How to Build Curved Wood Planters

Wooden planters provide an elegant way to display your flowers, herbs and other plants around your outdoor space. Instead of purchasing wooden planters with curved top edges, you can build your own. Make the planters out of cedar. It has natural rot- and insect-resistant properties and weathers beautifully over time to a silver-gray color. Curve the long side edges of the planter gracefully and cut out a heart shape at the top of the curve for a classic country accent.

Step 1

Place the two 1- by 12- by 24-inch boards on a work surface with the 12- by 24-inch sides flat. Form the flexible curve ruler on one 24-inch side of each board. Form the curve so that it curves gracefully down from the center of the 24-inch sides. The curve should end 4 inches down from the 24-inch edge on each end. Trace along the flexible curve ruler with a pencil to transfer the curve to the top 24-inch edge of each board.

Step 2

Cut the curve off from the two boards with a band saw. Guide the boards through the saw as you follow along the pencil line in a steady motion, just fast enough to allow the blade to cut through the wood to complete each cut. Sand the cut edges with a fine-grit sanding block. These are the side boards.

Step 3

Draw an approximately 2- by 2-inch heart in the center of each curved 24-inch edge of the two side boards. Start the heart 1 inch down from the edge of the board.

Step 4

Drill a 1/2-inch hole through the center of each heart using a drill equipped with a 1/2-inch drill bit. Slide the blade of the jigsaw through each 1/2-inch hole and cut out the heart shape. Sand the cut edges with a piece of fine-grit sandpaper.

Step 5

Place the 1- by 8- by 8-inch boards parallel to each other on a work surface with the inside edges 22.5 inches apart. The 1- by 8-inch ends should be flat against the work surface. These are the end boards. Position the 1- by 8- by 22.5-inch board between the ends. The 8- by 22.5-inch side should be flat on the work surface. This is the bottom. Butt the sides on each side of the ends and bottom to form a rectangular box assembly. The curved edge should be facing up.

Step 6

Drive stainless steel wood screws through the ends and sides into the bottom board every 4 inches with a screw gun. Fasten the sides to the ends in the same manner.

Step 7

Turn the assembly upside down so that the bottom is facing up. Drill a 1/8-inch hole through the center and four corners of the bottom board for drainage using a drill equipped with a 1/8-inch bit.