Hi, Greg, Last summer, I put together a bunch of wooden "pots" to hold my collection. I started out using scrap wood of various types, but eventually settled on treated fence boards. I was able to put together about 50 of them, working in about an hour a week over a long period. Fiber board (used to make cheap furniture) did not hold up at all. Plywood starts to deteriorate after one winter here. The fence boards are still looking great however. I needed a way to cut down on container costs to hold the growing collection.
A couple of suggestions. Use stainless steel coated nails as well as glue to hold them together. The glue did not hold up for me once the containers became wet, but was helpful during the aging process by preventing the wood from warping. (Warping pulled some of the nails out during my initial efforts without the glue.) I had good results with "trim" nails sold for aluminum siding work. I eventually stopped using the glue and learned how to recognize how the wood would warp or age better for better results. A few of the containers had to be re-assembled to fix ones that warped too much or in the "wrong" direction.
All my wooden containers were treated with a water sealant. This did help preserve them. However, the use of a deck paint/treatment was not helpful. That pealed off quickly for some reason.
The fence boards are cheap, especially when found on sale. I was able to get some for as little at $.70 on sale. The are 6' by 5.5", so are a good size for making troughs (but can be used to assemble wider containers as well). Just be careful to not breathe any dust when you are cutting or sanding them. I used them to provide a "rustic" look to the containers and know that they will last a long time. I have one wooden container that my dad built using treated lumber that has lasted more than 20 years. They are not particularly decorative, but do the job and the neutral color does not take away from the plants.
Good luck with your project!
