How to Make a Wood Bench for Your Garden

Materials Needed:

• 4”x 4” 8 foot long pressure treated post
• 2”x 10” 4 foot long pressure treated lumber for bench seat
• 2 bags ready mix concrete
• 2 galvanized post base brackets (normally used to attach a 4”x 4” post to concrete)
• 1” galvanized or stainless wood screws

Tools Needed:

• Post Hole Diggers
• Carpenters Rule
• Circular Saw
• 3 foot Carpenters Level
• Power Drill or Screw Driver
• 220 Grit Sandpaper or Power Sander

Directions:

1. Decide where you want your bench. Using post hole diggers dig 2 holes 32” apart, 32” deep.
2. Cut the 4”x 4” treated post in half with the circular saw. You should end up with  2 equal halves of 48” each. Insert the halves into the holes you have dug.
3. Make sure the posts are plumb and set the level across both posts to make sure they are level with each other. You may have to add some fill back into one of the holes to make sure both posts are level with each other. Use one of the posts to tamp the dirt into place and recheck the level.
4. Follow the directions on the ready mix concrete and fill both holes to the top. Check the plumb and level one more time before the concrete sets up.
5. Once the concrete sets up, slip the post base brackets over the top of the posts. Do not screw them on at this time. Set the bench  seat on the posts, and using the rule, center it side to side and front to back. From underneath mark the position of the posts onto the bottom of the bench seat with a pencil.
6. Remove the bench seat and post base brackets from the posts. Lay the bench seat onto the ground bottom side up so that your pencil marks are showing. Screw the post base brackets within your marks to the bench seat with 1” screws.
7. Place the bench seat back onto the posts., sliding the post base brackets over both posts. Screw the post base brackets into the posts using more 1” screws.
8. Sand the edges and top of your bench and it is done! You can use a water sealant or stain on your bench or just leave it as is.