DIY large concrete planters-How to make it in one weekend

Do you want to DIY large concrete planters in one weekend? Use these simple methods to build a Concrete planter for your front or back patio.

DIY these large concrete planters in one weekend

Hi there! We have been working tirelessly in our backyard to create our little outdoor oasis. There’s a lot of design planning and DIY projects going on for this makeover. We have been making great strides and can’t wait to show you the progress. You can see where we started and how we built our pergola in my previous posts. Today, I want to share our DIY large concrete planters that my husband built using plywood and concrete.

The inspiration…

My inspiration came from these enormous planters from a terrace space designed by New York designer Gunn Landscape architects.

I loved the way the two large pots flank the sides of the small patio. This layout from the inspiration yard was similar to ours, so it was a perfect jumping-off point for this makeover.

Also, l wanted to add trees to soften our space and to make it feel cozy. Since our backyard is fully paved we didn’t have any dirt areas to plant trees except for a small section along the fence. These planters allowed us to incorporate a couple of tall trees.

So, I went perusing the internet endlessly to purchase planters with the right look and size for space. Many of the ones I found were too small or resin pots, that just wouldn’t do. I pitched the idea to my husband, and behold he volunteered to DIY the concrete planters without questioning my sanity. I say go for it!

At first, we were contemplating which materials to use for our planters. We were considering either wood or concrete. However, I was concerned with making such a large planter with wood, not sure how durable it will be for a lengthy period of time. So, we decided to build it with concrete… its strong, durable, easy to work with, and will get a similar feel as the inspiration planters!

Here is how we did it…

Supply list for our 24″W X 24″DX 32″H Planter

• 6 – 80 lb bags of Quikrete concrete mix
• Trowel
• Water
• 3/4″ Plywood
• Circular saw
• Rubber mallet
• screws
• Duck tape
• 2″ pvc pipe – cut to 4″ height

How to DIY large concrete planter

First, built two boxes, one 24″ X 32″ square box and one 22″ X 30″ square box by cutting out the plywood to desired sizes.

For the larger plywood box, cut 4-24″ X 32″ panels and 24″ X 24″ for the bottom of the box.

For the smaller plywood box, cut out 4 – 22″ X 32″ panels and then cut each of them into half, 11″ X 32″. This will make it easier to remove the interior pieces after the cement sets. Finally, cut 22″ X 22″ for the bottom of the smaller box.

Drill a 2″ hole on the bottom of the large box and put the PVC pipe through. This will create the drainage for the planter. The PVC pipe should be 2″ above the base of the box. Cover the top of the PVC pipe so that cement doesn’t get inside.

Let’s pour some concrete…

After completing the two plywood boxes, we are ready to start forming the concrete planter.

Mix the concrete according to the directions on the bag, mix till you have a peanut butter consistency. Don’t add too much water, this can cause cracks while the concrete is drying.

Now, you are ready to pour the concrete. Pour a 2″ layer of concrete into the large box. This is the bottom of your concrete planter.

Put the smaller box inside the large box and space evenly. Make sure the edges are equal in size all around.

We cut out 2″ blocks and screwed them to the edges to ensure equal space all around.

It’s time to pour the concrete inside the mold. As you are putting in the concrete, tap the box with the rubber mallet to make sure the concrete falls to the bottom.

Continue tapping all around the box, this will break up the bubbles and gaps in the concrete. More vigorous tapping will cause fewer holes in the concrete.

Once the concrete is completely dried, we started to remove the plywood forms to reveal the planter. The outer pieces screwed off very easily. However, the inside was a bit more difficult. We had to use a flat screwdriver and the mallet to pry the plywood.

We were thrilled at the way it came out!

Afterward, sand the edges and any rough area you want to smoothen.

Some holes didn’t break up from the tapping, but in the end, I really like them. I felt it added to the character of the planter. We painted it with Valspar Concrete stain and sealer.

Time to plant… We had purchased a dwarf apple tree to plant in one pot. Eventually, I’ll plant a fig tree in the second planter. For now, I planted a hydrangea bush till I get a fig tree. The planters are so big that they may be able to hold both the hydrangea plant and the fig tree.

There you have it, large DIY concrete planters! I am obsessed with the way they turned out. With a bit of DIY enthusiasm, you would really enjoy experimenting with concrete. You can create different shapes sizes and colors. Also, you don’t need to create such large planters as we did, you can create any size you need for your space.

Here are a few more concrete projects to consider.

Check out an adorable inexpensive way to create smaller cement planters here,

You can also check out some really fun DIY projects at Remodelaholic using cement mix, molds such as old dishes or containers, and your imagination. 

Pinterest is a great place to start to get more ideas on various techniques and styles.

Thank you for visiting