Two Tier Cedar Garden Box
To Garden or Not to garden...
Phoebe wanted a garden box last year. The backyard where she lives is very tiny, so it needed to be something that would not take up much space. The plan was to make it into two sections. The front section would be low enough for G to play and maybe plant in. The back would be higher. A space he could not reach, where plants might actually survive. The back legs were left long at the top so that we could string lines or wire across for any short vined plants they might like.
My grandmother died shortly after COVID started. She did not die from COVID, she was just old and her body was finished with this world. I was away for work when she passed, because I always seemed to be away for work. I did not have a chance to say goodbye. When we were all younger my grandma loved to work in her garden. My Dad came back from her house all summer with the best corn and strawberries. In the winter the windows of her house were all filled with plants. Some were pots of seedlings for spring. Others were whatever strange branch she had snuck off of plants and was trying to make root. I also love gardening. Handfuls of dirt are therapy and growing things create peace. I cannot think of anything better for a child than a planter to dig in.
The Cut List
The cut lengths for the boards were planned partly around what boards were available at RONA during The Great COVID lumber shortage, plus some scraps I had left over from patio chairs we had made for my parents.
Cut List
- 8 – 6×1 cut to 8″ cedar boards for sides
- 2 – 2×2 cut to 24″ for front legs
- 2 – 2×2 cut to 29 9/16″ for middle legs
- 2 – 2×2 cut to 42″ for rear legs
- 4 – 2×2 cut to 8″ for lower sides
- 4 – 2×2 cut to 48″ for cross braces, 1 front, 2 mid-section, 1 rear
- 1 – 1×6″ cut to 7 1/4″ for rear support
- 1 – 1×6″ cut to 8″ for front support
- 2 – 1×6″ cut to 48″, one for bottom of front tier an one for bottom of rear tier
- 2- 1×4″ cut to 48″. One will need to be ripped to 3 1/4″ for bottom of rear tier.
Putting it all together
Any excuse to use my pocket hole jig is a valid one. The sides need to be put together first when pocket holes are used. I tried to piece together the front box and work back initially. When I attempted to put the sides on I could not fit the long bit plus my drill into the space I needed.
Start with the sides
The sides were joined together using pocket hole screws Two of the 8″ boards were attached starting at the top of the 24″ front legs, and then 24″ up from the bottom of the middle legs. The sides aligned to the outer edges of the legs.
The 8″ sides for the rear box were then placed in the same way. The top of these sides aligned with the top of the midsection legs. The lower 8″ side of the back section is was directly behind the top 8″ board of the front sections.
Then frame them together
I used 2×2″ board framing just below were each 1×6″ wall will be to hold up the bottom boards. That meant four 48″ pieces for the front, back, two for the midsection. I used four cut to 8″ for the sides. The higher of the 2×2″ boards at the midpiece needs to be back far enough not to block the wall separating the front tier from the back.
The 48″ – 1×6″ boards for front, midsection and back were fastened in place using my pocket hole jig. 2 boards for the front box, 3 boards for the midsection and 2 boards for the back.
I also attached 2 pieces cut to fit front to back. The front box support was 8″ long and the rear support 7 1/4″. These are to provide extra support for the bottom boards, which will lay onto the 2×2’s and these bottom support boards.
3/4″ squares need to be notched out of the corners of one long edge of each board to fit into the front tier. Only one of the bottom boards used for the back tier will need these 3/4″ notches.
Finish it off
I did not fasten the bottom boards down. I did finish everything with an oil based finish for outdoor furniture. Cedar ages to a grey colour on its own but I was hoping to preserve the original colour as much as possible.
I also stapled garden fabric into the box to hold my soil into the box and then we were done and ready for the plants!