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This is a raised planter bed lifted extra high — 'raised RAISED' — so you can tend plants and sit alongside them without stooping, with a bench worked into the structure. It's framed from 2x2 lumber and clad in inexpensive 3-1/2"-wide fence pickets, which keeps the cost down on a big outdoor piece and gives it a rustic slatted look.
Because it's a large, freestanding outdoor structure, the build order is about getting it square and level before it's too heavy to adjust. The source builder assembled each wall panel separately, then joined them — a sound approach, since flat panels are far easier to keep square than a box built in the air. A Kreg jig helps a lot for the concealed 2x2 joinery. The strong recommendation is to build the whole thing, set it in place, confirm it's level, and only then cut the legs to final height — because ground slope and surface material vary, and a planter that rocks or drains toward one corner is a problem you can't easily fix later.
If you want the legs sunk into the ground for stability, add length to each leg cut beyond the 48" shown (that dimension is to ground level). Line the planter box with landscape fabric before filling with soil to slow rot, use a genuine gap between cladding boards for drainage, and finish with an outdoor sealant or deck stain. Use deck screws or exterior fasteners throughout. The source cut list is partial and free-form, so quantities here are a reasoned reconstruction — confirm against your own layout before cutting.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 2x2, 8 ftPlanter and bench framing. Cedar or treated. | 16 each |
| Fence pickets, 3-1/2 in x 6 ftCladding — nominal 5-1/2" pickets ripped, or 3-1/2" boards; ~3/4" thick. | 46 each |
| Deck/exterior screws | 2 box |
| Landscape fabricLine the planter box before filling with soil. | 1 roll |
| Outdoor sealant or deck stain | 1 gallon |
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.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Long planter frame rails2x2 | 3 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 75" |
| Medium planter frame rails2x2 | 3 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 50 1/2" |
| Short planter frame rails2x2 | 3 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 33" |
| End planter frame rails2x2 | 3 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 24 1/2" |
| Legs2x248" to ground level; add length if sinking into ground, trim to final height after leveling. | 8 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 55" |
| Bench long piece2x2 | 1 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 76 1/2" |
| Bench cross piece2x2 | 1 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 56" |
| Bench supports2x2 | 2 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 47 1/2" |
| Bench short supports2x2 | 2 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 17" |
| Bench feet2x2 | 4 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 16" |
| Long claddingfence picket | 46 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 48" |
| Short claddingfence picket | 30 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 20 1/2" |
Buy 64 boards at 8 ft.
18 boards
Build each wall of the planter as a separate flat panel before joining anything — flat panels are far easier to keep square than a box assembled in the air. The 48" leg measurement is to ground level; if you plan to sink the posts into the ground for stability, add length to each cut.
Join the wall panels into the raised box. A Kreg jig is very useful here for the concealed 2x2 joints. Build the whole structure, then set it in its spot and confirm it's level before you commit to the leg height — ground slope and surface vary, so leveling now saves a rocking, poorly-draining planter later.
With the assembled planter leveled in place, cut the legs to their final height. Doing this last, on site, is what lets the top come out level regardless of the ground underneath.
Build the bench from its 2x2 pieces — the long rail, cross piece, supports, and feet — and tie it into the planter structure so it reads as one piece. Keep it square and level with the planter.
Clad the planter and bench with the fence pickets, leaving a genuine gap between boards for drainage. Screw the cladding to the 2x2 framing with exterior screws.
Line the planter box with landscape fabric before adding soil to slow rot and hold the dirt in. Sand any rough spots and finish everything with an outdoor sealant or deck stain — untreated wood in constant contact with soil and weather won't last raw. Then fill with soil and plant.
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46 boards
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 →