This is how

Build a frame Place one of the diagonal legs on the ground and position one of the uprights on top, with the upper ends together and the bottom ends 850mm apart. ( This distance is measured from the front edge of the diagonal leg to the back of the upright – thus the furthest points.) Now place one of the other long planks crosswise over the lower side to give you a right-angled triangle. Make sure this plank is squared with the bottom edge of the upright. Tip Use a few pieces of scrap wood to support the planks and keep the structure level while you work. Now mark along the top edge of the diagonal leg the angle at which you’d cut it so that it fits flush against the upright. Mark along the bottom edge of the diagonal leg the angle at which you would cut the plank to align with the bottom edge of the upright so that it would stand level on the ground. Cut the diagonal leg along these two lines so that the two pieces fit together neatly when you place the 76mm

sides together and it can stand evenly. Now place this diagonal leg on top of the other one, mark the diagonal sides and cut the second leg to give you two identical pieces.

Join the legs together Drill a hole and screw together the top ends of the legs. One screw is sufficient.

Attach the supports Place the uprights on the ground back to back. Measure 340mm from the top edge of the uprights and draw a pencil line across the uprights and diagonal legs. (Use a long plank as a “ruler”, but make sure your line is right-angled.) Do the same at 700mm and 1 100mm. Now position your 38mm x 50mm planks along these lines. Place the 50mm side of the planks flat against the legs and ensure each time that the top edge of the plank aligns with the pencil line you have drawn. The planks must align with the backside of the uprights. The 380mm pieces are placed at the top, the 620mm pieces in the middle and the 850mm pieces at the bottom. Glue and screw each of these pieces in place. The two opposite sides of your plant stand are now completed.

The shelves (part I) Ask one or two helpers to hold the two sides in an upright position 1,2m apart. Then glue and screw the three 38mm x 114mm pieces of 1,2m

at the front of the diagonal legs onto the crosswise planks.

Make it sturdy Position the 38mm x 76mm plank of 1,8m diagonally over the back of the stand so that it runs diagonally from one top corner to the opposite bottom corner. Make sure the uprights are still 1,2m apart at the top and bottom, and then measure on this plank the angle at which to cut it so that it aligns with the outer edges of the back legs. Cut the plank on these markings, then glue and screw into position. Now glue and screw the upper support to the top of the uprights so that the ends align with the outer edges of the legs. Then glue and screw the bottom crosswise support

at the back of the lower 50mm planks between the uprights.

The shelves (part II) Position the remaining 38mm x 114mm planks between the diagonal legs so that the upper front corners align with the front edge of the diagonal legs. Glue and screw each one into position.

Tip You can use wider planks for your shelves and add a third or even a fourth plank to each shelf (in fact, you can make your shelves go all the way up to the uprights), but it might become difficult to work so far back between the shelves. Your plants would also get less sunlight and their height would be restricted by the shelf above.