3 Foot Mother's Day Railing Planter

In this instructable, I will be creating a Mother's day railing planter. There is a lot of flexibility to each step in terms of size, tools and materials. Do not worry if you don't have the exact equipment as me.

Safety. Have adult supervision at all times unless you are experienced with saws or over the age of 18. Wear safety glasses so you don't get sawdust in your eyes.

Wood you will need.

1x8 Cedar

3x 3 foot (bottom and long sides)

2x 8 inch (small sides) The base plate and both short ends should be adjusted to your rail width.

2x 1inch (feet) We used scraps

6x 1inch (supports)

1x3 Cedar

2x 3 foot (long side top board)

Tools

Measuring Tape

Chop saw

Table saw (or have the lumber cut for you)

Screw driver Power drill

Screws

My railing is 7 1/2 inches in width. Yours might be different. With a measuring tape, measure the thickness and the width of your railing.Then modify one of the 3 foot-1x8 for the base plate and the two 8 inch 1x8 pieces to be 1/4 to 1/2 inch larger than your railing width. Also take note of your railing depth. The sides of the planter must extend below the railing for a secure fit.

To start, square the end of all the wood. Cut all the wood in the supplies list. Make sure that you modify the pieces of wood in step one. If you don't your planter will be to big or to small for your railing

Attach the small sides to the base plate. These will be your modified-to-fit pieces. Place the small sides on top of the base and use a screw to attach through the base plate. DO NOT put the small sides on the outside of the baseplate edge.

Starting with your 3x1 3 ft board, attach it to the small side pieces, flush at the top. Put the screws through the 3ft board into the sides.

Attach the 3 foot long 1x8 to the bottom and the side plates. Leave a 1" gap between the 3 inch plate and the 8" plate. The 8" plate should hang about 2" below the small sides. This will hold it on your porch rail.

Flip your planter upside down. Attach the 1" pieces to the bottom of the base board. If you don't your planter will not let water get out so your plants will drowned and die.

On the inside of your planter put the 1" supports in all the corners and in the middle of your planter then screw them on.Be sure to put a screw into each of the supports through the base board as well as each of the side boards. The support boards will keep the planter from bowing due to the weight of the soil.

You are finished! You can paint your planter if you want. I did not. Thank you!