Build a bench seat and planter box

Gather your supplies

• Planter boxes and bench supports - 200 x 75mm treated pine sleepers
• Capping and bench decking - 135 x 19mm spotted gum decking
• Screen Up base plates, anchor plates, corner posts and spacing blocks.
• Slats, cover strips, bench edging - 86 x 19mm spotted gum decking

You'll also need

Drill; spirit level; 200mm batten screws for treated pine; power saw; 1 Litre Dulux Weathershield exterior paint in Domino; painting equipment; 50mm decking screws; 85mm galvanised batten screws; 15mm button head galvanised screws; 1 litre natural decking oil; garden soil; selected plants.

Here's how

STEP 1 Lay out sleepers for planter boxes and bench in an L shape 2.7 x 2m and 600mm wide. Make sleepers level and screw together at corners using 200mm batten screws.

STEP 2 Place second row of sleepers on top of first. At corners, make sleepers overlap joins on row below. Screw together then screw on an angle through second row into first. Repeat to lay a third row of sleepers along back and sides of L shape.

STEP 3 Cut 2 bench supports, one for each end of L shape, both will sit 200mm from ends of L shape and overhang front edges by 550mm. To secure these supports, screw down through them into sleepers at front of planter box and through sleepers at back of wall.

STEP 4 For longer bench support, cut a piece to meet shorter one on short side of the L shape. Where these 2 pieces meet, screw on an angle to join. Then fit a support to sit evenly between the long one and the other support on the long side of the L.

STEP 5 Cut sleepers to complete third row of sleepers along front of planter boxes. Notch them to fit around bench supports. Screw at corners, into row below and down into bench supports.

STEP 6 Install capping to top of planter box with decking screws. Make boards overhang each side of walls evenly. Mitre joins in corners.

STEP 7 In back corner at 1 end of planter box, place screen base plate centrally on capping. Predrill and screw through capping into sleeper wall with 85mm batten screws. Repeat to attach base plate to back corner where the 2 sides of L meet and corner at other end of L .

STEP 8 Calculate height of corner posts on planter box, which is in multiples of your slat width plus 20mm spacing block between them. Use hacksaw to cut posts to this length. Place over base plate and join using screws provided.

STEP 9 Cut slats to fit between posts. Insert spacing block in posts followed by a slat then another block. Continue installing slats in this manner until you reach top of post. Screw supplied lock-in bracket to top slat then place cap on top of post.

STEP 10 On long runs of slats between posts, install cover strip from corner post to act as a brace. Place blocks between slats to suit spacing at posts and screw cover strip into back of slats using 15mm button head screws.

STEP 11 Paint visible areas of planter boxes in two coats of Dulux weathershield exterior paint in Domino. Allow to dry after each coat as per instructions.

STEP 12 To support ends of decking where it meets short side of L on bench, screw batten to side of planter box, level with bench supports. Cut decking to length so it is flush with edges and ends of bench supports. Screw to supports and battens, leaving a 3mm gap between boards.

STEP 13 Cut 90mm decking boards to fit along edges of bench, mitring joins at corners. At corner of bench, screw block to side of bench support to screw decking into. Screw decking to bench supports.

STEP 14 Cut 90mm decking to fit vertically on planter boxes to hide joins at corners. Cut down wide decking board along its length to fit in gap between seat decking and capping on planter boxes. Screw to planter box, butting into decking at corners.

STEP 15  Continue decking of the same width between corners at ends of planter boxes

STEP 16 Apply two coats natural decking oil to all spotted gum, allowing to dry between coats as per decking oil instructions.

STEP 17 Fill planter box with quality garden mix then put in your selected plants. Mix foliage shapes, heights and colours for a tropical look.