{"$schema":"nativecad-dfm-pack/1","id":"garden-outdoor","title":"Garden & outdoor — planters, birdhouses, hose fittings, mailboxes, stakes","sector":"garden-outdoor","version":"2026-09-04","summary":"Pot sizing, drainage, self-watering wicks, birdhouse hole diameters by species, hose/sprinkler/drip thread and tube sizes, mailbox and post-cap dimensions, raised-bed heights, and the UV/freeze-thaw/water-tightness tests an outdoor product is held to.","aliases":["planter","plant pot","flower pot","self-watering","birdhouse","bird feeder","watering can","mailbox","hose fitting","garden hose","sprinkler","raised bed","trellis","garden stake","seed tray","hanging basket","post cap","fence bracket","drip irrigation"],"crossSector":false,"size":"core","sources":[{"id":"nabs-nestbox","title":"North American Bluebird Society Nest Box Specs","url":"https://www.nabluebirdsociety.org/nest-box-plans/","accessed":"2026-09-04"},{"id":"sialis-nestbox","title":"Sialis.org Nest Box Specifications Chart","url":"https://www.sialis.org/nestboxguide/","accessed":"2026-09-04"},{"id":"usps-std-7b","title":"USPS-STD-7B Curbside Mailbox Standard","url":"https://about.usps.com/publications/engineering-standards-specifications/spusps-std-7b.pdf","accessed":"2026-09-04"},{"id":"asme-b1-20-7","title":"ASME B1.20.7 Garden Hose Thread (GHT)","url":"https://www.engineersedge.com/hardware/standard_hose_coupling_threads_16277.htm","accessed":"2026-09-04"},{"id":"asme-b1-20-1","title":"ASME B1.20.1 NPT Pipe Threads","url":"https://www.asme.org/codes-standards/find-codes-standards/b1-20-1-pipe-threads-general-purpose-inch","accessed":"2026-09-04"},{"id":"astm-c666","title":"ASTM C666 Freeze-Thaw Resistance Test","url":"https://www.astm.org/c0666_c0666m-15.html","accessed":"2026-09-04"},{"id":"ps20-lumber","title":"PS 20 American Softwood Lumber Standard","url":"https://www.nist.gov/standardsgov/voluntary-product-standards","accessed":"2026-09-04"},{"id":"ansi-z60-1","title":"ANSI Z60.1 Nursery Container Size Standard","url":"https://www.americanhort.org/page/ansiz601","accessed":"2026-09-04"},{"id":"protolabs-guide","title":"Protolabs Injection Molding Design Guide","url":"https://www.protolabs.com/resources/design-tips/","accessed":"2026-09-04"},{"id":"rainbird-drip-guide","title":"Rain Bird Drip Irrigation Design Guide","url":"https://www.rainbird.com/resources","accessed":"2026-09-04"},{"id":"extension-drainage","title":"Purdue/Ask-Extension Container Drainage Guidance","url":"https://ask.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=220577","accessed":"2026-09-04"},{"id":"uga-raised-bed","title":"UGA Extension Raised Garden Bed Dimensions","url":"https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C1027-4","accessed":"2026-09-04"}],"entries":[{"id":"nursery-pot-nominal-sizes","kind":"dimension","tier":1,"title":"Nursery pot nominal vs true size","summary":"A nominal '4 in' pot measures 3.5-3.8 in (89-97 mm) true top-rim diameter, a nominal '6 in' pot 5.5-5.9 in (140-150 mm), and a trade '1-gallon' pot 6-6.5 in (150-165 mm) diameter holding ~0.7 US gal (2.6 L) actual volume — the trade name is not the mould dimension.","applies":["planter","plant pot","flower pot","nursery pot"],"value":{"table":[{"param":"nominal-4in","trueDiameter":3.65},{"param":"nominal-6in","trueDiameter":5.7},{"param":"nominal-1gal","trueDiameter":6.25}],"unit":"in"},"basis":"ANSI Z60.1 nursery-container trade-size convention: the sold name is a rounded marketing size, not the moulded rim diameter","sources":["ansi-z60-1"],"tags":["planter","nursery-pot","nominal-size"]},{"id":"planter-wall-thickness","kind":"dimension","tier":1,"title":"Planter/pot