After my wife and I bought our first home last year, I learned how the small things make a big difference. A properly working gate, a fresh coat of paint on the mailbox and some flowers to brighten up a corner of the yard—all help to make any home beautiful. That’s where this weekend project comes in. It’s an arbour planter that you can change seasonally depending on where it’s set in your yard and the flowers you choose to plant.
I designed this project around a plastic planter box measuring 151⁄4" square x 151⁄4" deep. The planter box needs to fit inside the project properly, so you may need to adjust part sizes depending on the planter you buy. A few words of caution: err on the large side when buying a planter box. The visual scale of the arbour will seem top-heavy if the box isn’t big enough. You also need enough weight to make sure a gust of wind won’t knock over the whole project.
Download the Dutch arbour project plans here!
Materials needed
All wooden parts made from western red cedar:
Top frame pieces (4): 3/4" x 3 1/2" x 22 1/2"
Upper aprons (4): 3/4" x 2 1/2" x 21 1/2"
Lower aprons (4): 3/4" x 4" x 21 1/2"
Wide side slats (12): 3/4" x 5 3/8" x 12"
Narrow side slats (8): 3/4" x 1 1/2" x 12"
Posts (2): 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" x 66"
Hanging bar: 1 1/2" x 2" x 54"
Cleats (2): 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" x 10"
*All dimensions T x W x L; length indicates grain direction
Getting started
Start by cutting the four top frame pieces. Be sure to mitre the ends of these parts at the correct length to suit your box. The inner opening of the frame must be large enough for your box to fit inside easily. The inside dimensions of the arbour box measure 16". Leave the frame pieces separate, and put them aside for now.
The upper and lower aprons come next. They sit 3⁄4" in from the outside edges of the top frame, joined together with mitred corners. Each piece must be 11⁄2" shorter than the overall length of the top frame pieces. The upper apron pieces are 21⁄2" wide while the lower apron is 4" wide. I cut an arc into the bottom edges of the lower apron pieces for style using my bandsaw. Not only does this arc look good, but it provides a bit of ventilation under the base, reducing the chance of rot. With the apron parts prepared, glue them up. Masking tape is your best friend for this step.
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