Vertical Garden

While the obvious benefit to vertical gardening is that you can grow more vegetables in less space, you can also garden while seated, the plants have plenty of air circulation, and bugs can't get to the plants as easily. In addition, because the planter is on casters, you can move it around the deck.

Supplies you'll need to build a vertical garden planter:

• cedar planks
  
• saw
  
• clamps
  
• hammer
  
• 4 swivel casters with nuts, bolts and washers
  
• box of screws
  
• tape measurer
  
• cordless drill
  
• wood preserver and paint brush
  
• staple gun and roofing material
  
• safety goggles
  

Cut the planks into the following dimensions:

• for the bottom tier: two 1x8s, 36 inches long; two 1x4s, 36 inches long; two 1x8s, 25.5 inches long; and two 1x4s, 25.5 inches long
  
• for the middle tier: two 1x6s, 36-inches long; and two 1x6s, 16-inches long
  
• for the top tier: two 1x4s, 36 inches long; and two 1x4s, 8-inches long
  
• for braces and stakes: 2-inch wide strips
  
  After cutting the lumber, build the base of the box. Cut two 36-inch-long cedar planks and lay them out parallel, two feet apart. Top them with cross pieces, cut to two feet long. Leave a little space in between for drainage and attach with screws. Predrill holes for the casters on each corner, and attach the casters to the bottom.

Attach tall stakes to the back corners for the trellis and added support to the back. Figure B shows the completed bottom box.

Build the two smaller boxes and stack them on top of the bottom box, in a stair step formation (figure C). Brace the side board with two-inch strips. Figure D shows the completed structure.

Apply a coat of wood preservative to the inside and outside. Use the staple gun to line the inside of the boxes with roofing material to give the plants extra protection. Drill drainage holes in the bottom so that you won't flood your vegetables.