Start here: beginner DIY builds, in order
New to building? These eight guides are ordered so each one adds a skill to the last: from a tool rack you can make in an afternoon to a full potting bench. Every one uses basic tools, and most have a cut list and shopping list so you know exactly what to buy.
- 1
Make a Wall-Mounted Rack for Long-Handled Garden Tools
A two-hour project that teaches measuring, drilling at an angle and fixing into a wall properly.
Beginner · A few hours · Low cost
- 2
Make a Wooden Nest Box for Garden Birds
Six parts from one board: practice square cuts and pilot holes on a small scale.
Beginner · A few hours · Low cost
- 3
4×8 Raised Garden Bed: Cut List, Soil Needed and Build Steps
Your first real build with a full cut list, corner posts and checking for square.
Beginner · A few hours · Medium cost
- 4
2×4 Garden Bench Plans: a Simple Backless Bench with Cut List
Leg frames, a stretcher and seat boards: the basic joinery of most outdoor furniture.
Beginner · A few hours · Low cost
- 5
Make a Slatted Wooden Compost Bin with a Removable Front
Repetition with even gaps, and a removable front that has to slide when the wood is damp.
Beginner · About a day · Medium cost
- 6
How to Build a Cold Frame from Old Windows
Sizing a build to something you already have, and cutting matching angled sides.
Beginner · A few hours · Low cost
- 7
How to Make a Gravel Garden Path with Edging
Digging, edging and compacting: the groundwork behind patios, sheds and decks.
Intermediate · A weekend · Medium cost
- 8
Build a Potting Bench with a Lower Shelf
A bigger frame at a working height you choose, bringing all the earlier skills together.
Intermediate · About a day · Medium cost
Tools to start with
A tape measure, a speed square, a handsaw or circular saw, a cordless drill/driver with pilot bits, a spirit level, clamps, safety glasses and hearing protection cover almost every build on this list. Add a mitre saw later if you enjoy it; it makes square, repeatable cuts much easier.
Use the calculators to work out soil, boards and gravel before you shop, and read the safety notes in each guide before you start.