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For some people, the weekend is what gets them through work and school. Think about it, you have been putting off doing an activity you really love for almost 5 days, and then finally the weekend comes and you are just so excited to get it started. There really is nothing like having the most beautiful day on a weekend busy with your hobby.
But you know what is even more fun? An activity that the whole family can enjoy. And the best way to bond with each other is not just playing board games or a picnic, but also with doing projects together. You are worried that some of the kids might find it boring, but it gives them time to get into the groove because home improvement projects or DIY’s (do-it-yourself) activities are actually very fun to do.
You can choose to build a cabinet, paint a room, and so on; but let us kick it up a notch a little and do a bit of DIY gardening. At first, it may seem a little bit weird to spend with each other setting up flowers in a box, but once you get it started, you will definitely have an amazing time finishing it. And you can start by building one of the most important items in gardening: the window planter box.
Gather all the materials that you will need
Of course, with awesome DIY projects comes countless materials needed to finish it. Make sure that you have the following items on hand:
- Wood glue
- Wood filler
- Sand paper
- Level
- Lag bolts
- Primer
- Exterior grade paint
- Caulk
- Paint brush/roller
- Hammer
- Drill bits and drill driver
- Cedar panels (about 1×10 and 1×3)
Come up with a design
Before starting with the window planter box, one of the things your family should talk about is the what it would look like. The may want a simple four-sided box painted with a color you can agree on or you may opt to have an intricately detailed planter box. If it is the former, the basic materials you have on hand are all good. However, if it is the latter, you might have to get extra materials and tools to achieve the design that you want. Additionally, you may need to learn about how you can add those details on the planter box by simply Googling it. Do not worry, more often than not, families tend to go for complex paintings which is why they would only need different sizes of paint brushes.
Start with measuring
When you are done agreeing on a design, you can begin work by measuring the dimensions of your window and cut the wood to its specific measurement. Do not forget to cut wood for support, as well. Remember that planter boxes will be heavy once the plant and the soil are in it. Assume the boxes will weigh at least 160 pounds, so make sure to measure and cut the wood that can support that weight and then secure it with the lag bolts.
Begin assembling the parts
So that you would not have problems building the planter box, assemble the parts on a flat surface and then clamp the pieces securely in place so you can drill the board easily. You can choose to add trim to give your box a more finished look; you can accomplish this by cutting four pieces of wood with the length and the height of each side of your box, then secure with nails. Give it a much cleaner look by sanding. To finish, drill holes at the bottom of the box that will serve as its drainage.
Start decorating
The first thing you need to do is to fill in the nail holes with wood willer first. Then apply the paint primer on the boxes, wait for it to dry, then start painting.
Once you are done with decorating, you can already start hanging and planting! Another tip: consider adding an inch of gravel before the dirt so that excess water can be drained easily. Start building the planter box now and enjoy a wonderful weekend with the whole family