Cedar planters add beauty and enhance the health of the plants you cultivate within them, adding both beauty and resilience. By insulating the roots from hot temperatures and keeping them more relaxed during hot spells, cedar planters enable seeds to absorb more water, contributing to long-term plant health and wellness.
This planter can be placed either on a hard surface or the soil. When used outdoors, its legs should rest firmly against a solid base to avoid sinking into the earth and submersion.
How to Build a Cedar Planter
An inexpensive DIY planter box can add an attractive new touch to landscaping. Cedar makes a good choice, as it resists rot and works efficiently; its pleasant aroma can deter garden pests! Plus, fence pickets made of cedar wood are readily available and lightweight enough for any DIYer to complete this afternoon project!
A slatted screen provides privacy for this rectangular planter. The inner dimensions are designed to hold two sizeable rectangular masonry buckets that can be filled with soil in winter storage before being emptied and reused when spring arrives. Downloadable plans include 3D drawings, step-by-step color pictures, materials lists, and cut lists.
This medium-sized cedar deck planter is long and low enough to fit beneath stairs or be mounted to an outdoor wall. Constructed using just five cedar fence pickets, its construction is surprisingly sturdy yet easy. Holes drilled at the bottom provide drainage, and this project can be finished within one day using essential woodworking tools; downloadable plans provide detailed drawings, X-ray views, materials/cut lists, and recommended tool lists for completion.
This minimalist planter requires only three 2x4s and seven 72-inch pine or cedar fence pickets to construct. Cedar slats embellish its sides and ends, resting atop dark feet for stability. Downloadable plans provide detailed drawings, materials/cut lists, and user-friendly comprehensive instructions – creating something eye-catching in any backyard garden!
Materials
Cedar planter boxes are simple and affordable projects, making them an excellent solution for growing plants that don’t thrive in pots. Unlike other wood species, cedar has natural oils that resist fungal growth in humid environments and keep it looking beautiful after applying staining or sealing – perfect for adding extra protection while making the completed product aesthetically pleasing on decks, patios, or gardens!
Cedar is known to have a low thermal coefficient and stay cool on hot days, providing plants with optimal conditions to flourish. Plus, as sunlight reflects off of it rather than being absorbed, heat in the soil is reduced further. Plastic or cloth liners may be added for extra moisture retention, but this isn’t necessary since the natural oils in cedar wood keep moisture levels balanced within its soil layers.
Raised garden beds made of cedar can add beauty and be constructed affordably for any outdoor space, making the project an attractive addition. Due to rising lumber prices, however, locating cedar boards at reasonable prices may become challenging. A thoughtful way to save money when creating one could be asking local lumber yards if there are any scraps from recently cut projects that they could sell at reduced rates; alternatively, consider checking home improvement stores for discounted or overstock materials.
To assemble the sides of a planter, start by joining two short side panels together using 1 1/4″ screws from within. Next, connect long side panel pieces to their short counterparts using this method; attach those that feature a “dog ear” cut-off panel piece using 1 1/4″ screws; finally affix any additional panels using this same method as well.
Attach the bottom once all the panel pieces have been secured to their frames. Finally, cover the entire base with hardware cloth to prevent soil from leaching through any wood gaps and flooding your space.
Cutting the Cedar
Cedar trees make a striking feature in any garden or yard, yet their beauty can quickly turn to damage for surrounding plants and property. Overgrown cedars also become vulnerable to insects and diseases; therefore, the best way to care for your cedar planters is through regular trimming – which will keep them looking their best and reduce potential damages caused by overgrown cedars.
Pruning a cedar planter begins with removing dead or diseased branches before using sharp pruning shears to trim any remaining ones to a manageable height. For optimal results, make clean cuts as close to the trunk as possible to avoid creating unsightly stubs and unsightly areas; additionally, it is critical to prune in early spring before new growth appears.
If you want to propagate a cedar tree, take cuttings when it is dormant and mist twice daily with water from a spray bottle for extra humidity and make sure they root quickly, according to University of Florida research. Once planted into its new pot of half perlite and half coarse sand and water.
People often make the mistake of cutting too much off a cedar tree when pruning, which can cause it to become overgrown and lead to rot. To prevent this, pruning should always be performed carefully: only remove small amounts of green foliage annually while working toward shaping the tree over time.
Pruning a cedar requires another step – eliminating competing leaders – so the tree becomes more robust and uniform. You can do this by cutting off weak leaders at their connection point to the main stem.
If your property features overgrown cedar trees, they could be shading out other forms of vegetation and preventing grazing animals from accessing food sources. This can be costly if you own livestock as it can reduce grazing capacity by seventy to eighty percent; prune cedars regularly within your pastures to prevent this from happening.
Assembly
Cedar planters are an easy way to add greenery and lushness to patios, decks, and porches. Crafted from durable western red cedar that naturally resists rot and insects, our pre-cut planters make assembly hassle-free with all parts numbered and labeled. Hence, it’s simple to assemble one to suit any space!
Line your planter with porous landscape fabric: This will prevent wet soil from directly contacting the wood, which could reduce its lifespan and contribute to drainage, aeration, and water retention. Furthermore, it helps with drainage, aeration, and water retention. Choose an appropriate planting mix: Choose a high-quality commercial potting mix explicitly designed for elevated garden beds – which will be lighter in weight than topsoil while remaining pest- and vermin-free and often comes complete with mild starter fertilizers as a starter treatment.
Add a layer of small rocks or pebbles: This will provide drainage by allowing any excess water to drain through and out of your planter. It also acts as an aeration mechanism, soaking up any extra moisture that accumulates and releasing it back into the surrounding soil.
Start by measuring one side’s width to obtain the length for the longer top trim piece (approximately 17 1/2”). Cut two 1 x 4 boards to this length and secure them to their sides with glue and 1 1/4” wood screws; repeat this process on both sides of your planter.
Apply a finish to the planter: We suggest Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane Clear Satin as it has UV blockers designed to prevent graying and fading due to sunlight, as well as special oils that allow it to expand and contract in response to changes in temperature and humidity.
Fill your planter: Mix organic material such as peat moss, vermiculite, and perlite at the bottom before planting your desired flowers, herbs, vegetables, or other plants into this planting mix. Be sure to leave enough room for roots to develop while instilling! When finished planting your chosen species into this container garden bed, water it well to settle its soil and settle any air pockets within.
