Make A Flower Box For The Deck

Do you know your way around a toolbox?

I know for a fact that many of you 
are quite comfortable wielding power tools.
Me? 
The closest thing to a power tool
that I know how use is blow-dryer.
Yeah, like that. 

When it comes to doing things with drills,

or screws,

or blades,

or nails,

or bits,

and such...

I need to call in the big guns...

The Hubs. 

After this horrid winter we had,
 the flower box on my back deck 
had rotted to the point of no return.

Mr. Goo Shoes decided to try his first DIY project,

and build me a new one.
It's not that he is very experienced at building things,

but he is very logical and analytical...
and he can fix anything. 

We call him Mr. Fix It.

Even when he gets frustrated,

I just sit back and keep quiet,

because I know he will figure it out.

And he always does.

Now, in keeping with full disclosure,

after the flower box was done, 

Mr. GS realized there was one thing he 

should have done differently.

First I'll show you how he made it,
and then, I'll explain what he should have done.
I guess it's a tutorial with an addendum,
so if you attempt to make this,
read through to the very end. 

Here is a look at the old flower box,
back in its heyday.

Over the last few years, it started to deteriorate.

To build a new one,
Mr. Goo Shoes bought four 16-foot x 5 1/2" boards
of treated deck wood at Lowe's.
They cost about $10-12 each.

Three boards were for the base and sides;
the fourth was for the ends and inserts.

The first step was to stain the boards,
using Cabot's Semi-Solid in Bark Mulch.
 He gave it two coats, letting it dry for two days in between.

How do you like his workshop?!? 

And his lovely and able assistant?

I asked Mr. GS why he didn't stain it after it was completely done,
and he said he thought it would be easier this way.
It could be done either way, I suppose. 

Next, he cut five small pieces 
that would become the ends, and inserts.
An old one was used as a template for the first piece...

and then the new one became the template.

Each piece measures 8 1/2" at the top 
and 5 1/2 inches at the bottom, and from top to bottom.
*NOTE: THESE MEASUREMENTS WILL BE MODIFIED IN THE ADDENDUM.

Mr. GS used a circular saw to cut the pieces. 
  Don't men with power tools look so studly?

Well, maybe not all men...
Freddy Krueger and Jack the Ripper...not so much, I guess.

Mr. GS drew a line where he wanted the screws 
to go in the base of the planter, 
and matched those up to the small pieces.

He used 1 1/2" deck screws,
and a Phillips head 3/8" drill bit.

Listen to me, like I know what I'm talking about!

He pre-drilled the holes...

turned the base upside down,
and drilled the screws in
until they came part way through the other side.

Holding the short piece in place,
he drilled the screws all the way into the short piece. 

After the two ends and the inserts were attached...

it was time to attach the sides.

And, voila! It was a flower box!

Mr. Goo Shoes enlisted the help of Junior Goo Shoes
to carry the box to the railing where it was to be attached. 
Sadie supervised. She's good at things like that.

The base of the box was screwed
into the top of the deck railing.
Another coat of stain was applied to the inside, 
just to give it a little more protection. 

Finito!

Remember Mr. Goo Shoes said he realized 
there was a better way to do it?

He should have made the insert and end pieces shorter by an inch.

When the sides were attached, 
there was a big gap along the bottom of the box...
big enough that the dirt would wash right out 
when the plants were watered.  

If Mr. Goo Shoes had made the ends and insert pieces
4 1/2 inches instead of 5 1/2 inches,
the base would have been able to come up higher, 
which would have eliminated the gaps.

Capisce?  

To compensate, Mr. GS cut long, thin strips of wood, 
and nailed them in along both sides of the base to close up the gaps.
There are still small gaps to allow the water to drain out. 

I love my new flower box!

I had hoped to have it completely filled for this post, 
but the stars were not aligned.  

We are in the process of power-washing and re-staining the deck.

 That's why the flower box and the deck railing 
are two different colors. 

Would you believe that we never properly stained 
the new deck railing that we installed last year?

Anyhow, until all that is done,
I can't plant the flowers.
All I could do was plop the flower pots into the box

in order to take some photos.

Blah. 

I think Mr. Goo Shoes did an amazing job.

He says if he were to do it again,

he'd know exactly what to do.

"Good news!" I told him.

"You can make a shorter one for this spot right here."

I'd like to use that one for an herb garden.

He didn't look as eager as I thought. 

I'm not sure that Mr. Goo Shoes wants to do it again so soon.

Would you help me convince him,

 by leaving him a comment, below? 

Your flattery will get me everywhere :)

**********  

I hope your Memorial Day is filled with...

Hamburgers & Hotdogs

Barbeques and Gardening 

Watermelon and Corn on the Cob

Family and Friends

Red, White and Blue 

And a few thoughts about those soldiers 
who lost their lives during active service for our country. 

You may also like:

Around My House: New Deck Railing

Memorial Day: Remembering Our Soldiers

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