First let’s start with the obvious – I’m not a carpenter! This is my most ambitious project and it all started when the handyman we usually use, didn’t get back to me and I was antsy to get it done NOW! How did I get my new-found carpenter skills that you can have too? Be a bit adventurous – yes you can use power tools and not lose a limb and be ok with good enough but not perfect!
After checking out a couple websites talking about how to make garden boxes from ready to go materials I was ready to give simple garden boxes a try.
There are simple 6 inch tall boxes from cedar fencing wood and precut redwood stakes. Yes I was impatient with my hardware store and did the wood cutting myself – oh yes a power tool moment with a circular saw – but you can ask the hardware store to make the cuts for you no problem! Here’s my supply and tool pile – pretty sure I’m going to need a tool belt soon…
Yes, this is all it takes for 2 DIY Garden Boxes that are 2 feet wide by 5 feet long! Here’s how the corner posts look all put together. All the holes for the screws were pre-drilled and I did make sure to check that screws on each side were offset from each other.
The assembled DIY Garden Box…I fully support the rule to “measure twice cut once”. If you’re like me, I think I measured way more than twice at each step just to be sure…part of my not being a carpenter approach!
These corner legs were originally 12 inches and after putting it together I cut them down by 4 inches – so if you do this project go with 8 inch legs!
At this point I did a little dance and congratulated myself on new-found carpenter skills and also vowed this would be the biggest project I ever did – but maybe you’ll want to do more!
The final steps are the most fun because it will actually look like you have DIY Garden Box and you’re new name will start with “Farmer”. After flipping this box over, I used the hammer to pound the corner post into the ground. Fill with good growing dirt and insert plants!
Based on the 1-square- foot planting grid approach, I was able to fit 10 plants in each garden box- tomatoes, green beans, snap peas, basil, peppers, potatoes, lettuce, cilantro and edamame (have never seen this as a starter plant before but super excited to find it)!
I’m hoping my new DIY Garden Boxes with their extra special dirt will produce an even better garden! If not, I’ll at least admire my new garden boxes.
Enjoy working with tools and trying new skills in your spare time!
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