Project Inspiration
I wanted to create a garden on my porch and began seeing a lot of little plant stands and other types of hangers around my apartment complex. I designed a simple plant ladder that could hang a wide variety of plants. Nature is a way we can connect with God through his creations. We are blessed with so many aesthetically pleasing flora that also provide us a source of food, medicine, and mental wellbeing. God intended us to be apart of nature and be stewards of his creation. Making time for nature each week is important for me to maintain a connection with God. It provides me with an opportunity for prayer, gratitude of His gifts, and caring for His creation.
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.”
Genesis 2:15
Tools Needed
- Circular Saw
- Drill or Impact Driver
- Sander
- Tape Measure
- Paint Brush/Sprayer/Rag
- Mask (N95) or Respirator for Sanding
Materials
This project makes use of untreated softwood lumber commonly found in hardware stores.
- 2 x 4 x 8 ft QTY: 2
- 1 x 4 x 8 ft QTY: 4
- Wood Glue (Exterior)
- 1-1/2″ Deck Screws
- P120/P150 Sandpaper
- Wood Stain or Paint
How To
STEP 1
You will begin by cutting the lumber to the require lengths below. A circular saw or other method can be used. Modify the dimensions as needed as the ones listed were what allowed me to fit them through a doorway.
Cut List
- 1×4 @ 31-3/4″ QTY: 12
- 2×4 @ 79″ QTY:2
STEP 2
The next step will be to create a jig so that we have even measurements between the ladder steps. Because lumber has standard sizing, a 1×4 will have a standard width of 3.5″. We can use these standard sizes to help build jigs and spacers for many different woodworking projects. When designing something, it is helpful to think about how they sizes may be used to your advantage to make the build easier.
A couple pieces of scrap 1×4 allowed me to make this jig. The jig was creating using two deck screws and the cuts below.
- 1×4 @ 12″
- 1×4 @ 3-1/2″
Another useful jig will be a 2×4 or 1×4 cut at 25″ long. This will help square up and stabilize the vertical 2x4s while screwing in the ladder steps. This is not necessary, but can help assembly. It is just placed between the boards and removed after everything is assembled.
STEP 3
The next step is to start assembly. I took my 2×4’s and put one end up against a wall to keep them sturdy. The other end is where I placed my 25″ piece. You should place some wood glue on each side of the ladder step and then drill in your screws. One screw was used on each side. I started at the end of the 2×4 ladder with one step assembled and then used my spacer jig to align the next step on each side. Checking this along each side allowed me to maintain the same distance between each step and keep the steps parallel. Repeat this process for all the ladder steps. The last set is where two steps were butted against each other. This was an oversight in the measurements, but it looked nice so I kept it rather than shortening the 2×4 length a bit.
STEP 4
Sanding will be needed to remove the kiln grading stamps and provide a porous surface for staining the wood. This step and the next staining step should have been done before assembly to help reach some harder areas, but it still worked out ok.
STEP 5
The last step for me was to stain the wood. The project would be used outdoors and be exposed to a lot of dirt, moisture, and bugs so I opted for a water repellent deck stain/sealer. This would hold up well and ensures the project last a while. I purchased a pack of screw in hooks and some hanging pots to complete the project. The end result turned out great!
