Assemble a rail-mounted planter
1 of 3Photo 1: Drill drain holes
Cut a 2-ft. length of vinyl gutter and
glue one of the end caps into place with
kitchen and bath adhesive caulk. Drill
1/2-in. drainage holes every 4 in. along the
bottom of the gutter.
2 of 3Photo 2: Assemble the parts
Slide both fascia support brackets
onto the gutter and glue the other end
cap into place.
3 of 3Photo 3: Mount on the railing
Screw the planter to the deck rail
through the fascia support brackets
using galvanized screws.
This lightweight, durable and attractive
deck planter is made from a
vinyl gutter, two
fascia support brackets
and two end caps. It's a
snap to make. Glue one of the end caps
in place and drill holes in the bottom of
the gutter so the water can drain (Photo
1). Slide two fascia support brackets
onto the gutter (Photo 2) and glue the
other end cap into place. If you want a
longer planter, be sure to add extra
brackets spaced about every 2 ft.—dirt
is heavy.
To prevent the soil from slipping
through the drainage holes, line the
gutter with newspaper or put shards of
old broken clay pots along the bottom.
Shallow planters like these have a
tendency to dry out. To cut your watering
chore in half, mix water-absorbing
polymer gel crystals (available at garden
centers) with your potting mix. Or buy
bags of soilless potting mix with the
polymer crystals already added.
If you want a color other than white,
use a spray paint formulated for plastic.
Screw the planter to your deck rail
(Photo 3), fill it with potting mix and
add your plants. Enjoy!
