Pot ladder

Mark Rayner shows how to create this simple display ladder for your favourite potted plants.

You will need: Seven 1.2m fence palings, 65mm treated pine, screws, paintbrush, pencil, exterior PVA glue, saw, screwdriver and tape measure, Resene Quick Dry and Resene Lumbersider tinted to Resene La Luna.

To get the look: Mark painted the raised bed with Resene Lumbersider tinted to Resene La Luna.

Here's another option: You can also transform an existing interior wooden ladder into an outdoor display stand for potted plants by replacing any hinges, nails and screws with stainless steel or galvanised ones to avoid problems with rust. Again, prime with Resene Quick Dry and finish off with two coats of Resene Lustacryl or Resene Enamacryl in your favourite Resene colour.

Step 1
Make a mark 60mm along from one end of one of the fence palings, as shown. Step 2: Use the back of the saw to rule a line from this mark to the adjacent corner, as shown. Saw along this line and keep the triangular offcut to one side.

Step 2
Use the back of the saw to rule a line from this mark to the adjacent corner, as shown. Saw along this line and keep the triangular offcut to one side.

Step 3
Repeat steps one and two to create two fence palings with angled ends, as shown. These will form the sloping sides of the display ladder.

Step 4
Measure, mark and cut four 400mm lengths from two of the remaining fence palings.

Step 5
Attach one of these 400mm lengths to the angled ends of the two sloping sides, as shown. Fix with PVA glue and 65mm screws.

Step 6
Fix the remaining 400mm lengths into position to form evenly-spaced shelves, approximately 300mm apart, using PVA glue and screws. Use the triangular offcut from Step 2 to ensure the shelves are at the same angle as the cut ends.

Step 7
Cut two of the remaining fence palings into 1075mm lengths and attach at right angles to the top of the display ladder to form the back legs. Again, fix with PVA glue and 65mm screws.

Step 8
Measure, mark and cut a piece of fence paling approximately 540mm and attach to the top of the display ladder, as shown, overlapping each side evenly. Fix with PVA glue and 65mm screws.

Step 9
Measure, mark and cut a piece of fence paling approximately 450mm and fix between the back legs of the display ladder, approximately 150mm up from the base. Attach with PVA glue and 65mm screws.

Step 10
Smooth the rough sawn edges with coarse sandpaper. Allow the glue to dry.

Step 11
Apply one coat of Resene Quick Dry to the display ladder and allow to dry.

Step 12
Apply two coats of Resene La Luna to the display ladder, allowing two hours for each coat to dry.

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