Pallet Projects: Creative Ways to Spice up Your Garden

You see them when you drive behind factories and stores all stacked up, looking lonely. Wooden shipping pallets are used in the transportation and storage a variety of goods including electronic equipment, food, seed, construction materials and medical supplies. Although pallets range in size and quality, most are composed of solid and very useable wood. Up cycling wooden pallets is a cost effective way to add function and interest to any garden. Acquiring pallets for your projects should not be difficult. Most factories or stores are happy to part with a few pallets. You can also check your local Craigslist where many people are giving away pallets or selling them for very cheap.

 

Pallet Compost Bin

Retail compost bins can be expensive and are not at all necessary in order to undertake a successful compost project. Creating a compost bin out of pallets does not require great carpentry skills or a lot f time. Shipping pallets are the perfect size for a compost bin. Most American pallets measure 40 x 48 inches. This project is easiest with two people working together.

 

Protect Supplies

· Four of the same-sized pallets with narrow spaces between slats.

· Bailing wire

· Wire cutters

 

Project Instructions

· Locate s spot for your compost bin that is level

· Set the pallets together to form a box

· Connect the bins at the corners using the wire

 

· Use common walls to make more bins; each additional bin requires 3 pallets

 

Vertical Pallet Garden

A beautiful and space saving way to display annual plants is to create a vertical pallet garden. Vertical gardens require few supplies but have a dramatic effect when placed on a patio, deck or any outdoor space. It is important that you do this project very close to where you want your vertical garden as it is heavy and difficult to move once it is full of plants and soil.

 

Project Supplies

· One pallet in good condition

· Two large bags of potting soil

· Landscape fabric

· Staple gun and staples

· Sandpaper

· Water-resistant paint

· Sixteen, six pack annual flowers

 

Project Instructions

· Clean the pallet thoroughly; use sandpaper to smooth any rough edges

· Paint your pallet if you wish with a water resistant paint

· Staple the landscape fabric to the bottom back and sides of the pallet. Begin by placing your pallet face down on the landscape fabric. Double thin fabric to provide enough support. Staple the fabric to the top of the pallet and pull it tight, stapling every two inches. Repeat the process to cover the back and the sides of the pallet. Staple wherever you think that potting soil may spill out.

· Lay the pallet face-up on the ground. Place the plants that you want at the top of the vertical garden in the top slot. Be sure to place them very close together.

· Pour the bags of potting soil on top of the pallet and push it down between the slats.

· Plant six plants in each open pallet slot. The closer together, the better. There should be no soil showing when you are done. Water the plants thoroughly once you are finished planting.

· Carefully stand the pallet upright

 

About the Author: Susan Patterson is a freelance writer who writes on a variety of home, health and environmental topics. She recently completed a series of articles for Environmental Data Resources, Inc.