L shaped planter boxes are a brilliant way to maximize gardening space in a corner or along a fence line. With their simple 90 degree angle design, these raised garden beds allow you to fit more plants into compact areas But you don’t need to buy pre-made planter boxes when you can easily build your own custom L shaped planter tailored to your exact space with these DIY plans
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll provide detailed L shaped planter box plans to help you construct durable planting boxes for growing vegetables, herbs, flowers and more. Follow along step-by-step as we break down the process of building your own L shaped raised bed from scratch.
Benefits of L Shaped Planter Boxes
Before diving into the building instructions, let’s look at why L shaped boxes are so useful:
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Make the most of wasted corner space in your yard or garden
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Fit more plants into a small footprint
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Create an organized, clean-lined growing area.
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Improve drainage and access with raised bed height.
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Contain and separate different plants within the boundaries.
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Provide vertical height for crops like tomatoes and cucumbers.
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Prevent weed and grass invasion of planting beds.
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Ultimate control over soil quality and composition.
With the right DIY techniques, you can build durable L shaped planters tailored to your garden. Now let’s get into the plans!
Planning Your Custom L Shaped Garden Bed
When designing your L shaped planter, consider these factors:
Location – Choose a level, sunny spot with water access. Avoid trees and roots.
Size – Standard widths are 3-5 feet. Size each side based on available space.
Height – Standard is 10-18 inches. Go taller for deep-rooted plants.
Shape – The “L” can have equal or different length sides.
Materials – Weather resistant woods like cedar and redwood work best.
Soil – Use high quality potting mix with amendments.
Sketch your layout and measure the space to determine dimensions and material needs.
Constructing the L Shaped Garden Bed Frame
You’ll need:
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2×6 or 2×8 boards for the sides (cedar or redwood)
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2×2 boards for corner supports
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3” exterior screws
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Exterior wood glue
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Power drill and drivers
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Saw (circular, miter or handsaw)
Follow these steps:
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Cut 2×6 or 2×8 boards to the needed lengths for the L sides per your measurements.
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Join corners with 2×2 blocks, staggering screws. Apply wood glue for strength.
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Attach two shorter boards cut to width to complete the “L” shape.
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Add supports every 4-5 feet along the length.
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Pre-drill holes. Use exterior rated screws.
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Check 90 degree angles before securing.
Once your wooden frame is built, it’s ready for installation and filling.
Installing and Filling the L Shaped Planter Box
To set up for planting:
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Level and secure the frame where desired.
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Outline the shape or dig trenches.
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Loosen and grade the soil beneath to improve drainage.
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Line the bottom with weed cloth to block weeds/grass.
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Fill with potting soil, compost, manure and amendments.
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Leave 2-3 inches below rim for mulch.
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Consider adding drip irrigation tubes.
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Top with mulch once planted to retain moisture and prevent weeds.
Use high quality potting mix for drainage and nutrients. Now it’s time to plant!
What to Grow in an L Shaped Raised Bed
L shaped planter boxes work great for:
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Tomato, pepper, eggplant plants – trellis one side.
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Pole beans, peas, cucumbers grown vertically.
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Lettuce, kale, spinach, salad greens.
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Radishes, carrots, beets, turnips.
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Herbs like basil, parsley, oregano, chives.
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Annual flowers like zinnias, petunias, marigolds.
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Vines like pumpkins, melons, squash.
Get creative with plant combinations! The shape maximizes space for variety.
Maintaining Your L Shaped Planter Box
Follow these tips:
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Replenish mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
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Prune back overgrown foliage and remove spent plants.
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Check/water soil weekly when top few inches are dry.
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Fertilize throughout growing season as needed.
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Use cloches or cold frames to protect young plants.
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Repair cracks and replace rotten wood boards as needed.
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Empty, amend and refill soil yearly for best nutrition.
Proper care and maintenance will give you years of enjoyment from a custom L shaped planter box. The DIY effort is well worth it!
Customize Your L Shaped Planter Box Design
The beauty of building your own L shaped raised bed is you can customize it to perfectly suit your space and needs:
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Make it taller for deep rooted crops or accessibility.
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Use smaller/thinner boards for portable, lightweight planters.
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Stain or paint the wood frame to match your color scheme.
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Add trellises, arches, hooks and other accessories.
