Went shopping at the garden center with SWMBO. She sees a nice planter box and trellis, and gets that look in her eye. I am a relative newbie, but I understand when those tools in the basement had better get to work
- payback time.
So, I'm building a planter box with a trellis behind it.
Approx Dimensions: box 18"H x 29"W x 18"D with a 54" tall trellis attached at the back. It will hold two 12" round plastic pots. I'm also going to hang a 6" x 12" planter off of the trellis.
The idea is similar to one I saw in Wood Magazine, but I'm adding the trellis. Basic construction: a four-sided 3/4" plywood box with no top and no bottom. The planters will rest on cross bracing of 2 x 4s. The exterior will look like a blanket chest with a hole in the top with legs being fake stiles and rails (of pine). The Trellis will be pine and screwed to the back legs.
I'm thinking actual 1" x 2" supports with 1" wide by 1/2" thick half- lapped grid trellis.
I was originally thinking 1 1/2" x 2" for the suports, but it looked a little chunky. All of this will be primed and painted white.
Questions:
- Since it is all going to be primed and painted, can I go with normal plywood or do I need something special? Wood Magazine used MDO, but I'm looking for an alternative. Someone suggested vertical siding, but I want it smooth, not fake tongue and groove.
- Do you think this thing will stand up to reasonable wind and storms or is my trellis going to sway and bow like crazy?
Any thoughts are appreciated.