This planter box is built with a top and a bottom exterior frame; then you affix cedar panels to frame and add bottom panels. After that, just add plants for a touch of spring anywhere you want to put it!

Expert tip: Always draw a diagram before you build anything. Remember: If you can't draw it, you can't build it! You don’t have to be Leonardo Divinci, just that YOU can read it!! Your diagram will be useful in helping you determine size of your project and amount of lumber you'll need. Simply take finished diagram with you when you go shopping, and you'll be sure to get everything your project requires.

Materials: Four Lengths of 26 Inch 1x2 Cedar

Four Lengths of 13 Inch 1x2 Cedar

Twelve Side & End Panels 5 ½ Inches x 12 ¼

Two Base Panels 1 Inch x 6 Inches x 24 Inches

Wood glue

Galvanized nails

Hammer

Stainless-steel or Ceramic Coated Screws

Drill driver and bits

Speed square

Note: All our sections were precut, so they just need assembly. If you can't or don't wish to cut your own lumber, home-supply stores will generally cut it for you for a small fee.

Expert tip: Before you begin hammering, use sandpaper to rough up striking surface of your hammer. Then it's less likely to slip while you're working.

Building Frames

Build top and bottom frames out of 1x2 cedar strips. You'll be butting ends together, so no mitering will be necessary.

1.Fasten two 26" strips to two 13" strips to form each rectangular frame. (You'll need to ensure that length remains 26"; to do this, butt ends of shorter strip against longer strips. The thickness of two longer strips will add an inch to each end of shorter strips, increasing their length to 16". Do this at each end of longer strips to form a rectangular frame 26" long and 16" wide.)

2. Apply a bead of wood glue to junctions of strips; then nail together with a single nail in each junction in preparation for inserting screws to hold them more securely.

1. First, determine types of birds you see around your backyard. Then figure out which ones will use a birdhouse. Some birds build nests in trees or bushes, such as doves, cardinals, and mockingbirds. Others may make their nests on ground or even burrows down in ground. Only cavity nesting birds will use a birdhouse. Examples of common cavity nesting birds are chickadees, flickers, and bluebirds. Determine type of bird that you wish to use birdhouse.

2. Determine dimensions of birdhouse. Most birds require different sizes of birdhouses as well as entrance holes. Below you will find a chart with some specs to build houses for various common cavity nesting birds:

3. When selecting wood to use, use plain untreated lumber. Do not use exterior grade plywood (contains formaldehyde) or pressure-treated lumber (contains toxic preservatives.) Plastic and metal often overheat in hot summer sun.