Outdoor

Privacy Planter

This privacy planter was designed to look good and hold some plants that will grow taller and smell good.

Difficulty: Intermediate
Time: 2.8–5.3 hours
Cost: $$$

About this build

This privacy planter was designed to look good and hold some plants that will grow taller and smell good. Plus the large cap is a great place to set your drink.

Tools

Essential

Drill / Driver
Impact Driver
Jigsaw
Miter Saw
Pocket Hole Jig
Random Orbit Sander

Optional / nice to have

Tape Measure

Materials

Item	Qty
Cedar Deck Board, 5/4 x 6 120"	1 board
Cedar Deck Board, 5/4 x 6 96"	11 board
Cedar Board, 2x4 96"	1 board
Cedar Post, 4x4 96"	2 board
2-1/2" Blue-Kote Pocket Screws	116 each
1-1/2" Blue-Kote Pocket Screws	20 each
1-5/8" Exterior Wood Screws	16 each
2" Exterior Wood Screws	4 each

Overall cost: $$$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.

Cut list

Part	Qty	T × W × L
Cap	2	1 1/4" × 6" × 57"
Front/Back	14	1 1/4" × 6" × 46 1/2"
Side	14	1 1/4" × 6" × 11 1/2"
Planter Base	8	1 1/4" × 6" × 14"
Cap Sides	2	1 1/4" × 6" × 22"
Posts	4	4" × 4" × 40 1/4"
Supports	2	2" × 4" × 46 1/2"

What to buy

Buy 15 boards at 8 ft.

4" × 4"

2 boards

40 1/4"40 1/4"
40 1/4"40 1/4"

2" × 4"

1 board

46 1/2"46 1/2"

1 1/4" × 6"

12 boards

57"22"14"
57"22"14"
46 1/2"46 1/2"
46 1/2"46 1/2"
46 1/2"46 1/2"
46 1/2"46 1/2"
46 1/2"46 1/2"
46 1/2"46 1/2"
46 1/2"46 1/2"
14"14"14"14"14"14"
11 1/2"11 1/2"11 1/2"11 1/2"11 1/2"11 1/2"11 1/2"11 1/2"
11 1/2"11 1/2"11 1/2"11 1/2"11 1/2"11 1/2"

Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →

Start building →

Instructions

1Assemble Sides
- Assemble the sides by drilling pocket holes and attaching using 2-1/2" pocket screws.
- Drill extra pocket holes at the top for 1-1/2" long pocket screws. These will be used to attach the cap. Note: You can download a printable PDF of the plans in the "extras" tab
2Assemble Box
- Assemble the box by drilling pocket holes and attaching using 2-1/2" blue-kote pocket screws.
- Drill extra pocket holes at the top for 1-1/2" long pocket screws. These will be used to attach the cap.
3Install Supports
Install the supports by first drilling pocket holes in each end and attaching using 2-1/2" blue-kote pocket screws and 2" exterior wood screws.
4Install Planter Base
Pre-drill and install planter base using 1-5/8” exterior wood screws. Space boards approximately 3/4” apart. (Spacing is just to allow for drainage and not crucial) Staple plastic to the sides, then overlap weed barrier and staple it to the bottom to retain the soil but allow for drainage.
5Assemble Cap
Drill pocket holes and assemble the cap using 1-1/2” blue-kote pocket screws.
6Attach the Cap
Use existing pocket holes to attach cap with 1-1/2” blue-kote pocket screws.