Step 4: Lay Out the Planter Bases

Lay Out the Planter Bases to make a planter bench
Photo: Kolin Smith
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Stand the seat frame on edge to line up the planter boxes, and decide which end gets the tall one. Arrange four boards against the frame on the ground in a pinwheel brick pattern—a frame with each board butting into the tail edge of the next as you work clockwise. Line up the base of the tall one flush with the end of the seat frame; for the short planter, inset the base so that it lines up with the inside edge of the frame at the end, as shown. This overhang creates a decorative cap for the short planter.
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    Tools List

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    • four-foot level
      4-foot level
    • miter saw
      miter saw
    • circular saw
      circular saw
    • jigsaw
      jigsaw
    • speed square
      Speed Square
    • drill
      drill/driver fitted with a ⅜-inch paddle bit
    • square spade
      garden spade
    • hammer
      hammer
    • tamper
      hand tamper
    • caulk gun
      caulk gun

    Shopping List

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    1. cedar 2×4s Get twenty 8-foot boards to make the 16½-inch planter pieces and the 82½-inch-long seat frame.

    2. cedar 1¼×6s Get four 6-foot boards to make the 63-inch-long seat, and one 8-foot board to trim the tall planter.

    3. ¾-inch gravel for drainage below the planters and to fill the assembled planters. Get at least 1½ cubic feet (three bags).

    4. potting soil to top off the planters filled with gravel. Get four 32-quart bags.5. construction adhesive Get 4 tubes.

    6. 3-inch stainless-steel deck screws

    7. 2-inch stainless-steel deck screws

    8. 3-inch galvanized siding nails

    9. 12-inch galvanized spikes Get eight