Wooden planter box with trellis on the front porch of a house

How to Make a Planter Box with Trellis

Make your deck or yard a little more private with this planter box and trellis. Grow some climbing plants or add a few vines to complete the look!

Skill

Advanced

Time

One Day

Plan :

Tools

Materials

Before You Begin

If you’d like to grow climbing vegetables in your new planter, we recommend using cedar wood. Cedar is naturally resistant to mould and great for organic gardening.

Before starting, you should also download the plan and familiarize yourself with the project.

1
Build the Base of the Box
Steps:
1.1
Cut three 46" pieces from the 5/4x6 boards for the base, then cut two 16.5" pieces from a 2x2 board for the legs.
1.2
Place three 5/4x6 boards beside each other and join them by using 2 1/2" treated wood screws to attach a 2x2 piece to each end.

Person joining wooden planks using a drill

2
Finish Building the Box
Steps:
2.1
For the sides of the box, you’ll need to measure out and cut eight 5/4x6 boards:
- For the front and back: Four 48" boards
- For the sides: Four 16 1/2" boards
Note that the box will be two boards tall.
2.2
Arrange the boards for the first row, starting with the boards for the sides and finishing with the front and back. Use a square to ensure 90° corners and use 1 1/2" treated wood screws to attach the side boards to the edges of the 5/4 base boards.
2.3
Cut 2x2s into two 6’ pieces and two 10" pieces.
2.4
Attach the two 10" 2x2s to the front corners of the box using 2 1/2" treated wood screws, standing them vertically to strengthen the structure. Attach the 6’ 2x2s to the back corners in the same way.
2.5
Secure the second-row boards to the vertical 2x2s.

Person adding a first row of planks on a planter box

Person adding a second row of planks on a planter box

3
Assemble the Trellis Frame
Steps:
3.1
Cut two 2x2 boards into a 43" piece and a 46" piece.
3.2
Put the trellis frame together:
- Frame bottom: Screw the 43" 2x2 piece horizontally inside the vertical 2x2s.
- Frame top: Screw the 46" 2x2 piece horizontally at the top of the vertical 2x2s.
3.3

Cut ten 1x4 pieces to a size of 62". Using 1 1/2" treated wood screws, attach five of the pieces to the back of the trellis frame. Ensure that the pieces are spaced out equally by placing one on each end, one in the middle, and one between each of the ends and the middle.

Person starting to assemble a trellis frame

Person adding the top part of a trellis frame

Person installing vertical planks on a planter box

4
Install the Chevron Pattern
Steps:
4.1
Cut 40 2x2 pieces to a size of 11".
4.2
Starting at the top, make a mark every 5 1/2" along the vertical 1x4s with a level or a long ruler.
4.3
Starting at the bottom, attach the 11" 2x2s using 1 1/2" treated wood screws at an angle following the marks. Screw from the back to ensure a solid and secure hold. Repeat up to the top for each chevron zigzag, checking as you go that the chevrons are parallel.
4.4
Attach the five 62" 1x4s with 2 1/2" treated wood screws to the chevron joints. This will hide the joints and keep the 1x4s firmly in place.

Person using a level to trace a mark on a wooden plank

Person installing wood planks in a chevron pattern

Pro Tip

Since the 1x4 piece hides the cuts on the chevrons, you can keep things simple and cut them at a 90° angle. If you prefer to cut them at an angle, then trace their diagonals onto the trellis (step 3.6) to establish the cut angle. Use a sliding T-bevel or a protractor to measure the angle at the 1x4 vertical joints and transfer the measurement to your mitre saw.

5
Final Touches
Steps:
5.1
Use a staple gun to attach a geotextile sheet inside the planter box.
5.2
Use a utility knife or scissors to cut away excess fabric.
5.3
Extend the life of the planter box and trellis by applying a wood preservative to every cut surface.

Person adding geotextile fabric inside a wooden planter box

Pro Tip

Put the finishing touch on your project by heading to a Garden Centre to pick up some climbing plants!

Disclaimer

These tutorials are provided for informational purposes only. The information contained in Lowe’s tutorials is intended to provide general guidelines to simplify jobs around the house. Because tools, products, materials, techniques, building codes, and local regulations are continually changing, Lowe’s Companies Canada ULC assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained herein and disclaims any liability for the omissions, errors, or outcome of any project. Lowe’s Companies Canada ULC. makes no representation on the feasibility of any project and the viewer bears all risks coming with the realization of the projects. It is the responsibility of the viewer to ensure compliance with all applicable laws, rules, codes, and regulations for a project. The viewer must always take proper safety precautions and exercise caution when taking on any project. If there is any doubt in regard to any element of a project, please consult a licensed professional.