Window Box Planter Question

[Gary Hodgin]

My daughter wants me to build her one of those window box planters. The planter needs to be about 42 inches long and 7 inches deep and the width needs to be around 7 in also. She is going to place her plants in 32 oz coffee cans. I'll make 2 planters.

What would you recommend in terms of building material. I'd like to go with boards rather than plywood since the nearest marine plywood dealer is a pretty good distance from me. I have a pretty good range of choices available from a local lumber company. I've been thinking about cedar, redwood, or white oak. These planters will be painted. I'd hope to just go with poplar but am worried about its durability.

[carl zietz]

depends where you live, in the swamp previously known as the pacific northwest, the normal choice is cedar, (redwood got too expensive). As a durability reference, painted and maintained cedar will last practically forever, unpainted in this climate 4-6 years.

[Gary Hodgin]

I live in Murfreesboro, TN, about 35 miles from Nashville. Big temp range (15-100, not uncommon) and high humidity in summer. I'm leaning toward cedar. I wish poplar would work. Cheap and I've got quite a bit on hand. Never bought cedar but I suspect it's not too expensive.

[Bill Bukovec]

I made our planter boxes out of used decking. Since it's painted, I filled the nail holes with epoxy.

Best of all, the wood was free.

I like the idea of using cans to hold the planets.

I bought a plastic tray that sets inside of our planters.

I didn't need to make a bottom for the planter box. . The plastic tray already has one.

Bill