DIY PALLET PLANTERS
In a tight spot? Think vertically
Ever since I was a young girl, gardening has been one of the constants in my life. I remember venturing out to Home Depot’s garden centre, helping my father select a few annuals and perennials in a wide range of colours. We’d spend the afternoon removing weeds and grass from the flower bed, depositing soil and distributing the flowers in and around the existing shrubs and sedges. We’d sip warm drinks in the brisk spring air and lose ourselves in our work.
A few decades later, I moved into an apartment in the city. Gardening became more of a chore than a relaxation technique — investing in flower beds that could hang on the ceiling or railing was rather limiting and the squirrels in the area would occasionally knock them down. I needed something practical that would hold up to the weather and local wildlife, something that would fit on my balcony and use the vertical space available.
Wooden pallets ended up being the solution to my problem. I asked the owners of a small supply store near my home if I could have a pallet and they gave me one. With a little landscaping fabric and a staple gun, it was transformed into a garden.
Note: If you’re not sure if your pallet has been treated with pesticides or preservatives, do not plant edible plants. You will need: Wooden pallet Sandpaper Staple gun and staples Landscaping fabric Scissors Potting soil 16 six-packs of annual flowers (or a mixture of herbs and flowers)
Step 1: Find and prepare a pallet
Finding a wooden pallet is relatively easy. You can ask people at your local hardware and grocery stores, check around the back of supermarkets and shopping centres or browse Kijiji. Be picky about the pallet you select because it will determine how much prep work is needed. Some will need a little repair. All of them will need to be sanded around the rough edges.
Step 2: Staple the fabric
Decide which side of your pallet will be the bottom — this will be the side that leans against the wall after your project is completed. You’ll need to cover the bottom of the pallet with landscaping fabric.
Lay the pallet face down and roll the landscaping fabric across the back twice so that it’s a double layer and cut it. Begin by stapling the fabric to the pallet around the edges, and then every two inches (five centimetres) across each board. Be sure to hold the fabric taut. When finished, flip the pallet over.
Step 3: Create shelves
The pallet you’re working with may be missing some deckboard, and that’s OK. Mine, too, was missing a few pieces so I decided to improvise and create shelves. If you’d like to create additional shelves, use a pry bar to remove excess boards.
To make the shelves, measure out the space between the top and bottom deckboard and add an inch to each side. Cut two to four pieces of landscaping fabric to this size for each shelf that you’re creating. Hold the edges of the fabric together and staple it to the side of the top board. By doing this, you’re creating the underside of your shelf. This will hold the soil.
Staple the rest of the fabric to the stringer and the bottom deckboard to stabilize. Repeat this for each shelf. Step 4: Set the soil
Fill each shelf about halfway with potting soil.
Step 5: Put in your plants
Place your plants into the shelves, squeezing them tightly together. I was able to fit two sixpacks in each shelf, with eight shelves in total. I used a mixture of petunias, begonias, snapdragons, fine herbs and edible flowers for my garden.
Step 6: Display your work
Stand your pallet upright and carefully move it to its new home. I recommend leaning it against a wall, securing it if necessary, to prevent the wind from tipping it over. Remember to water your plants regularly.