For years, do-it-yourself enthusiasts have searched for ways to turn discarded wooden pallets into furniture, signs or even backsplashes for kitchens. Available for free or at a low cost, they are ideal to use as the base for a backyard garden.
After acquiring your wooden pallets, remove nails and any broken boards. Clean and sand the pallets, and then varnish or paint them to protect the wood from rotting. For a more colorful option, consider a rainbow of colors as a fantastic way to use leftover paint from other projects.
Of course, you can always deconstruct the pallet and simply use the boards to create a standard planter. But if you want to employ creativity, here are a few ideas to wow your friends.
Wall Pallet Plant Holders
Prepare your pallet as instructed above, and carefully remove the back and side slats. If desired, use a jigsaw to cut the boards into a shape. Paint the pallet to match or contrast a wall or fence. Add eye hooks or S-hooks to the bottom for small hanging plants. If hanging the pallet on wood, be sure to locate the studs and screw it in place. For brick walls, use a mortar drill bit and an all-in-one screw and anchor (Walldog) with a metal washer to secure the pallet. Drill a hole in the mortar, not the brick. Repeat for additional Walldogs to secure the hanging. Then measure, mark and drill holes in the pallet. Thread the screw through the washer, drill through the pallet, and attach to the brick wall using pre-drilled holes.
After attaching the hanger to the wall, add lightweight planters and decorations using S-hooks. If desired, purchase decorative S-hooks to give the hanging garden more character. Fill the planters with soil and plants as desired.
Free-standing Vertical Wall With Attachments
After preparing your pallet, turn it so the slats run horizontally. If desired, secure the pallet to an external wall, fence or other stable object. You can build an A-frame to hold the wall vertically or use stabilizers.
Drill holes and screw hose clips into the boards. Add as many or as few as desired. Fill recycled jars, cans or small traditional pots with gravel, soil and plants. Place the jars inside the clips and tighten them to hold the jars securely in place. For an added touch of flair, paint, stencil or burn the names of the plants on the wood, or you can use chalkboard paint that allows you to write names.
Raised Pallet Garden
Prepare your pallets as previously instructed, and then turn them over so the bottom side faces up. Lay out and cut a sheet of garden fabric to cover the bottom and sides with a few inches to overlap the top. Using a staple gun, secure the fabric to the pallet’s bottom. Turn the pallet over, and staple the overlapping fabric to the top. Place the pallet in its preferred location, add topsoil and add your plants or seeds.
The boards separate the plants, allowing for a variety of flowers or vegetables. Identify the plants with a brightly painted word or picture — or add a purchased bright stake identifier. Stacking various sized pallets at angles creates a tiered garden. With the sturdiness of the base material, stacking works well.
Vertical Wall Garden
Prepare your pallet and stand it up with the boards in a horizontal position. The front and back create the sides of your “planters.” Remove some boards for a deeper planter and nail them in place as the “bottom” of each planter. Pre-drill holes to avoid splitting the wood. Add garden fabric to the back to avoid soil from spilling.
Position the garden wall and secure it in place to a wall or fence, or stabilize the bottom with A-frames, wedges or other stabilizers. For free-standing wall gardens, make sure to secure it well, so it remains upright. Pea gravel or drainage rocks in the planter’s bottom increases drainage, or you can drill small holes in the bottom before adding soil. Add topsoil and place plants in each planter box. Plants with trailing flowers or herbs work best in the vertical wall garden.
Get creative and enjoy your pallet gardens for years. With a variety of styles, adding color to your yard won’t take much effort or a ton of money.
Sources:
1. J. L. (2016, April). 17 Creative DIY Pallet Planter Ideas for Spring. Retrieved from DIY Projects: www.diyprojects.com/pallet-planter-ideas/?msclkid=791f93ffcfe011eca2254d07b86fba36#raised.
2. Wallender, L. (2021, September 13). How to Make a Simple Pallet Planter. Retrieved from The Spruce: www.thespruce.com/how-to-make-a-simple-pallet-planter-5186994.
3. Leah (2013, August 1). How to Attach Almost Anything to a Brick Wall. Retrieved from See Jane Drill: www.YouTube.com/watch?v=58BvyxFbt3Y.
Written by Lisa Bell
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