Rustic Ladder Plant Display

I have an easy project to share with you today! I love using reclaimed wood for outdoor projects. Sometimes I just make stuff up as I go along, and learn better ways to do things. The next rustic ladder plant display I make will be a little different.

I’m still working my way through the yummylicious perfectly weathered reclaimed wood including fence boards, 2×4’s, 4×4’s and MORE!

For this project I chose a 4×4 and a 2×4. The 4×4 about 6 feet, the 2×4 was probably 8 feet.

*This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.*

The first order of business was to cut the 4×4 in half. That’s why you see both tape measures laying there. I keep the orange one on this saw stand, and my self centering tape measure is generally on my smaller compound miter saw. The self centering was used to measure the length of the board and quickly tells me where the center of the board is. <math challenged>  

After cutting the 4×4 in half, I cut one end at an angle to allow it to rest easily on the ground or driveway.

I cut it on an angle at approximately 33°

I tested the angle on the driveway to see how much slope I got on the 4×4. Works for me!

I cut three pieces of the weathered 2×4 at 13” in length.

I used a bar clamp to hold the uprights together, placing one of the “shelves” on the lower end and I worked on securing the top shelf with 4” wood screws

A small level is a must to make sure that the shelf is level to the ground WHILE the display ladder is leaning against a solid surface.

I have been using this extra long drill bit for years when I need a pilot hole in bed posts for headboard benches.

You don’t have to drill pilot holes, but these long screws get a little floppy, so having the pilot holes just makes things a little easier. I put one screw in both sides of all the shelves, and then went back and added a second screw on each. Countersinking all screws a) to hide them and b) to give them more hold into the 2×4 shelf.

I took these photos so you could see (and I could remember) the measurements of each of the stages. The overall length of the 4×4 is about 31.75”. There is about 9” clearance between the shelves, and each of the shelves are 13” in length. The bottom right image shows the angle that will allow the rustic ladder display to lean and make the shelves level.

Here it is leaning up against my diy picket fence. The best thing about this project? It can be out in the weather for many more years.

More garden ideas here

PIN IT!

I only had one planter to display on it for this photo shoot. When I make another, I will make it taller using a longer 4×4. Since I didn’t really know what I was doing I just grabbed the first one I could find.    I might cut the top of the 4×4 on an angle the next time.

You could make this with new lumber, but I would use treated lumber for outdoors.

I love making fun and easy projects to fill the time at the end of a day or while I’m waiting for paint to dry. There is  still a lot of this reclaimed lumber left in my stash for many more projects.

See another fun reclaimed wood planter here

gail