Here is a example of (pittosporum) used as a plant wall.
These are at our house and these are about 3 years old. They started out about 3-1/2 foot tall when we planted them
Make the "shelf" that holds the plants adjustable. This way if you have to change them out it will be easy to adjust per plant. I would probably make the shelf out of galvinized/stainless/aluminum as a liner for protection. Wood - Redwood or teak. Of course make it drainable. I would probably put lights in it. I would make sure the "seat" is hinged and lifts up so you have storage in there as well. Build in drip system. Throw some bluetooth speakers in it while you are at it
Jason: you have the right Idea. The plan was to make this go all the way around the deck in a U shape. And yes the bottoms of the seat Aera would hinge up for cushion storage.
Good idea on the lights. I wanted to make it all out of wood and then use a plastic liner with some sort of rock/filter base.
Part of the idea was to boost the plants up to the edge of the hand rail height all around my deck (48 inches) that way we are getting a 4 foot head start on the height of the plants. But that's a good idea about making the boxes adjustable so as they grow up we can lower the boxes to deck level and get some of the weight down lower. I'm guessing I could raise them up with cinder blocks and then remove one or 2 as they get taller
Have you figured out the footing? It will need to drain. And, you don't want it sitting on water. And, you want the drainage to not mess up your patio.
No I have not figured out the drain? I figured some one had some incite on how it should be as far as How the inside of the planter box should be. I was guessing it should be lined with some type of membrane so that wood doesn't rot away so fast and the box would have some sort of way that the water could drain threw it and out?
I guess if I installed some sort of PVC outlet the water could run threw the box and out to some sort of drain. Ill draw up my Idea
Another Idea has popped into my head. I should build the planter boxes independent of the bench. so that when or if i need to get to the planter boxes I can remove the bench part and get directly to the planter boxes.
I would consider separating the seating from the planter. It's more flexible. Plus, water and furniture rarely go well together. Here are some planter only ideas I yanked off the web...
Here are a few I found too they all seem to be made from Cedar. I have a BIL that has made a few of these and he added a sheet metal liner and solders all joints together and adds a nipple for a PVC drain.
Maybe also consider putting some space between the backrest and the planter space? Room to put your arms and drinks on and avoid plants crawling down your neck while you're sitting...
Grant I have done a few of these. Make your life simple. Think rubber maid trash cans. The kitchen ones work well for the shape. Drill a hole and pipe the drain where you want it. Styrofoam peanuts make for great space fillers. And drain even better. This will keep your construction simple. All you need is a container to hold multiple trash cans. Bounus. Plastic dose not rot.
Again thoes are some great Ideas and examples,
The deck is plenty strong to support some planters.
I guess I should figure out the over all size and then I could calculate the over all weight with dirt ect because right now I have no idea what it would come out to be in weight. The trash cans are a great Idea