how to build a treebox
Our treebox is about 5' by 9'. You'll need a strong drill, a hammer, a circle saw, and 5 lengths of 4" by 4". Mine were pressure treaded, so were a bit tough to cut and drill. I'd recommend you get two 1/2" drill bits, as mine was all but worn out by the end of it. You'll need from 8 to 10 lengths of 1/2" rebar cut in 12" lengths.
I wanted the base of the box to be somewhat below the sidewalk level, so I dug a trench around the circumference of the box, from 1" to 2" deep. Eventually the wood will rot or get termites, but with pressure-treated wood it should last about 5 years at least.
Measure, cut and place the beams. I beveled the streetside ends of the top tier so it looks pretty. It helps to walk on the first tier to make sure it's all even, and again when you put the 2nd tier on the first. Imagine you're an Olympic gymnast on the balance beam. You might have to remove the beams and dig or fill where needed to make them all even.
Drill 1/2" holes through the corners and at the midpoints of each side. Don't pound in the rebar until you're all done drilling, and start with the corners first. Depending on the size of your tree, your rebar supports may encounter big roots. I'll have to saw off that one right next to the street as it hit something unyielding. But it was the only one that hit a root. This type of treebox might not be possible with a big tree in your treebox.
And you don't have to petition to a local quasi-religious leader to get one installed. I prefer to be self-sufficient and not have some symbolic figurehead's name on a plaque outside my home.
Materials from Homo Depot:
Five 4" x 4" x 10' posts: $49.85
Eight 1/2" x 1' rebar: $6.24
1/2" drill bit: $3.59
Saw: borrowed from Colin and Todd
Power Drill: borrowed from Mari (she's a rather butch librarian) a cordless drill won't work, by the way.
Time: about a day to buy the stuff and construct
Total Cost: $59.78
My back is out for the day. Time for a shower and a nap.
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Looks great! Good work...
Thankfully I don't have a certain someone's name on a plaque affixed to the treebox in front of my house. Rest assured, if I lived with one of "his" treeboxes in front of my place, I think I'd quickly rip that plaque off. I think a hammer from behind would do the trick. I equate those plaques to a dog peeing to mark his turf.
Love the {{sofixit}} attitude; it's much more productive than idle whining.
Is that wood treated?
Judging by the resin or goo that stuck to my hands and melted on to the drill bit, I'm guessing it's treated with some chemical, and is pressure treated too. It'll take the termites a while to gnaw through it, and it certainly ain't gettin' moved by a mere kick.
*ahem* A cordless drill will work if a) you've got strong enough bits to do the job and b) you've got a drill that can pack enough power. I love my Bosch, which I got from the ex's father and which I was not under any circumstances going to leave behind in the breakup. Gotta have priorities, after all.
Kudos for working to improve your local environment and not waiting on any government to do it for you!
Personally I've taken to picking up any piece of garbage i find in front of me. I figure not only will I actually be making my world a little cleaner but maybe people will understand they can do it too.
I am not butch. For that you owe me a man. You know how I like 'em scrawny and geeky. Oh, and make sure he's not completely useless.
Way to go Jimbo!
Hopefully the varmints won't be able to figure out how to get past the newly created wooden "step" so your flowers and bulbs will be safe!
Very nice! Based upon personal experience I think it will still be looking good several years past your estimate of 5.
Nice job . . . drove by you while you were working with your shirt off, don't know what I like better, the tree box or the hunk building it.
Guerilla Gardening -- love it.
Come stay in Maine for a week...we are attempting to build a tree house this summer and need lots of drillin' butch boys to help!