Color...Anywhere You Want

This easy-to-build planter makes your most brilliant flowers portable.

By Cliff Muehlenburg, Pewaukee, Wisconsin

Last summer, we attended a backyard graduation party for my daughter's classmate. It was a perfect summer afternoon for an outdoor party. When we walked into the yard, we were simply amazed at the variety of color and flowers everywhere! The blooms definitely decorated the backyard.

On the way home, my wife, Marilyn, said, "I think I'd like to add more flowers to our yard. Ours is way too green."

I agreed, and we decided to tackle it little by little. To get a start, I surprised her with this portable planter that could be placed anywhere and moved whenever she got the itch to redecorate. She loved it!

A Few Tips Before Starting

To make a planter just like this one, you'll need just basic tools and a table saw to cut the pieces to the proper width. I chose rough-sawn cedar because I like the rustic look and it weathers well. But I must warn you—rough-sawn cedar has one rough and one smooth side. You'll want to be sure, whichever side you choose to face out, that you keep it consistent throughout the project.

A variety of other woods will work, too...redwood, cypress or green treated are all fine. And, I've recently found out the new green treated lumber can be stained after just a few weeks. Just test first...the green can affect the color of the stain.

To give this project a finished, professional look, round the edges with a sanding block and 100-grit paper, and countersink the screw holes. I suggest using coated or stainless steel deck screws so that, over time, the screws don't weep and stain the wood. Finish staining is optional, or just let the wood gray naturally. It doesn't really matter...once you plant it, the flowers will steal the show!