So, you’ve got a pile of old pallets sitting in the backyard, or maybe you snagged one from behind the local grocery store (no judgment here, we’ve all been there). You know they could be something beautiful, but right now, they’re just taking up space and giving you splinters every time you walk by.
I’ve been there. My garage looked like a pallet graveyard for months until I finally decided to stop tripping over them and actually do something. And let me tell you, turning that rough lumber into a home for my plants was one of the most satisfying projects I’ve ever tackled. It’s cheap, it’s eco-friendly, and it gives your greenery that rustic, “I totally paid a lot of money for this at a boutique” look—except you didn’t.
Ready to give those pallets a purpose? Here are 5 DIY pallet planter ideas that are so easy, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do this sooner.
1. The Classic Vertical Herb Garden
Ever wished you had fresh basil and mint right outside your kitchen door but have zero ground space? Same. This is the ultimate solution for the space-challenged gardener.
Why This Works So Well
Pallets are literally built for this. They already have slats, which means you’ve got built-in shelves. You’re basically just turning it on its end and adding some fabric or wood to hold the soil in.
How I Tackled This Project
I leaned my pallet against the sunny side of my garage. Instead of getting all fancy with carpentry, I just stapled heavy-duty landscape fabric to the back and bottom of each slat row to create little pockets. FYI, if you use landscape fabric, make sure you double it up. I learned the hard way that wet soil is heavy, and my first attempt ended with a mudslide on my patio. Not my finest moment. :/
The Best Plants for This Setup
You want herbs that you’ll actually use. Here’s what I planted in mine:
- Basil: Grows like a weed.
- Chives: Practically unkillable.
- Thyme: It loves to trail down the slats.
- Mint: Warning! Mint is a thug. Keep it in a separate little pot inside the pallet pocket, or it will take over the entire thing and bully your parsley.
Pro-Tip: Drill some drainage holes at a slight angle so the water doesn’t just rot the wood or drown your plants. Gravity is your friend here, people.
2. The Rolling Pallet Planter Box
Okay, so a full pallet is roughly 40 inches wide. That’s a lot of soil if you try to fill the whole thing. My back hurt just thinking about it. So, I decided to chop one down and make a mobile planter.
Breaking Down the Pallet
You don’t need the whole beast. I cut my pallet in half width-wise. You want to keep the bottom stringers (the thick support boards) intact because they’re about to become your legs.
Adding Wheels (The Game Changer)
This is my favorite part. I flipped the cut piece over so the slats were facing up (forming the bottom of the box) and the stringers were acting as feet.
- I screwed in some heavy-duty casters right into those stringers. I got locking ones because my driveway has a slight slope, and I don’t need my tomatoes rolling into traffic.
- I lined the inside with plastic sheeting to protect the wood and added drainage holes.
Now, I’ve got a planter I can chase the sun with. If that spot on the patio doesn’t get enough light, I just roll it to a new spot. It’s like a plant on wheels. IMO, this is the smartest thing I’ve built all year. I just wish I’d done it sooner.
3. The Hanging Succulent Wall Art
This one sounds fancy, but it’s really just about looking at a pallet differently. Instead of seeing a shipping tool, see a canvas.
Deconstructing vs. Reconstructing
You can’t just hang a 40-pound pallet on a wall without proper mounting (please don’t try, your landlord will be mad). So, for this, I actually took the pallet apart.
- I used a pry bar to remove the slats carefully.
- I cut the stringers into smaller blocks to act as spacers.
Building the Frame
I laid three slats horizontally, then placed the spacer blocks between them and screwed them together from the back. This creates a shallow, shadow-box effect.
Then, the fun part: I screwed on small terra cotta pots or even just drilled holes in the slats to hold little succulent cups.
Rhetorical question: Ever wondered why succulents look so much better when they’re not sitting in a boring plastic pot on a windowsill? It’s because they belong in a gallery. And this, my friend, is a living gallery.
I hung mine on the fence by my grill, and honestly, it’s a conversation starter every time someone comes over. Just make sure you use a stud finder and mount it securely. Drywall alone won’t hold this masterpiece.
4. The Repurposed Pallet Window Box
This is probably the easiest project on the list. It takes about 20 minutes and requires almost zero skill. Perfect for a Tuesday afternoon.
It’s Easier Than It Looks
You don’t need to build a box from scratch. Just take a single pallet slat and attach it to the front of an existing, ugly plastic window box to hide it.
But if you want the real deal:
- Measure your window width.
- Take a short section of pallet wood (cut a few slats down to size).
- Build a simple rectangular box by screwing the slats together.
- Add a bottom piece and drill drainage.
Attaching It Without Damaging Your House
This is where I get nervous. Drilling into brick or siding is permanent. I prefer to build the planter, then place it inside a metal bracket that’s screwed into the window frame or brick. That way, if I want to take it down to repaint, I can just lift it out.
I filled mine with bright red geraniums, and it completely changed the curb appeal of my house. My neighbor actually asked if I paid a contractor to do it. I just smiled and said, “Nope, just an old pallet and some screws.” The look on his face was priceless.
5. The Pallet Privacy Screen with Built-In Planters
Got a nosy neighbor? Or just an ugly AC unit you need to hide? A standing pallet screen is your best friend.
Creating the Structure
This requires three pallets. Hinge two of them together to form an “L” or a “V” shape so they stand up by themselves. The third pallet? We’re gonna chop it up.
Adding the Planters
Instead of just leaning the pallets there, I wanted greenery in them.
- I cut the third pallet into smaller pieces.
- I built small, shelf-like boxes that fit snugly between the slats of the standing pallets.
- I mounted these boxes at different heights.
Why I Love This: It creates this cool, staggered look. You can put trailing plants like ivy or petunias on the top boxes so they hang down, and bigger bushy plants like ferns in the bottom ones. It hides the eyesore behind it and looks like a living piece of art.
Heads up: This thing gets heavy. I assembled it right where I wanted it in the yard because moving it fully built is a two-person job (and my wife refuses to help me move “yard junk,” her words, not mine). :/
Tools You’ll Definitely Want Handy
Before you run outside, make sure you’ve got these guys ready. Trying to do this with a butter knife and a dream is just going to frustrate you.
- Pry Bar/Crowbar: For pulling the pallets apart without breaking every single slat.
- Circular Saw or Reciprocating Saw: Pallets are tough. A handsaw will take you all day.
- Sander or Sandpaper: Trust me, you don’t want splinters. Safety first!
- Exterior Screws: Don’t use interior screws; they’ll rust and your planter will collapse.
- Staple Gun and Landscape Fabric: For holding the dirt in.
- Power Drill: For pilot holes and driving screws.
Wrapping This Up (Before I Ramble Too Much)
Look, at the end of the day, a pallet is just wood. But with a little bit of elbow grease and a vision, it can become the coolest thing in your garden. Whether you’re growing dinner with the vertical herb garden or showing off your succulent art, you’re not just planting things—you’re building something with your own two hands.
And honestly? That feeling never gets old. So go on, grab that rusty pallet from behind the shed and give it a new life. Your plants (and your wallet) will thank you.
Got a pallet project that went horribly right or hilariously wrong? I’d love to hear about it. Go make something awesome! 🌱
