If you are planning your spring projects, (I know I am dying to get outside) add this one to your list. You can always use a planter to fill with your favorite flowers. This was a very popular post originally from October 2012, (hence the mums) but perfect for spring or fall.
The cedar planter plan off Ana White’s site was one of the easiest builds for me. I was surprised at how quickly it came together. The planter was a lot larger than I envisioned in my head so I only made one instead of my initial thought of making two. I really needed a substantial planter for the front of my house.

I laid some scrap boards at the bottom and air nailed them in place.
I had leftover 2×2’s from the bookshelves so the planter only cost me $11.
After I prepped it for staining by sanding it down, I put a coat of pre-wood conditioner on it so that the stain wouldn’t be streaky. Next, I put on Minwax’s English Chestnut followed up by Rust Oleum’s Spar Varathane to seal it.
I added some black ground covering to the inside side of the box with my air stapler so that the soil wouldn’t come out through the cracks.
Then I added some soil and a large mum plant.
I tell you there is something so empowering to me about building something from scratch.
This Farmhouse Pallet Bed with Rolling trundle was another Ana White project I built for my son’s room.
What’s your next building project?