Went shopping at the garden center with SWMBO. She sees a nice planter
box and trellis, and gets that look in her eye. I am a relative newbie,
but I understand when those tools in the basement had better get to work
- payback time.

So, I'm building a planter box with a trellis behind it.

Approx Dimensions: box 18"H x 29"W x 18"D with a 54" tall trellis
attached at the back. It will hold two 12" round plastic pots. I'm
also going to hang a 6" x 12" planter off of the trellis.

The idea is similar to one I saw in Wood Magazine, but I'm adding the
trellis. Basic construction: a four-sided 3/4" plywood box with no top
and no bottom. The planters will rest on cross bracing of 2 x 4s. The
exterior will look like a blanket chest with a hole in the top with legs
being fake stiles and rails (of pine). The Trellis will be pine and
screwed to the back legs.

I'm thinking actual 1" x 2" supports with 1" wide by 1/2" thick half-
lapped grid trellis.

I was originally thinking 1 1/2" x 2" for the suports, but it looked a
little chunky. All of this will be primed and painted white.

Questions:
1. Since it is all going to be primed and painted, can I go
with normal plywood or do I need something special? Wood Magazine used
MDO, but I'm looking for an alternative. Someone suggested vertical
siding, but I want it smooth, not fake tongue and groove.

2. Do you think this thing will stand up to reasonable wind and
storms or is my trellis going to sway and bow like crazy?

Any thoughts are appreciated.