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Include a bench or ledge along one side for seating.
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Attach decorative trim, latticework, casters or finishes.
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Construct a matching lid or cover to extend the season.
With a weekend DIY project, you can create a custom L shaped raised bed that is both functional and beautiful. The possibilities are endless, so don’t settle for a boring off-the-shelf planter box.
Build your own L shaped planter box precisely tailored to your space and gardening needs!
Build Your Own Raised Garden Bed
If you’re a fan of planting flowers and herbs, raised garden beds offer a great solution for utilizing any available space. This 6×6 L-shaped raised garden bed is perfect for anyone looking to create a garden on a bare, level surface.
The L-shaped design of the bed allows it to fit seamlessly around corners, making it a popular choice for those looking to establish a garden in the corner or edge of their yard. You can even arrange pairs of these garden beds at the center of your garden to create an attractive focal point with blooming flowers.
Attention to detail has been woven into every aspect of this bed to ensure versatility and performance. With a depth of 1′ 4½”, it’s ideal for deep-rooted plants such as tomatoes and blueberries, promoting healthy root growth and strength.
Despite its compact size, this raised garden bed provides ample space for growing a variety of plants, including vegetables, herbs, greenery, and flowers. Homeowners with larger gardens can easily expand their growing area by adding rectangular raised beds to the sides of the L-shaped bed, creating a solid L-shape while maximizing productivity.
3 Reasons to Build 6×6 Raised Garden Bed
Clear instructions: we provide clear, step-by-step instructions for building your raised garden bed, making the process much easier to follow.
$23 DIY Planter Box
FAQ
What kind of wood should you use for a planter box?
There are a million types of wood in this world and they all react differently to outdoor conditions. The best wood to use on planter boxes is water and insect resistant. Cedar and Redwood are the two main types that are recommended for this type of outdoor use. You can also use Teak, but it’s more expensive.
What is the best thing to line a planter box with?
Landscape fabric to line the bottom. It will allow water to drain out but will retain your soil.
What is the ideal depth for a planter box?
Some types of plants, such as lettuce and herbs, have shallow roots. So, they can thrive in a gardening container that’s only 6 inches deep. Other plants like tomatoes, carrots, and potatoes require more rooting depth. They need a planting box that’s at least 12 inches deep.
What do you put in the bottom of a deep planter box?
If you are filling a deep container go ahead and fill the bottom with rocks, pebbles, stones, or broken up clay pots to reduce the amount of soil needed, this will also help with drainage, and depending on what you use will reduce the weight of your pot.
What are L shaped planter boxes?
L shaped planter boxes are a great way to maximize gardening space in a corner or along a fence line. With a simple 90 degree angle design these raised garden beds let you fit more plants into compact areas. But you don’t have to buy pre-made planter boxes.
What is a DIY planter box?
Flower boxes add character and beautify the entrance of your garden, deck or patio; a DIY planter box creates a warm and welcoming feeling and is ideal for an event entrance. DIY planter box can also be built to grow plants to provide you with fresh herbs and veggies year round. You can either buy or make them yourself using some planter box plans.
What can you plant in a L shaped planter box?
L shaped planter boxes are great for all kinds of flowers, herbs and vegetables including: Tomato, pepper and eggplant plants. Trellis one side. Pole beans, peas or cucumbers grown vertically. Lettuce, kale, spinach and salad greens. Radishes, carrots, beets and turnips. Herbs like basil, parsley, oregano and chives.
How many free garden planter box plans are there?
This detailed article is about 10 absolutely free garden planter box plans. Use these plans to build a decorative planter box for your front porch, a nice pergola with planter for the garden or even a nice waist high vegetable planter.
What is a raised planter box?
This raised planter box plan from Lazy Guy DIY gives you a space for everything you need for a raised vegetable garden. There are three areas for plants in the garden allowing you to grow whatever your heart desires. There are also separate areas for composting. The compost feeds the surrounding plants, giving them the nutrients needed for growth.
How to build a garden planter box for vegetables?
When you have a couple of these garden planter boxes your requirement of vegetables could be grown at home. Steps to build this planter box plan for vegetables. Make assessment for your needs. Build the box by joining the boards together. Attach the frame legs using glue and screws. Make drainage hole at bottom.