Plant ladder

Make your own custom shelf for those precious potted treasures.

How to make a plant ladder

Top tip: Get growing with colour at your place. Paint terracotta pots with Resene Aquapel & Terracotta Sealer and Resene testpots to add extra colour to your garden.

You will need

Materials:

8 linear metres of 70mm x 45mm cedar or macrocarpa. I have used reclaimed timber
1200mm x 500mm x 18mm exterior plywood
32 x 75mm screws
36 x 50mm screws
Your choice of paint or finish

Tools:

Measure tape and pencil
Square
Mitre saw or hand saw
Track saw
Drill with 4mm drill bit and square bit
Sandpaper
Paintbrush

Cut List:

Frame:
- 2 x 1400mm with square ends
- 2 x 1400mm with a 9-degree angle at each end
Brackets:
- 2 x 180mm
- 2 x 240mm
- 2 x 300mm
- 2 x 350m
Shelves:
- 500mm x 180mm
- 500mm x 240mm
- 500mm x 300mm
- 500mm x 350mm

Health & Safety: When using power tools always wear goggles and ear defenders, and ensure all jewellery is tucked away, hair tied back and don’t wear loose clothing that may get tangled.

Cost: $70 for exterior plywood and fixings. This excludes Resene products. I used Resene exterior wood stain in Resene Bark.

Instructions

Learn how to make a plant ladder for your garden:

Plant ladder - Step 1 Step 1
Measure up your frame timber and cut to size.

Plant ladder - Step 2 Step 2
Lay out the frame legs and square at the top end, and measure out for shelves.

Plant ladder - Step 3 Step 3
Measure and cut the exterior plywood to size for the shelves. Sand the edges.

Plant ladder - Step 4 Step 4
Measure and pre-drill holes on the shelving brackets.

Plant ladder - Step 5 Step 5
Square each bracket and screw into place using the 75mm screws.

Plant ladder - Step 6 Step 6
Apply paint or finish of your choice.

Plant ladder - Step 7 Step 7
Measure for the shelving screws at 22mm from the edge of the timber.

Plant ladder - Step 8 Step 8
Pre-drill holes on the shelves for easier installation. Screw the shelves in to place using the 50mm screws, starting at the bottom and working up.

Plant ladder - finished Finished project
Add your precious potted treasures and enjoy.

Project by: Jane Horne

Jane Horne and partner Simon Bartholomew design and develop projects from their studio in Christchurch, managing projects throughout the South Island.

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