Fence-mounted planter boxes

[tal_itha]

Planter boxes made from fence palings, lined with builder's plastic and weed mat, and fixed to a side fence with galvanised brackets.

• The project
• Tools and materials
• How to build a vertical garden
• More inspiration for your planter box project

The project

I have a tall fence that looms over my narrow courtyard. I'm in the process of building some raised beds, but I also wanted a way to get some greenery going vertically, due to the small space. So, I made these small planter boxes and mounted them on the rails of my fence.

I used fence palings, with wood glue and nails and then lined them in builder's plastic and weed mat. They also have drainage holes in the bottom of them. 

The 500mm one has two strawberry plants and a marigold, and the 300mm one has mint in it. I have one more 500mm one which I'm still mulling over what to put in.

I decided against painting the fence as well. It seemed like a big undertaking for less payback than getting my beds built and planted. It turns out the colour isn't quite Monument. It's hard to tell from the photo, but the planter boxes (painted Monument) are a bit more blue than the fence colour but it's close enough that it doesn't bother me. 

The bigger beds are going great. The soil level has dropped, so I need to top them up, but I've got some plants that are doing really well in them. Unfortunately, my courtyard is in no state to have any pictures of it shared, but I'll be sure to post some when I get it all cleaned up for the spring/summer.

Tools and materials

Materials used in the project:

• Fence palings (1.8m for 500mm, 1.2m for 300mm)
  
  
• PVA wood glue
  
  
• 30mm nails
  
  
• Spray paint in Monument
  
  
• Weed mat
  
  
• Grunt builder's plastic
  
  
• Galvanised brackets
  
  
• External timber screws (for fixing to fence).

How to build a vertical garden

A vertical garden can provide greenery and colour to enliven a drab location and provide plenty of growing space in even very small areas. Customisable to suit your own garden, Bunnings Workshop D.I.Y. guru Mitch shows you How to build a vertical garden that can be combined with a raised garden bed made from recycled pallets.

More inspiration for your planter box project

Community member Rufaro decided to place a D.I.Y. timber planter box in an area where the grass was struggling to grow.

Workshop community member Rustikman built these solid, elevated Jarrah planter boxes from timber found at an auction.

You'll find more ideas in our Top 10 most popular planter box projects, Top 10 most popular screening projects, Top 10 most popular fence projects and 5 ways to create a vertical garden.