How to Build a Wooden Wheelbarrow Flower Cart

A wooden wheelbarrow hearkens back to the old world method of hauling items to and from a garden. While most contemporary gardeners have more efficient means of transporting gardening materials, an old-fashioned wooden wheelbarrow makes an ornamental addition to a landscape. Make your own wheelbarrow to use as a planter and give your garden a unique and rustic look. You can build your own for pennies on the dollar compared to what you can buy one for from a garden center.

Sheet of plywood

Measuring tape

String

Saw

2-by-2 studs (2)

Drill

6-inch galvanized bolt

2-1/2 inch screws

Screwdriver

Sandpaper

Wood stain or paint

Paintbrush

Draw a circle on a sheet of plywood -- place the circle in a corner so you can use the rest of the plywood for the bucket frame. If you don't have a template, tie a string around a pencil and hold the string end one-half the desired diameter for the wheel. A 3-inch radius means the wheel will be 6 inches in diameter. Hold the string in place at the center and move the pencil in a circle around the center point.

Measure the bucket floor and side panels. The floor could be 12 inches long and 8 inches wide, and the two side panels would be 12 inches long and 5 inches high. For this example, the front and back panels would be 8 inches wide and 5 inches tall to hold the plant soil.

Cut the drawn shapes out of the plywood with a saw.

Drill three holes along each side edge of the bucket bottom, approximately 1/2-inch from the edge. The side panel will be flush with the edge of the bucket floor. Drill two holes on the front and back edge of the bucket floor for those panels.

Screw the side panels in place with 2-1/2 inch screws, keeping them flush with the bucket floor. Drill a hole from the front panel into the side panel edge then screw it in place. Repeat for the back panel.

Cut two 2-by-2 studs 30 inches in length.

Turn the bucket over and line up the studs along the bottom. The back ends should extend past the rear of the bucket along the outside edge approximately 10 inches. The studs should come together in front of the bucket, forming a triangle with just enough room for the wheel to sit between it. Drill holes along the studs then secure them in place with screws into the bucket floor.

Drill a hole through the front 2-by-2 studs in line with the wheel. Secure the wheel in place with a 6-inch galvanized bolt.

Cut the remaining 2-by-2 stud pieces into posts approximately 6 inches high. Place the posts at the back of the bucket so the wheelbarrow stands at an angle down to the front wheel. Secure the posts to the bucket floor by driving a screw into place.

Sand down all rough edges on the wheelbarrow.

Sealing the wheelbarrow isn't necessary if it will be used as a planter and needs water to drain out of it. Otherwise, stain or paint the wheelbarrow to match your garden landscape or leave it with a raw wood look.