2x4 DIY Double Ladder Plant Stand

About three years ago, we used two old wood ladders and fence pickets to create an outdoor plant stand. We loved the look, but discovered a few months ago, that the ladders had started to rot pretty significantly.

Not wanting to do without this view outside the window, we create a more weather-worthy version with pressure-treated wood and outdoor stain.

Click here to see a list of materials and tools with links.

Materials/Tools:

• (8) 8ft Pressure Treated 2x4
• 6ft Pressure Treated 2x4
• Pressure Treated 2x10
• (2) 8ft Dog Ear Pickets 1x6
• (4) 6ft Dog Ear Pickets 1x6
• SPAX Exterior Screws #8x2-1/2
• SPAX #8x1-1/2 T-Star Plus Wafer Head Exterior Screw
• Makita 18-Volt 5.0Ah X2 LXT Lithium-Ion (36V)
• Brushless Cordless 10 in. Dual-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw with Laser Kit
• Titebond III 16 oz. Ultimate Wood Glue
• Olympic Elite 1 gal. Petrified Wood Solid Advanced Exterior Stain and Sealant in One
• Olympic Elite 1 gal. Midnight Blue Solid Advanced Exterior Stain and Sealant in One
• RIDGID 18V Cordless 5 in. Random Orbit Sander
• Sandnet Sandpaper

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We purchased the lumber well in advance of using it so it would have plenty of time to dry out in the garage. We kept it elevated on 2x4 scraps and rotated it every 24 hours to be sure all sides would dry out.

The graphic shows the simple cut list and the lengths to which we cut the fence picket shelves.

The ladders are each made with four pieces of 2x4 cut to six feet with a 15-degree angle cut on each end. We did this on all eight of the legs. A miter saw makes this easy and accurate. Keep one of the cut-off angles to use as a jig in the assembly process.

There are a total of 12 rungs. These are also cut from 2x4s at a length of 15 inches each.

(2) pieces for the ladder tops are cut from the 2x10 board.

Once we decided on the placement of the rungs, we used one of the 15-degree cut-off pieces to mark where each rung was to be placed.

The cut-off jig helps to make sure the rungs are placed at the correct angle on the ladder sides.

Assembling the ladders was definitely a team effort to get everything lined up properly. Lots of wood glue and clamps were used.

Steph used the cut-off jig again to mark the placement of the screws so they would be uniform in appearance. She simply marked the screw locations on the jig and then transferred this marking to the ladder. Easy and so helpful!

We cut two pieces from the 2x10 board that was 18 inches long. We then screwed the top of the ladders into this top board to secure the entire thing.

After cutting the fence pickets to size for the shelves, we gave them a quick sand to prep them for stain. This was messy but a necessary step to get a good ultimate finish. Wear all the PPE for this step.

We are using Olympic Elite Solid Advanced Stain and Sealant in One to stain the stand and the shelves. The shelves are Midnight Blue and the two ladders are stained in Petrified Gray.

We've used this brand on several projects and like the coverage it gives and the durability it provides. We used one coat and then touched up where needed.

The pickets were secured to the ladder rungs with Spax exterior screws.

Not only can this be used for plants, but someone suggested it could be used as a food serving area for an outdoor event!

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