A raised garden planter is the perfect quick-win woodworking project: cheap, fast, endlessly useful, and it makes gardening easier on your back while giving plants better soil and drainage. Whether you want a simple raised bed or an eye-catching vertical planter, here is how to build one that lasts.
Choose your planter style
- Raised bed: a simple bottomless box set on soil – ideal for vegetables and flowers.
- Elevated planter: a box on legs at waist height – no bending, great for patios.
- Vertical / pyramid planter: stacked tiers that grow a lot in a small footprint, perfect for strawberries and herbs.
Pick safe, durable wood
Cedar and redwood naturally resist rot and are food-safe choices for edibles. If you use treated lumber, line the inside with plastic sheeting so soil does not sit against the treated surface. Line elevated planters with landscape fabric to hold soil while letting water drain.
Tools and materials
Tools: saw, drill/driver, tape measure, square and a staple gun. Materials: cedar or other rot-resistant boards, exterior screws, landscape fabric or pond liner, and optional legs for an elevated version.
Step-by-step build
1. Cut and assemble the box
Cut your sides and screw them into a sturdy rectangular (or tiered) frame. Corner posts inside the box make it far stronger and keep the walls from bowing when filled with wet soil.
2. Add a base or legs
For a raised bed, leave the bottom open on soil. For an elevated planter, add a slatted bottom with drainage gaps and attach legs.
3. Line it
Staple landscape fabric or a liner inside to protect the wood and hold soil, leaving drainage points so roots never sit in water.
4. Finish and fill
Seal the outside with a plant-safe finish if you like, then fill with quality raised-bed soil and plant.
Growing tips
- Good drainage is everything – never seal the bottom completely.
- Place raised beds where they get 6+ hours of sun.
- A vertical planter dries out faster, so water it a little more often.
Ready-to-build planter plans
Build from a proven plan with a full cut list, materials list and step-by-step photos:
See more in our Planter Plans collection.