DIY Outdoor Plant Shelf (Easy Build)

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.

---

Make an Outdoor Plant Shelf

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

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

The shelf itself is simple. It’s the plants and decor that make it work.

---

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, they will 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.

More Shelf Planter Ideas

Pallet Flower Planter

Here’s a version made by Empress of Dirt Facebook friend Maria.

I saw this pallet herb garden on a garden tour:

Easy!

If you enjoy ideas like this, be sure to sign up for the free newsletter.

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