How to Make a Garden Trug

This DIY garden trug made from scrap wood is extra large and perfect both to carry supplies or use as a flower planter.

You can use these instructions to Turn a Wheelbarrow into a Planter.

Make a Practical and Pretty Garden Trug

A garden trug is a container used to carry tools, flowers or vegetables in the garden. Traditionally, they were shallow baskets made from wood.

The garden trug here is my updated version. I wanted something to hold tools and supplies on my wheelbarrow while working the garden. I made it the right size to sit snugly on top.

It also works as a flower planter with pots stashed inside.

Make a Garden Trug

Keep in mind that these are the measurements that worked with my wheelbarrow.

Materials

Scrap wood (12″ pine boards)
31″ wood handle (old tool handle or wood branch or whatever)
I use pine barn boards for a lot of my garden projects. It’s a thick, untreated wood and works nicely for raised garden beds and planter boxes.
To get the aged look of the wood the secret is simple: time and weather.
I find it only takes about a year of outdoor exposure for the wood to get that nice aged patina.

Cuts needed:

(3) 29″ pieces (bottom and two sides) – or a bit bigger than the width of your wheelbarrow
(2) 24″ pieces (end pieces)
Deck screws (size needed depends on the wood you’re using)
Tools: saw, jigsaw (optional), screw driver, drill and drill bits (for handle holes and pilot holes)
Paint or chalk markers for decoration (optional)
Hooks for hanging tools

Optional: Make to Fit Your Wheelbarrow

The thing that makes this trug awesome (to me) is how it fits over the wheelbarrow.

To achieve this, I measured the width of the wheelbarrow where I wanted the trug to fit and used that width plus an inch (=29″) to determine how wide the sides and bottom should be.

Here you see the 3 long pieces (bottom + two sides) and the two end pieces.

To get cuts right, I like to trace one piece on top of another.

For example, I cut the bottom piece to be 29″ long. Then, I used that cut piece to trace the cutting lines for the two side pieces. This way, they will all be identical.

The end pieces came from another scrap piece of wood and the height (24″) allows leg room and some height.

I used a jar to trace curves for the top edges of the trug end pieces. I wanted a rustic look but no sharp edges where I might whack my elbow or something. I cut them out with a jig saw.

The green tool handle measures 3/4″ in diameter so I used a drill bit that size to cut holes in the end pieces.

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Assembly

Attach everything with deck screws (intended for outdoor projects). If the wood you are using is prone to splitting, drill pilot holes first.

For this trug, the sides sit on top of the bottom piece. Screw them together and then add the end pieces and insert the handle.

You can also add small screws to the handle to keep it in place.

In this next photo you can see my manager supervising the job.

And her sidekick, the chipmunk. I swear he inspects everything I do in the garden.

This next picture shows how the garden trug fits over the sides of the wheelbarrow.

I used chalk paint markers to write FLOWERS. Again, use what you have: old house or craft paints or markers. Or Mod Podge to decoupage it. Or leave it plain Jane.