wall thickness by process","summary":"An injection-moulded HDPE/PP planter runs a 1.5-3 mm nominal wall (2 mm typical); a rotomoulded planter over ~400 mm diameter runs 3-6 mm since rotomoulding self-levels thicker and needs the extra section for rigidity without a core.","applies":["planter","plant pot","flower pot"],"value":{"table":[{"param":"injection-molded","min":1.5,"max":3},{"param":"rotomolded-large","min":3,"max":6}],"unit":"mm"},"basis":"Standard HDPE/PP wall-thickness guidance for a hollow moulded container, scaled up for rotomoulding's single-wall, coreless process","sources":["protolabs-guide"],"tags":["wall","planter","injection-molding","rotomolding"],"check":{"process":"injection_molding","rule":"min_wall_thickness"}},{"id":"planter-taper-draft","kind":"rule","tier":1,"title":"Planter/pot wall taper for de-moulding and stacking","summary":"Taper a planter wall 5-10° off vertical (steeper for a tall or textured pot); less than 5° binds in the mould or welds nested pots together in shipping, more than 10° wastes material and stack height.","applies":["planter","plant pot","flower pot","nursery pot"],"value":{"min":5,"max":10,"unit":"deg"},"basis":"Mould-release draft floor plus the nursery-trade convention of nesting pots for shipping, which needs a taper shallow enough that nested pots don't wedge tight","sources":["protolabs-guide","ansi-z60-1"],"tags":["draft","taper","planter","stacking"],"check":{"process":"injection_molding","rule":"min_draft_angle"}},{"id":"planter-drainage-holes","kind":"rule","tier":1,"title":"Planter floor drainage hole size and count","summary":"Cut at least 3-5 drainage holes >=6 mm (1/4 in) diameter in a pot floor, up to 13 mm (1/2 in) for a planter over 300 mm across; fewer or smaller holes waterlog the root ball, the most common cause of container root rot.","applies":["planter","plant pot","flower pot","raised bed"],"value":{"min":6,"max":13,"unit":"mm","note":"3-5 holes; size scales with pot diameter"},"basis":"Extension-service container-gardening guidance on drainage hole size versus pot diameter and clog resistance","sources":["extension-drainage"],"tags":["drainage","hole","planter","root-rot"]},{"id":"self-watering-reservoir-wick","kind":"dimension","tier":1,"title":"Self-watering planter reservoir depth and wick","summary":"Size a self-watering reservoir to 100-150 mm deep below a false floor, holding 25-33% of the soil volume above it, with one 6 mm (1/4 in) cotton/felt wick per ~250 mm of pot diameter reaching from the reservoir floor up through the false floor into the mix.","applies":["self-watering","planter","plant pot"],"value":{"min":100,"max":150,"unit":"mm","note":"wick 6mm dia, ~1 per 250mm pot diameter"},"basis":"Common self-watering container design convention: reservoir sized as a fraction of soil volume, capillary wick sized to the pot's contact-point count","sources":["protolabs-guide"],"tags":["self-watering","reservoir","wick","planter"]},{"id":"birdhouse-floor-min","kind":"dimension","tier":1,"title":"Birdhouse floor and interior height minimum","summary":"Give a birdhouse a floor of at least 100x100 mm (4x4 in) and 150-300 mm of interior height below the entrance, sized to the target species; a floor smaller than 100x100 mm crowds the brood and depth below 150 mm exposes chicks at the entrance to predators.","applies":["birdhouse"],"value":{"min":100,"unit":"mm","note":"floor min; interior height 150-300mm below the hole"},"basis":"NABS/Cornell nest box design guidance on minimum floor area and entrance-to-floor depth by cavity-nesting