Keep Gardening Tools Together With A Unique Raised Planter Box DIY

Gardening can be as fulfilling as it is labor-intensive, constantly making us look for more and more conveniences to develop a comfortable routine. Even when you use all the garden tool organization hacks to keep your gear accessible, having to run back and forth to grab equipment doesn't create much efficiency. The solution? Keep your tools near your plants! With handy hidden storage built into your planter boxes, you'll upgrade the look of your landscaping while saving time and energy when working outside. Consider the watering cans, pots, and gardening tools you want to store to help you plan the necessary size for this DIY. After that, all that's left is to choose the best design for your box.

No matter the layout, the general idea for a storage planter box remains the same. Dimensional lumber forms a frame with vertical corner and center supports. Spanners join the supports to hold shelves and platforms at desired heights, giving you a space to hold pots, soil, or gravel. With a few enhancements, these elements come together for a beautiful, slatted planter complete with hidden compartments underneath. The build can be simple, attractive, and strong, with some styles allowing for a storage installation with minimal effort. Regardless of the design, each has enough flexibility to make your DIY planter do more for you.

Since it's going outdoors, the items you use for your DIY storage planter box will largely determine its long-term performance. While saving money is ideal, this isn't the time for any old scrap lumber or leftover pallets. The materials must be resilient against the elements. For the frame and slats, use a rot-resistant wood, such as cedar, hemlock, or cypress, for a build that will last several years. Repurposed fence pickets are an effective, budget-friendly choice and are easy to cut to size. A planter box may even be an appropriate project for pressure-treated wood, though you may want to maintain a barrier between the box and the plants to prevent any potential for leaching.

To keep everything together, use fasteners that will stand up to outdoor conditions. Decking screws, stainless steel screws, and similar rust-resistant options can secure the frame. You can also reinforce sections and add trim with a weatherproof wood glue, such as Titebond III Ultimate. Any handles, hinges, casters, and other hardware should also be outdoor-rated. Complete the look by sanding and staining the planter box to enhance the wood tone and texture, or leave it natural for a rustic look. If you put the storage under the planter, a final consideration should be a waterproof platform with exterior drainage for the planter's base. Without a barrier to direct excess water away, anything stored below could get soaked.

Crafting a storage compartment in a planter box doesn't get much easier than this approach from YouTube channel DIY Montreal. After building the box, all you need is a flush cut saw to separate the door supports from the box frame. While the designer uses a Forstner bit and recessed magnets to hold the panel in place, you can adjust the attachment as desired. Adding 360-degree hinges on the bottom and handles to the top, for example, can make the door easier to open or close. You can even turn the removed panel into doors by cutting it in half and adding support slats on the outside ends, hinges, and handles.

Want more inspiration? Consider integrating an attractive bench for holding store-bought and DIY plant pots or for sitting and enjoying the garden view. YouTuber Ben – Lion & Bear Woodworking shows us how this uncomplicated build adds class and functionality to the yard. Plan the bench to fit your long-handled tools, hoses, and some weather-resistant cushions for a comfier seat. Install dividers if needed to keep your various tools separated and easier to arrange. You can even combine the designs. Add a bench to the side while leaving space underneath the planter section for maximum storage and better gardening tool organization. Put in a few hours of work for this DIY, and you'll have a planter box to give your landscaping an aesthetic boost and save you daily effort getting through your gardening projects.