EASY STEPS TO BUILD YOUR PLANTER SEAT

Make your deck a must-visit destination with greenery and seating making a lush haven

2022-03-31 -

Brighten up an ugly and bare corner plus create extra seating with a timber bench seat in between planter boxes.

Gather your supplies

• 200 x 50mm x 3m Sienna ACQ sleepers (5)

• 90 x 35mm x 1.2m H3 treated pine

• 86 x 19mm x 22 lin. m spotted gum decking

• 200 x 75mm x 2.4m Sienna ACQ sleepers (2)

• 260mm rainwater pits (8)

You’ll also need Drill; countersinking drill bits to suit screws; 100mm galvanised batten screws; circular saw with fence attachment; 75 x 125mm connector plates; 30mm galvanised flathead nails; 50mm stainless steel decking screws; 4mm plastic packers; clear exterior varnish; painting gear; charcoal decking stain; tape measure; premium potting mix; selected plants

Here’s how

STEP 1 Butt 1 front and

1 back into sides flush with their ends to create a box section. Predrill using a counter-sinking drill bit and screw together with 100mm batten screws. Repeat to create another five box sections for 2 planters.

STEP 2 On 2 box sections, which will be at top of planters, predrill and screw a support batten between front and back. Sit battens in centre, flush with top edge.

STEP 3 On another 2 box sections, which will be at the bottom, use a circular saw with fence attachment to cut 64mm off so height of

planters will match decking boards going on the front. STEP 4 Bring together 1 top and 1 bottom box section with another section in between them. On the inside, use connector plates and flathead nails to join together. Repeat with remaining 3 box sections for second planter.

STEP 5 Attach front boards to planters. Make top board of each flush with top edge of box and overhang ends equally to cover cut ends of side boards when they are attached. Predrill and screw together with 50mm decking screws. Continue fixing boards down front of each planter, using 4mm plastic packers between them to create an even gap. Attach side box boards to both sides of planters, aligning with those on front. STEP 6 Apply 2 coats of clear exterior varnish to planter boards. Allow to dry after each coat.

STEP 7 Cut seat supports from offcuts of 200 x 50mm sleepers using a circular saw. Cut a large section off the bottom corners to soften the look. Apply 1 coat of decking stain to them, let dry, then predrill and screw into boxes with 100mm screws so top of support is 375mm from bottom of the planters. Put seat support on left side of one planter and right side of the other so that they will face each other when positioned. STEP 8 Put planter boxes in position on your deck and measure distance between them for seat sleepers. Cut sleepers to length, stain and sit in position on seat supports. Predrill through inside of planter boxes into seat sleepers with 100mm batten screws to secure in place. STEP 9 Drill holes in bottom of rainwater pits to allow drainage. Fill with premium potting mix then follow with your selection of plants. Sit pits in top of your planters. STEP 10 Use circular saw to cut spotted gum decking to width to create capping on top of each planter. Cut to length, mitring joins at corners. Predrill and screw to top of planter with 50mm screws.