Tall Garden Planter on wheels: How to build, wood working, DIY
After building my mom a tall garden planter for vegetables and strawberries my aunt asked if I could build her one too. Seriously though I can’t blame her: this is a really great idea and everyone should have at least one of these! My mom’s garden only needed to be weeded once or twice all summer lol I’m wondering why I thought I needed to put in a big “normal” garden and didn’t just build myself three of these… Anyway, my aunt had a couple of requests: It needed to be a little smaller then my mom’s so it would fit nice in a specific place on her deck and she also wanted it to be on wheels so she could move it under her house eaves in the winter time or during bad weather. So, I got to the drawing board!
First thing was first, I took my measurements and gathered my materials. She wanted it to be roughly 53 inches long and I had a piece of steel that was 48×48 inches so I wouldn’t have to cut it so that was great right away. Just like with the other tall garden planter I made I tacked a bunch of holes in it for drainage. I built my legs first using 2x4s and 3″ outdoor deck screws. I cut the 2×4 legs at 33″ to accommodate the height of the castors.
With the four legs screwed together I cut two more 2x4s at the exact length that I wanted which was 48 plus 1/2 so I would have room to slide in “sides” and plus the depth of two 2x4s (the legs on each side) so I cut them at 51 1/2. First I tacked those to the top of two legs each and then flipped them over and added another leg (also cut at 33″ just like the others) to the center for even more support.
Then I added a bunch of 1x4s cut at 25″ a piece to the bottom of the whole frame. This gave me a kind of “shelf” once the castors lifted it up three inches from the ground but it also gave me a ton of support. Now it was time to add the steel. First I tacked on a piece on either of the sides/ends (to keep the dirt from spilling out) I did this by simply running 2″ screws through it to the frame and adding a 2×4 across the bottom to cover that edge. From there it was time to add the big main piece. This would be easier with a buddy but if I can do it alone so can you!
I recommend punching/pre drilling holes into the steel just to make its easier to get screws in it. The initial small screws you use to hang the steel to the frame are actually not what holds this entire thing together, they’re just there to keep it in place for now. Hang the steel from each of the legs and then wrap it up and do the same thing on the other side. Make sure your steel is NOT above the top edge of the legs or you’ll have to pound it down there.
Cut two 2x4s at 48 inches (the inside length of the entire garden and the length of the steel) and press that in along the top edge of the steel. You want the top edge of the steel sandwiched between that 2×4 and your legs. I used clamps to help me out here to flatten the steel some and keep everything in place but they’re not necessary. Once you get one screw through that 2×4 and into the leg behind it everything will tighten down on that steel hard core. Put in 3″ deck screws from both sides: through the legs, through the steel and into the 2×4 you just added and through the 2×4 you just added, through the steel and into the legs. This guarantees you’re giving your steel an incredible amount of support. (All that dirt you’re going to be putting in there weighs a lot and what you just did is all that will be supporting it because that steel is essentially hanging.)
Now all that’s left is to cut 1x4s to finish off the top and cover up your “sandwich” of steel and 2x4s. I didn’t add this to my mom’s tall garden planter but I sure wish I had, I think it really made the whole thing look a lot more finished. After that I flipped it over, added castors and hauled it to my aunt’s house!
We filled it with top soil and a bunch of those seedlings I grew for us this spring. (See my post about how I grew them here.) She also planted carrots and green onions and a couple of strawberry plants. So far so good! I hope it does great for her all summer long!
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I’m Tarah!
It’s been a hell of a ride since I started this blog and renovated and moved into this old farm house back in 2015. I got married, divorced, lost my doggo soul mate, spent two years as a single gal, remodeled everything, threw my back out countless times and was even found by an amazing guy in my own backyard! (The story behind Storyhardt Farm.)
Around here we’re totally fearless when it comes to bettering our home. We love to refinish old furniture, re-purpose old pieces, build it from scratch and totally renovate anything that needs it! If we can do it – so can you. We’ve got some serious plans for this old farm and, for first time ever, I have a real partner!
This is gonna be so much fun!
You can also find out more about the amazing Grandma behind this blog who moved in to this old farmhouse with my Grandpa nearly 70 years ago!
Oh that is so cool! I definitely could use one of those for an herb garden. I love your creativity!
Thanks Kathleen!
