DIY – Outdoor Garden Box

Step 1: Cut the Boards

Using the saw, cut four pieces 48 inches long out of two one-by-six cedar boards and four pieces 46.5 inches long out of the other two one-by-sixes.

Step 2: Attach the Boards

Add a line of glue on the narrow side of the board and attach one 46.5-inch piece on the inside corner of one 48-inch piece, making a 90-degree angle. Adding the shorter piece on the inside of the board will make the total length of the box 47.5 inches because we are adding the thickness of the other board to that length (46.5 inches + 1 inch = 47.5 inches).

After the boards are aligned in a perfect 90-degree angle, tack nail them with the nail gun. We do this to keep the boards in place while handling.




Take the drill and perforate the attached boards to make holes for the screws.

Change the bit on the drill to a driver bit (the one included in the screws box) and proceed to insert the screws in the drilled holes as shown in frame no. 4 in the picture collage.

The corner of the box will look like shown in frame no. 6 in the picture collage.

Step 3: Repeat Step 2

Repeat Step 2 for the next three corners, making sure that you are attaching the next 46.5-inch piece on the opposite side of the other 46.5-inch piece, always placing it toward the inside of the box.

When all four sides are attached, you will have a 48-by-47.5-by -6 inch box. Repeat the process a second time. You will have two boxes 48 by 47.5 by 6 inches each.

Tip: Although the look of attached boards is more traditional in outdoor garden boxes, if available, two 8-foot common cedar one-by-12s can be used. In that case, the previous process should be done only one time.

Attach the Two Frames Together

Using a wide floor space, place one of your assembled boxes on top of the other to make a box 1 foot deep. Align all four corners.

Step 1: Cut the Braces

Using the saw, cut four 12-inch pieces out of one 8-foot premium kiln dried whitewood two-by-four, as shown in frame no. 1 in the picture collage. These will be the bracing pieces to combine the two boxes.

Step 2: Attach the Braces

Take one 12-inch piece of two-by-four and add a generous amount of waterproof glue to one of the 4-inch sides of the board, as shown in frame no. 2 in the picture collage.

Add a line of waterproof glue on the 2-inch side of that same board, as shown in frame no. 3 in the picture collage.

Attach the piece to one of the corners of the box (glue sides facing the box). Hold tight with one hand and drill the external sides. Refer to the next tip.

Secure with six screws. Verify that the screws go through the box and the braces.

Each box corner will look like shown in frame no. 6.

Tip: When attaching the brace, drill six holes: two (top and bottom) on the 2-inch side of the brace board and four (two on top and two on the bottom) on the 4-inch side of the brace board.

Step 3: Repeat Steps 1 and 2

Repeat Steps 1 and 2 for the next three corners. When all four braces are attached, the outdoor garden box is done.

Build the Top Lip

To give the box a nice finished look, build a mitered picture frame to attach to the top.

Step 1: Cut the Strips

Calibrate the saw to cut 45-degree angles. When in place, cut four pieces 49.5 inches long out of one 12-foot long one-by-four strip board.

Tip: When cutting the 45-degree angles, always consider the outside dimension (OD) of the frame. In this case the OD is 49.5 inches

Step 2: Attach the strips

Take one 49.5-inch mitered piece and add a strip of waterproof glue to the thickness side, as shown in frame no. 2 in the picture collage.

Attach this piece to the end of another 49.5-inch mitered piece to form a 90-degree angle. Secure with nails.

Step 3: Drill and Secure

Using the drill, make one hole on each top side of the boards. Change the drill bit to a screw bit and screw in two screws (one on each side).

Step 4: Repeat Steps 2 and 3

Repeat Steps 2 and 3 with the other two boards to create a square frame, as shown in no. 6 in the picture collage.

Attach the Top Lip