Plant 'bookcase'

Mark Rayner comes up with a simple, space-saving way of displaying plants. This inexpensive all-weather shelving unit provides the perfect place to grow and show potted plants, cuttings and seedlings.

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You will need: 150mm x 25mm rough sawn timber fence palings cut to the following lengths: 7 of 1800mm and 4 of 915mm. 50mm galvanised jolt head nails, exterior PVA glue, hammer, saw, sandpaper, set square, pencil, paintbrush and tape measure. Resene Quick Dry water borne primer undercoat and Resene Lumbersider tinted to Resene Hullabaloo and Resene Retro.

To get the look: Mark also painted the back wall of the shed with Resene Lumbersider tinted to Resene Retro.

Top tip: Although this unit is quite sturdy, it might be advisable in exposed areas to secure it to the background wall with a small, right-angled bracket.

Step one
Measure and cut the timber lengths listed above and smooth any rough edges with sandpaper.

Step two
Place two 1800mm lengths together. Mark along each edge at about 450mm intervals, using the back of the saw or set square to ensure the lines are at right angles. These will be the unit's sides.

Step three
Fix the shorter lengths to the first side, as shown, aligning the centre of each plank with the pencil mark. Fix into position with PVA glue and three 50mm nails.

Step four
Continue until all four shelves are in position, then turn the unit over and attach the second side, again aligning the centre of each shelf with the pencil mark.

Step five
Turn the unit face down. With the set square, check each of its corners is still at right angles. To form the unit's back, fix the remaining 1800mm lengths of timber into place with PVA glue and nails.

Step six
Apply one coat of Resene Quick Dry to the entire unit and allow it to dry for two hours.

Step seven
Apply two coats of Resene Hullabaloo to both sides of the back of the unit, again allowing two hours for each coat to dry.

Step eight
Apply two coats of Resene Retro to the shelves and sides of the unit, cutting in along the back edges with a narrower brush, as shown. Allow two . hours for each coat to dry.

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