Cedar Slat Privacy Screen with Built-In Planter Trough

Cut everything first

Cut both 2x4 posts to 60", the four frame rails to 68", and trim each of the fourteen 1x4 slats to exactly 72" — most 6-footers are actually 72¼".

PRO TIP — Stack-cut the slats three at a time with a clamped speed square as a fence. Identical lengths matter more than perfect lengths.

Build the frame ladder-style on flat ground

Lay the two posts on your patio and screw the top and bottom rails between them, checking diagonals are equal — that’s your squareness check. Two screws per joint, countersunk.

Space and attach the slats

Use a scrap of 1x4 laid flat as your spacer for a ¾" gap, which reads as “designed” rather than “fence.” Start from the top rail down so any awkward final gap hides behind the trough.

PRO TIP — Run a chalk line down the middle and add one screw per slat there too — this is what prevents slat warp. We learned the hard way.

Build the trough box

A simple 5-board box: two 1x8 sides at 68", two ends at 10", one bottom ripped to fit. Drill nine ½" drainage holes in the bottom — skipping this is the #1 way these builds die.

Join screen to trough and line it

Stand the screen inside the back edge of the trough and screw through the trough’s back wall into both posts, four screws per post. Staple landscape fabric inside so soil never touches wood directly.

Finish, fill, plant

Two coats of penetrating oil, 4 hours apart, before filling. Then 3 cu ft of potting mix and whatever climbs in your zone — we used star jasmine. The soil weight (~90 lb wet) anchors the whole screen.

PRO TIP — Oil the slat edges and end grain generously; end grain drinks 10x more finish and is where graying starts.