What a great idea! Those wheels could also allow a person to move the “garden” to follow the sunshine when living on property w/ little sun. π
Thank you! My aunt moves it under her house eves when she knows bad weather is coming!
Wow! You are super-talented. What a blessing for your aunt and your mom to have you around to make things for them. These tall planters are especially useful for older people who want to do some gardening but are no longer able to bend over to reach plants (and weeds) in the ground.
Carol (“Mimi”) from Home with Mimi
Thank you so much Carol, I love that I can make things as gifts now that will last! She wanted to pay me for it but I told my aunt this is either your very early or very late birthday present!
What an awesome idea! I love that it’s on casters. That’s so convenient. Thanks so much for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!
Thanks Leslie, have a great week!
I love it! Might need to get me some of these (ask hubby to make :)) for next year.
Thanks for coming by Jacqui, have a great weekend!
Thank you for sharing this. It is awesome. As we get older, and have difficulty bending over, my husband and I can really use something like this.
Hi Gail, I’m wishing now I had just built 2 or 3 of these for me instead of putting in a garden on the ground this year lol Someone mentioned too that this would make a great spot to fill with ice to keep food and drinks cold in the summer time! Thanks for coming by π
Great idea, this is awesome!
Thank you Carol!
Ok I love love this. You did a fantastic job. I am going to share this in Pinterest for sure! I hope to make one like this soon! I hate having to bend down to pick my herbs with my knees… happy to stumble over here from Home Sweet Home!
Thank you so much Suzie!!
This turned out great! I definitely want to make one! Thanks for sharing this with us at Funtastic Friday π
Thanks for coming by Angie!!
Although it is not easy I have to make two of them because I loved them! Thank you for sharing at Sweet Inspiration Link Party !
Wonderful Christina! Thanks for coming by!
Gosh, you made something amazing and so simple to build! I have no outside area to use this but for inside use under a grow lamp will be wonderful and fun to use. Staining the 2x4s before assembly makes it attractive for inside use and the castors will definitely make occasional redecorating easie peasie.Thank you for such clear plans of a great ideaβ£οΈ
Oh Pat that’s a wonderful idea for inside use!
LOVELY, I really need to do this next year instead of dealing with weeds like I have been. They’ve been so bad. :/
Hey Danielle, yup I’m wishing I had just built two of these for myself instead of putting in an “on the ground” garden lol.
Love your garden diy pinned & sharing Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight party @dearcreatives
Thank you Theresa!!
This is really great. Its pretty enough for the front yard. You could move it in or out of the sunshine and its easy to look after being at waist height.
Loving this idea for next spring Tarah. Pinning and thanks.
Thanks Leanna!
This looks like a great alternative to bending and digging! Thanks for sharing at the Blogger’s Pit Stop! Roseann from http://www.thisautoimmunelife.com
Thanks for coming by Roseann!
This looks great, and makes gardening easier on the back too! Very cool! #bloggerspitstop
Thanks Lisa!!
Wow, you Mom and Aunt love you very much. I am sure of that! Love this and I want one too. I’ll be showing this to my woodworking hubby and putting in my specific order. I like the wheels idea. We would love for you to stop by and link up with us at the Merry Monday party too! Stopping by from Sew It Cook It Craft It party.
Thanks Shirley, have a great week!
this is so great can’t wait to build this for we have such up and down weather that we have to move in and out of the sun and of course the weird snow storm in july…hahhaha….thank you very much …
Hi Madeline, that’s exactly what my aunt raves about because she can move it under her eves to a safe place when the weather turns bad!
This is awesome! I know this is an older post, but hopefully you still check in. I get all of it, but the metal sheet. What is the name of it to ask for in a store? Can the store cut the end pieces for you, or how do you get them that size? I can follow all the directions with the wood and screws, but the metal – I am lost! Apologies if this is obvious, I am new to this sorry of thing. I would appreciate any help! Stay safe! Thank you
Hi Angela! The steel is a 4×8 sheet of corrugated metal often used as a roofing material – that’s actually where this piece came from, it was leftover from the roof of my garage. It comes in lots of different colors, you should be able to go to any store like Home Depot or a local lumber yard etc and pick up a sheet!
Thank you for the great tutorial! My husband and I made one of these in just 4 hours this weekend, and I love it! I just wish there was a way to post photos. π
Thanks Christina!