DIY Outdoor Plant Shelf (Easy Build)

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This DIY outdoor plant shelf is a simple building project. Made from 2×4 lumber, you can build it in hour. Dress it up with burlap fabric and display your houseplants or flowering annuals outdoors on a wall for the summer.

If you like creative planter ideas, also see 40 Unique Container Gardening Ideas.

Outdoor plants shelves with burlap liners and an assortment of potted tropical plants.

Make an Outdoor Plant Shelf

Outdoor plant shelf hanging on wall with burlap fabric and plants.

This is a great idea for displaying plants on a house, patio, or shed wall.

DIY Outdoor wall plant shelf with burlap. — Plant Shelf created by Susan St. Louis | Ontario, Canada

It’s a simple wood structure dressed up with lengths of burlap fabric and tropical plants.

DIY outdoor shelf for plants building plan.

Supplies and Materials

Wood | 2×4 lumber | You could also use pallet wood
Wood screws | 2.5″ #8 deck screws
Electric drill and drill bit for pilot holes
#8 screws require a 7/64″ drill bit for the pilot holes and a 3/8″ countersink bit.
Hardware cloth (lead-free or stainless steel) / small grid chicken wire
Burlap fabric
Electric stapler (optional)
Potting mix
Plants

Building Tips

Plan | Draw out an assembly plan for the frame, working with the dimensions of the lumber and what final size you would like the shelf to be. I’ve provided a sample plan for a 3×6-foot shelf unit.
It’s just a large rectangle with cross pieces. Design it to fit what you want to display on it.
Wood | 2×4 lumber is actually 1 ¹⁄₂ in × 3 ¹⁄₂ in (38 mm × 89 mm). Use these actual dimensions when planning your wood cuts so everything will fit.
I like to draw up a plan and get all the cuts done at the store. If you get a good customer service rep, s/he’ll check to make sure your plan works. Easy!
Create the inner section first by screwing horizontal shelf piece to vertical pieces, working left to right. When the entire inner section is complete, add outer frame pieces.
Finish | Use 6″ strips of hardware cloth (or chicken wire) across the face of each shelf area (front and back) to contain the planting areas. Attach with small wood screws or staples.
Option 1 | Liner | Line planting areas with burlap and wrap it over edges to hide the hardware cloth. Hold burlap in place with wood staples if needed.
Fill planting areas with container soil and add plants.
Option 2 | Containers | Use plants in containers.