This project was built and designed by Jon Peters from Longview Woodworking. It’s a beautiful, long-lasting planter box that blends clean joinery, decorative touches, and sustainable materials for a standout outdoor build.
Jon’s design focuses on solving common problems with wooden planters, especially rot caused by constant moisture exposure. The result is a project that looks good, holds up well outside, and can be built with accessible tools and techniques.
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Smart Design for Outdoor Durability
Wooden planters are notorious for breaking down from the inside due to soil moisture. To prevent this, Jon lines the interior of the planter box with a plastic insert. This barrier protects the wood from wet soil and makes cleaning and replanting easier.
The liner fits snugly inside the frame and is easy to find at most home improvement stores. It allows the wood to breathe while keeping direct contact with moisture to a minimum—significantly extending the life of the planter.
Choosing the Right Wood: Red Grandis
For this project, Jon uses Red Grandis, a lesser-known hardwood that’s ideal for outdoor use. It has a rich color and is naturally resistant to decay, but it’s more affordable and sustainably grown compared to species like sapele or cedar.
Using Red Grandis aligns with Jon’s focus on balancing sustainability with quality. It also machines well and finishes beautifully, making it a solid choice for projects meant to last outside.
Decorative Legs Without a Lathe
One highlight of the build is the decorative leg design. Instead of using a lathe, Jon creates a faceted, pyramid-style detail using angled cuts on the miter saw. This technique is accessible to anyone with standard tools and adds a polished, custom touch.
To get smooth cuts with minimal sanding, Jon uses a blade with flat ground teeth. The legs are trimmed and shaped with precision, then cut to length with angled tops to match the planter’s side panel layout.
Building the Sides with Pocket Hole Joinery
The planter’s side panels are built from vertical and horizontal boards fastened with pocket hole screws. This joinery method is strong, easy to execute, and leaves a clean surface appearance—ideal for furniture-style outdoor builds.
Pocket holes are drilled with spacing in mind to avoid splitting, and exterior-grade screws are used to resist rust. The panels are assembled with evenly spaced boards, creating a clean, modern look with consistent reveals.
Each panel is attached to the legs using a jig for alignment. This keeps spacing consistent across all sides and ensures a square and stable frame.
Adding Decorative Trim
To elevate the look further, Jon adds trim molding to the top and bottom edges of the planter. These strips are ripped on the table saw and shaped using a cove bit at the router table.
Jon drills evenly spaced holes and fastens the molding with stainless steel screws. The screws are left flush rather than plugged, giving the project a sleek, modern finish that also allows for easy disassembly if needed.
The bottom molding doubles as a ledge for the planter’s base boards, helping distribute the weight and giving the structure a finished profile.
Building the Base and Ensuring Drainage
The base consists of wide boards set inside the frame to support the liner and soil. Jon uses a mix of Red Grandis and cedar scraps, showing that this part of the build can be adapted based on what’s on hand.
For drainage, several holes are drilled into the bottom of the plastic insert to allow excess water to escape. This step is crucial for plant health and for keeping the wood structure dry over time.
Finishing with Teak Oil and Nylon Glides
To protect the wood and bring out its natural color, Jon applies a generous coat of teak oil. This finish is well suited for outdoor furniture and provides resistance against UV exposure and moisture.
Finally, nylon glides are added to the bottoms of each leg. These keep the planter slightly raised off the ground, preventing water from being absorbed through the end grain. It’s a simple addition that makes a big difference in long-term durability.
A Thoughtful, Sustainable Outdoor Project
This planter box stands out not just for its appearance, but for the way it solves real problems. Between the plastic liner, durable wood choice, and protective finishing touches, it’s built for the outdoors and built to last.
The decorative legs, clean joinery, and flush-mounted trim give it a furniture-quality feel. Whether placed on a porch, patio, or garden path, this planter adds a handcrafted touch to any space.
Get Jon’s plans here: https://jonpeters.com/products/outdoor-planter-box-design-plans/.