species","sources":["nabs-nestbox","sialis-nestbox"],"tags":["birdhouse","floor","nest-box"]},{"id":"birdhouse-entrance-bluebird","kind":"dimension","tier":1,"title":"Birdhouse entrance hole diameter, bluebird","summary":"An Eastern/Western bluebird nest box wants a round entrance hole 38 mm (1.5 in) diameter, centred 150-175 mm above the floor; smaller admits only wrens/chickadees, larger lets in starlings which will evict the bluebirds.","applies":["birdhouse","bluebird"],"value":{"value":38,"unit":"mm"},"basis":"North American Bluebird Society standard entrance size for Eastern/Western/Mountain bluebird boxes","sources":["nabs-nestbox","sialis-nestbox"],"tags":["birdhouse","entrance-hole","bluebird"]},{"id":"birdhouse-entrance-wren-chickadee","kind":"dimension","tier":1,"title":"Birdhouse entrance hole diameter, wren and chickadee","summary":"A house wren box wants a 25-29 mm (1-1.125 in) entrance hole and a chickadee box a 29 mm (1.125 in) hole; both are small enough to exclude house sparrows, which need >=32 mm to squeeze through.","applies":["birdhouse","wren","chickadee"],"value":{"table":[{"param":"wren","min":25,"max":29},{"param":"chickadee","value":29}],"unit":"mm"},"basis":"Cornell NestWatch / Sialis nest-box specification chart, entrance diameters by cavity-nesting species","sources":["nabs-nestbox","sialis-nestbox"],"tags":["birdhouse","entrance-hole","wren","chickadee"]},{"id":"birdhouse-drainage-ventilation","kind":"rule","tier":1,"title":"Birdhouse floor drainage and no interior perch","summary":"Cut 3-4 drainage holes >=6 mm in the floor corners and 2 ventilation gaps/slots near the roofline, and never add a perch below or beside the entrance hole — a perch only helps predators and House Sparrows reach the nest.","applies":["birdhouse"],"value":{"min":6,"unit":"mm","note":"3-4 floor drainage holes; no perch"},"basis":"NABS nest box guidance: standing water and stagnant air kill broods, while an external perch offers no benefit to cavity-nesting species and aids predators","sources":["nabs-nestbox","sialis-nestbox"],"tags":["birdhouse","drainage","ventilation","perch"]},{"id":"watering-can-dims","kind":"dimension","tier":1,"title":"Watering can capacity, spout and handle","summary":"Size a hand watering can for 5-10 L capacity (a full 10 L can weighs ~10 kg, near the practical one-hand-carry limit), a rose spout mounted 50-80 mm above the fill line so it doesn't glug, and a handle clearance >=40 mm for a gloved grip.","applies":["watering can"],"value":{"table":[{"param":"capacity","min":5,"max":10,"unit":"L"},{"param":"spout-height-above-fill","min":50,"max":80,"unit":"mm"},{"param":"handle-clearance","min":40,"unit":"mm"}],"unit":"mm"},"basis":"Common consumer watering-can sizing balancing one-hand carry weight against refill frequency","sources":["protolabs-guide"],"tags":["watering-can","capacity","spout","handle"]},{"id":"mailbox-usps-gauge","kind":"dimension","tier":1,"title":"USPS curbside mailbox interior gauge and slot","summary":"A USPS-approved curbside mailbox must clear an interior test gauge 18.5 x 5 x 6 in (470x127x152 mm) and, if it uses a mail slot instead of a lid, the slot must be >=10 in wide x 1.75 in high (254x44mm) for a carrier's hand and parcel.","applies":["mailbox"],"value":{"table":[{"param":"gauge-length","value":18.5},{"param":"gauge-width","value":5},{"param":"gauge-height","value":6},{"param":"slot-width-min","value":10},{"param":"slot-height-min","value":1.75}],"unit":"in"},"basis":"USPS-STD-7B curbside mailbox design standard: the carrier's test gauge every approved box must accept","sources":["usps-std-7b"],"tags":["mailbox","usps","gauge"]},{"id":"hose-thread-ght","kind":"dimension","tier":1,"title":"Garden