Garden planter frame construction ( general query),

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dynax

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Later this year i will be making some garden planters with a trellis to act as a fence for the front garden, the main framework i will be using 44mm x 44mm, i was initially going to use stopped mortice and tenon joints which would probably need cross dowels to stop the tenons pulling out over time, then i thought about using sliding dovetails instead, which would be just as or stronger then the M&T and quicker and easier to once the router has been setup, does anyone use sliding dovetail joints and would they be suitable in this scenario, cheers,
 
For outdoor use I would be disinclined to use anything approaching sophisticated carpentry - rain, moisture, heat, sun, occasional frosts etc makes precision at a sub 2mm level pointless. M&T may not stay tight, dovetails may loosen, wood may split, cup and warp.

I'm by no means an expert but I would use simple lap joints where possible, screwed not glued.
 
I used drawbored tenons on our tomato growbag bench. It was made of unwanted fence posts (shakes'n'all), and scrap framing 3x2s, and apart from the tanalizing fluid I used on it, it got no special treatment. It's out in all weathers and it's done several years so far.

I was a bit over-cautious with the hole offsets (could have used a bigger offset really), but the joints are still tight. The M+Ts were also glued with Titebond II.
 
To give an idea of what i want this is similar
g01qk242500c.jpg


but i will have about 8 of them 2ft square and the rest about another 20 depending on the length of them will be 18" x (xx) length, and the actual trellis bit will be about 2ft from the top of the planter and the planters will only be 20" high, also the trellis bit will be styled as a picket type fence, the construction will need to fairly strong as the wind can get very wild and our street is a main thoroughfare for schoolkids( nuff said), and the occasional wino that sometimes takes a moment sitting on the boundary wall approx 18" high perfect seating height, so as you can see they could endure some punishment aswell as being a decorative feature for the missus to enjoy, cheers,
 

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