How to Make a Pallet Planter for Your Patio, Balcony or Wall
Struggling to find space on a small balcony or teeny patio for a kitchen or flower garden? This may be the solution
For the many of us living in flats with no real garden space, but who would love to grow our own food, the idea of a vertical garden is particularly appealing. These nifty structures can be placed against the wall of a balcony or courtyard, freeing up valuable space for outdoor furniture.
Try yourself or enlist the help of a professional and you’ll be able to sit in the sun and admire your planting in no time.
Try yourself or enlist the help of a professional and you’ll be able to sit in the sun and admire your planting in no time.
Materials
- Small pallet
- Claw hammer or crowbar
- Nails
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
- Weed mat (weed control matting)
- Scissors
- Blu-Tack
- Staple gun
- Potting mix
- Fertiliser
1 Depending on how your pallet is constructed, you may need to remove every second board from the front with a claw hammer or crowbar to give your plants room to grow.
If the boards aren’t in the same places on the back and front, you may need to nail a few of those removed from the front onto the back, so your plant pockets will have something to attach to on either side. They should be pretty easy to nail in.
If the boards aren’t in the same places on the back and front, you may need to nail a few of those removed from the front onto the back, so your plant pockets will have something to attach to on either side. They should be pretty easy to nail in.
2 Measure the width, length and depth of your pallet; this will determine the size your weed mat, which will cover the back and sides of the pallet, needs to be.
3 Measure and mark your mat for the backing according to the dimensions of your pallet, then cut it to size.
4 Wrap the mat around one side, across the back, then around the other side, then secure in place using Blu-Tack to hold it temporarily. At this stage, you can also measure, cut and tack on a piece of weed mat for the bottom of your pallet, which will act as the plant pocket for this section.
5 Staple the weed mat in place, removing the Blu-Tack as you go.
6 Trim off any excess so the edges look neat and tidy.
7 Measure and cut your weed mat pockets to fit inside the vertical supports on either side of your pallet. Tack them in place on the inside of both the front and back boards with the rescued Blu-Tack.
Tip If you want to be sure your pockets are extra sturdy, cut the matting to the full (outer) length of the pallet, then trim each end down, leaving a tongue on either side that you can then staple onto the supports.
Tip If you want to be sure your pockets are extra sturdy, cut the matting to the full (outer) length of the pallet, then trim each end down, leaving a tongue on either side that you can then staple onto the supports.
8 Staple the pockets to the pallet to secure them in place, again removing the Blu-Tack as you go.
9 Fill each pocket of your vertical garden with soil, tamping it down relatively firmly so loose compost doesn’t fall out of the sides.
Tip At this stage, you can also use the points of your scissors to poke small holes into the bottom of each pocket for drainage – two or three should do. Keep them small so the soil doesn’t spill out.
Tip At this stage, you can also use the points of your scissors to poke small holes into the bottom of each pocket for drainage – two or three should do. Keep them small so the soil doesn’t spill out.
10 Now you can plant out your pallet. Be sure to select varieties that will thrive in the conditions of your pallet’s location. My balcony receives a fair bit of sun throughout the day, so I planted spinach at the top and bottom, and thyme, lemon thyme and rosemary in the middle. Yum!
Once all of your plants are in place, give them a good watering with a liquid fertiliser to help them get properly established.
Once all of your plants are in place, give them a good watering with a liquid fertiliser to help them get properly established.
Your pallet should easily be able to stand on its own, but you can also lean it back against a wall if you feel it might not be fully secure. Alternatively, with some screws, brackets, a masonry drill bit and a power drill, you can hang this little garden up on the wall to free up even more floor space.
Tell us…
What produce have you tried growing at home, and how did it go? Share your experience in the Comments section.
Tell us…
What produce have you tried growing at home, and how did it go? Share your experience in the Comments section.
Not confident about making this yourself? Find a local handyman or carpenter to help you.