hose thread (GHT/NH), US","summary":"US garden hose fittings use one thread, 3/4-11.5 NH per ASME B1.20.7: a straight (non-tapered) thread, 1.0625 in major diameter, 11.5 threads per inch, sealed by a washer, not thread interference.","applies":["garden hose","hose fitting","sprinkler"],"value":{"value":0.75,"unit":"in","note":"3/4-11.5 NH; major dia 1.0625in"},"basis":"ASME B1.20.7 Hose Coupling Screw Threads, the single US garden-hose thread standard","sources":["asme-b1-20-7"],"tags":["hose","thread","ght","nh"]},{"id":"sprinkler-npt-thread","kind":"dimension","tier":1,"title":"Sprinkler riser thread, 1/2 NPT","summary":"A sprinkler head or riser threads onto 1/2 in NPT (ASME B1.20.1): a tapered thread, ~21.3 mm (0.84 in) major diameter at the gauge plane, 14 threads per inch, sealing on thread interference plus PTFE tape.","applies":["sprinkler"],"value":{"value":21.3,"unit":"mm","note":"1/2-14 NPT, tapered"},"basis":"ASME B1.20.1 NPT pipe-thread standard, the standard sprinkler-riser connection","sources":["asme-b1-20-1"],"tags":["sprinkler","npt","thread"]},{"id":"drip-tube-sizes","kind":"dimension","tier":1,"title":"Drip irrigation tube sizes","summary":"A drip system runs 16 mm (5/8 in) OD polyethylene mainline tubing off the hose-thread valve, feeding 4 mm (or 6 mm) microtube branches to individual emitters/drippers; mixing the two up a size range makes every push-fit leak.","applies":["drip irrigation","garden hose"],"value":{"table":[{"param":"mainline","value":16},{"param":"microtube","value":4}],"unit":"mm"},"basis":"Common commercial drip-irrigation kit tube sizing (Rain Bird/Netafim-style two-tier system)","sources":["rainbird-drip-guide"],"tags":["drip","irrigation","tube"]},{"id":"raised-bed-height","kind":"dimension","tier":1,"title":"Raised garden bed height","summary":"A standing-gardener raised bed runs 300-600 mm (12-24 in) tall; a seated/wheelchair-accessible bed needs 600-900 mm (24-36 in) so the gardener can reach the soil without bending over the rim.","applies":["raised bed"],"value":{"min":300,"max":600,"unit":"mm","note":"600-900mm for wheelchair access"},"basis":"University extension raised-bed design guidance for standing versus seated/wheelchair gardeners","sources":["uga-raised-bed"],"tags":["raised-bed","height","accessibility"]},{"id":"post-cap-4x4-actual","kind":"dimension","tier":1,"title":"Fence post nominal vs actual size, 4x4","summary":"A nominal '4x4' fence/deck post measures 3.5x3.5 in (88.9x88.9 mm) actual, dressed-lumber size; a post cap's inside skirt must be sized to the 88.9 mm actual post, not the 4 in (101.6 mm) nominal name, or it won't fit.","applies":["post cap","fence bracket"],"value":{"value":3.5,"unit":"in","note":"actual size of a nominal 4x4"},"basis":"PS 20 American Softwood Lumber Standard, which fixes actual dressed dimensions below the nominal sawn size","sources":["ps20-lumber"],"tags":["post-cap","lumber","nominal-size"]},{"id":"frost-water-expansion","kind":"rule","tier":1,"title":"Frost expansion cracks a filled outdoor vessel","summary":"Water expands ~9% in volume on freezing; a planter, watering can or birdhouse left outdoors full of water in freezing weather can crack unless it has a flexible wall, a drain, or enough headspace to absorb that 9% without stressing the shell.","applies":["planter","watering can","birdhouse","raised bed"],"value":{"value":9,"unit":"%"},"basis":"Physical expansion of water into ice; the load a rigid outdoor vessel must either vent (drainage) or accommodate (headspace/flex)","sources":["astm-c666"],"tags":["frost","freeze-thaw","expansion"]}]}