Building a bespoke planter
I’d like a long flower trough on my patio but none of the shops have one big enough. Could I make one?
Yes, luckily this can be a relatively simple option. You can use either scaffolding boards or decking boards as both will have been weatherproofed and are designed to be used outside.
Scaffolding boards come in 3.9m lengths and decking boards are 2.1m on average. Depending on the depth of the trough you want to make, you may need to use multiple boards to get the desired height. Measure and cut them to the length required. You’ll need two sets of long boards for the front and back and two sets of shorter ones for each side.
Make a base for the trough out of the same boards, and drill some holes in the bottom to allow for decent drainage. To make the
boards look neater, measure the short pieces to fit inside the long sections. Using galvanised screws, connect the front and back sections to the sides.
Make it easier by using a drill to create pilot holes for the screws, but only do this on the top piece of wood. If you need multiple boards stuck together, you can use flat plate brackets on the inside of the trough to connect them.
Sand down any rough edges and, if you like, you can give the box some colour using an outdoor paint. Lay a nylon screen down inside the trough to protect the wood and fill with gravel or chippings for drainage before adding the soil and flowers.