Saturday Project: Build a Simple Outdoor Planter Box in Under 2 Hours

Weekend warriors, this one is for you. A clean wooden planter box is one of the easiest builds that makes your patio or front porch look instantly better — and you can knock it out before lunch. What You Need 4 cedar fence pickets (6 ft, about $3 each) 1.5-inch exterior screws (1 box) Drill/driver Saw (miter saw is easiest, hand saw works) Measuring tape + pencil Sandpaper (120 grit) Optional: exterior wood stain or sealant Total cost: ~$20-25 The Build Step 1: Cut Your Pieces For a 24" x 12" x 12" planter: 2 long sides: 24" x 12" 2 short sides: 10.5" x 12" (accounting for board thickness) Bottom slats: 3-4 pieces at 22.5" long Step 2: Assemble the Box Stand two long sides and two short sides on edge Pre-drill holes to prevent splitting (cedar is soft but can crack) Drive 2-3 screws per corner joint Flip it over, lay bottom slats across with ~1/4" gaps between them for drainage Screw bottom slats in place Step 3: Sand and Finish Give everything a quick sand to knock down splinters. Ced