Building a Pallet Garden

Pallet gardens are quickly becoming one of my favorite ways to have raised garden beds.  They are inexpensive to create and save another pallet from the landfill, they are also super easy to maintain.

When I built my pallet beds, I did one "right side up" and one "upside down."  I also have one that is in a pallet crate which was built to haul an engine for some ginormous piece of construction equipment.  I am such a lucky girl to have a husband who brings me home this "junk" from work!

Okay, so above is my herbal bed, a pallet that is "upside down," creating 4 slots.  The method for creating a pallet bed is simple.  You will need a staple gun (with staples, of course), landscape fabric and potting soil.  Very simply cut out enough fabric to cover the back side of your pallet and to go up the sides of your pallet. Staple the fabric to the pallet, you cannot have too many staples!!  Place your pallet where you want it to be and add dirt.  Finally, plant your veggies/berries/flowers and enjoy.

right side up pallet bad, it is now full of green beans!

How to make a vertical pallet bed:

The process is similar to the one that is on the ground.  The exception is that you will need to double up on your landscaping fabric.  Simply fold it over so that your layer is twice as heavy.  You also do not close up where you want the "top" of your hanging pallet garden to be, as you can plant in this space.  Put the pallet close to where you will be propping it up.  Plant your pallet, water it and allow it to remain in the horizontal state for at least 10 days before lifting it into the position you want it to be in.

Pallets are pretty easy to come by.  Give a call to your local grocery or home improvement store and they will likely just give them to you.  Make sure they are heat treated and not treated with a pesticide and that there are no nails sticking out.  Feel free to stain or paint them.  This is upcycling and you cannot be limited to conformity.  Gardening is an artform -create!