How to Make a Birdhouse Planter

Here, you will find step-by-step instructions leading you through the construction of this quaint, rustic planter box. Simple in design, this project goes together quickly and will look wonderful on your patio or in your garden. Using your talent and imagination, in a few short hours you will easily have completed this fun project.

Materials:

• Cedar wood – 15’ x 8” wide x 5/8” thick
• 66 brass flathead phillips wood screws (1-1/8”)
• 6 brass flathead phillips wood screws (1-3/4”)
• Phillips screw driver
• 4 metal hearts (or 6” x 2” tin & tin snips)
• 4 small nails
• Rectangular plastic planting tub
• Potting soil
• Plants
• Wood Stain
• Saw

Cutting Instructions:

1. Plane wood to 5/8” thick. Cut 15’ board down center to make two 15’ x 4” boards. Use these to cut the following pieces.
   
2. Peaks of the birdhouses: Left side: Cut 3 pieces 3-3/8” x 3”
   
3. Right side: 3-3/8” x 3-1/2”
   
4. Right side overlaps left side to form peak.
   
5. Left and Right Birdhouse: Cut 2 for each side (total of four) 5-1/2” at peak, 3-3/4” on either side and 3-5/16 across bottom. Note: Each birdhouse is 2 pieces thick.
   
6. Center Birdhouse: Cut 2 = 6” at peak, 4-1/4” on either side and 3-5/16” across bottom.
   
7. Back legs (left and right sides): Cut 2 = 20” x 3-5/16” to top peak. Cut two edges of one end at 45 degree angle to form peak (should measure 15-1/2” to lower angle).
   
8. 2nd left and 2nd right Back Slats: Cut 2 = 19-3/4” x 3-5/16” Bottom edges of these pieces are even with bottom of box. They are not leg support.
   
9. Center Back Slat: Cut 1 = 25” x 3-5/16”
   
10. Box Sides: Cut 4 = 7” x 3-3/8”
    
11. Box Back & Front: Cut 4 = 24” x 3-1/2”
    
12. Box Bottom: Cut 2 = 25-1/4” x 3-1/2”
    
13. Front Legs: Cut 2 = 3-3/8” wide x 10” long

Construction:

1. Screw box together (using shorter 1-1/8” screws—save longer ones for birdhouse construction), front sides, back and then bottom. See drawing for screw placement.
   
2. Screw front legs to box. Top edge of leg should be even with op edge of box. Approximately 3” of leg should extend below box bottom.
   
3. Attach two birdhouse sections to each of the two 20” back leg pieces and the center 25” piece with two (1-3/4”) screws each from back. Cut 4 hearts from thin metal with tin snips.
   
   Rust them by putting them in vinegar for a few hours. When rusted, nail these to center of birdhouse sections and one to center front of planter box. Place roof peaks on top of birdhouse sections, being careful to overlap right over left on all three so they look uniform. Attach with 2 screws in each peak.
   
4. Screw right and left back legs to back of box. Legs should extend below box approximately 3” and be level with front legs.
   
5. Evenly space the three remaining back slats and screw on.
   
6. Stain wood.
   
7. Purchase plastic rectangular shaped planter tub for lining. Pot plants.