges of the cladding and the frame legs, and it's what your eye reads first — take your time on these four joints. Tack with nails, then screw.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Tape Measure. Materials: Cedar fence picket, 5-1/2" x 72", not dog-eared, Exterior wood stain, Landscape fabric
Lay the floor pickets across the bottom rails and tack them down. Leave small gaps between boards — water has to drain or the floor rots first.
Planting directly? Line the box with landscape fabric and cut drainage holes. Using nursery containers, skip the liner entirely. Stain with a penetrating fence-grade stain, and move the planter to its final spot BEFORE filling — soil is heavier than you think.