Spring Issue, 2009

HERB PLANTER

A relatively simple project to build, this tiered herb garden will keep on giving you savoury pleasure throughout the season.

The height of the planter makes it easy for you to tend and pick your crop without bending over. Built from beautiful weather-resistant cedar, the planter will be as architecturally pleasing as the scents and herbs you’ll enjoy from it. Not into cooking with herbs? Fill it up with flowers.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

MATERIALS

• 5/4" x 6" cedar decking 38 ft (approx)
• 1" x 6" cedar 21 ft (approx)
• landscape cloth 5011-578
• 2" galvanized finishing nails 2134-835
• 1-1/2" galvanized finishing nails 2134-826
• 1-1/2" deck screws 2183-023
• 2-1/2" deck screws 2183-050
• 3" deck screws 2183-069
• 2" deck screws 2183-041
• outdoor wood glue 2020-850
• sandpaper 1230-439

TOOLS

• mitre saw 1347-037
• bench saw 1346-621
• router (optional) 1258-515
• 1/2" rounding bit 1216-543
• sander 1262-369
• hammer 1030-558
• measuring tape 1048-716
• carpenter's square 1070-062
• clamps 1023-154 to 190
• #2 driver bit 1286-860
• drill 1239-210
• drill/countersink bit 1227-540

STEP BY STEP

1. Referring to the schematic, cut the pieces for the project to size. The legs are cut from 1"x 6" cedar decking, and the edges are rounded using a 3/4"rounding bit in a router. This is optional.

   BUILD THE PLANTER BASE

2. Assemble the four top rail pieces (F) using outdoor glue and 1-1/2"galvanized finishing nails. Check for square.
3. Secure the four legs to the top rails using 1-1/2" deck screws. Clamps may be useful at this point. Pre-drill all screw locations with a combination drill/countersink bit.
4. Install the two bottom shelf rails (H) using 2-1/2" deck screws.
5. Secure the five shelf pieces to the bottom rails using 2"galvanized finishing nails.

   BUILD THE PLANTER

6. Using glue and 2-1/2” deck screws, assemble the outer box. Use a builder’s square to check for square corners.
7. Install the bottom pieces using 2 deck screws, leaving a 1/4" space between the pieces for drainage.
8. Install the four trim pieces using 2"galvanized finishing nails.
9. Assemble the inner box using outdoor glue and 2-1/2” finishing nails or deck screws. The top and bottom sections of the inner box are held together with two 3/4"wood straps.
10. Centre the planter box on the stand, and secure with four deck screws through the floor into the base. Set the inner planter box diagonally into the outer box. Before filling the planter with soil, line the bottom of the box with landscape cloth.
11. Sand and finish the project.