For the planters, you’ll want to create a box that fits whatever dimensions you’d like, but I’ll give you the dimension we made mine. I wanted the finished boxes to be 15″ high, 5″ deep, and 30″ long for the planter near the top of the bed and 37.75″ long for the other planter at the bottom of the bed. For the 30″ wide box, you’ll need to cut your wood so that you have two side panels that are 15″ x 3.5″ (the two 3/4″ thick front and back panels will make it 5″ deep overall once added), one bottom panel that is 28.5″ x 3.5″, and two panels for the front and back that are 15″ x 30″. Use wood glue and screws (or a nail gun) to attach the side panels to your bottom panel, and then attach your back panel to the sides and bottom.
Repeat the measurements for your 37.75″ wide box if you are making one of those, but just make the length of the front and back board 37.75″ instead of 30″, and your bottom board length 36.25″ instead of 28.5″.
Once you have the sides and back of your board together, cut and add a strip of dowel rod to sit about 2″ from the top of your planter box all the way around. This will be the shelf your lid sits on. It’s easier to glue and nail the dowel rod in before you add the front panel as it gets to be a tight space in there once all sides are on, so that’s why I would attach them on before you finish assembling your box. Attach a strip of dowel rod to the front panel as well in the same spot so it will be a continuous shelf all the way around when attached. Just cut it 1/2″ shy of the edges on both sides so it will have room to sit flush with the side dowels once attached.
Add your front panel with glue and screws/nails and you’re ready to paint your planter! Paint the box whatever color you like.
For the lid, measure the inside of your planter box and cut a piece of wood that fits the exact dimensions of the inside (make it a little smaller, if anything, so it goes in and out easily). Use a drill and a jigsaw to cut a small 1/4-1/2″ wide slit down the middle of your planter box lid to make an opening for your plants to “grow” through (should be centered on the board and about 2″ away from each edge). I drilled a hole big enough for my jigsaw blade to fit into on each end (that gives you a point of entry for your saw blade) and then used a ruler to draw straight lines to follow with the saw to the other end. Once the slit was cut, I painted the top of the lid a light brown to be the “dirt” that the plants are growing from.