I’m a sucker for free stuff. Especially when that free stuff can be turned into something awesome for my garden. And nothing says “awesome” quite like a pile of discarded shipping pallets, right? My neighbors think I’m running a recycling center out of my backyard, but little do they know, I’m just stockpiling materials for my next obsession: building DIY pallet planters.
If you’ve got a dull corner in the yard or a patio that’s screaming for some life, you don’t need to drop a ton of cash at the garden center. You just need a crowbar, a bit of elbow grease, and maybe a tolerance for splinters. I’ve messed around with enough of these things to save you some headaches, so let’s walk through six of my favorite ways to turn that old pallet into a lush, green masterpiece.
Why You’re Probably Overlooking the Best Free Resource
Seriously, why do people throw these things away? They are literally pre-assembled wood kits. I’ve pulled pallets out of alleys that looked rough, but after a quick wash, they had this amazing rustic character you just can’t buy at a big-box store. Ever wondered why farmhouse style is so popular? It’s because wood with a story—and a few scuffs—looks better than brand new lumber.
Before we get our hands dirty, always check for the “HT” stamp. That stands for heat-treated. If it says “MB” (methyl bromide), run the other way. You don’t want those chemicals anywhere near your tomato plants.
1. The Classic Vertical Herb Garden
This is the project that started it all for me. It’s the “gateway drug” of pallet DIYs. You take a standard pallet, secure it upright, and fill the slats with herbs.
Finding the Right Pallet
Not all pallets are created equal for this one. You want one where the slats are close together. Some pallets have huge gaps, and your soil will just fall right out the front. If the gaps are too wide, you can staple some landscape fabric on the back of the slats to hold everything in.
How to Make It Work
- Staple landscape fabric to the back, sides, and bottom. This creates a pocket.
- Lay it flat on the ground with the slats facing up.
- Fill it with high-quality potting mix. Don’t use garden soil here; it’s too heavy.
- Plant your herbs in the openings. I like to put trailing stuff like oregano on the bottom row so it cascades down.
- Let it grow flat for a few weeks to let the roots establish, then carefully prop it up against a wall.
IMO, this is the best way to have fresh basil three feet from your kitchen door. Just don’t forget to water it, or you’ll have a very crispy herb graveyard. :/
2. The Rolling Pallet Planter Box
Sometimes, you need to chase the sun. Or maybe you just like rearranging your patio furniture every weekend (no judgment). Turning a pallet into a planter on wheels is a game-changer.
Building the Base
You can’t just slap wheels on a raw pallet and call it a day. It needs sides. You’ll need to dismantle a second pallet (or use some spare lumber) to create a box frame on top of your base pallet.
- Tools needed: Circular saw, drill, casters (wheels).
- Steps:
- Cut the legs off the pallet so you have a flat deck.
- Build a simple rectangular box on top of that deck using the pallet wood. Make it as deep as you want your soil to be.
- Attach the casters to the bottom corners.
- Line the inside with plastic to prevent the wood from rotting immediately.
Why do I love this one? Because last fall, I rolled my entire planter of mums into the garage to protect them from an early frost. Try doing that with a 200-pound ceramic pot. You can’t. Checkmate, heavy pottery.
3. The Pallet Succulent Wall
If you’re like me and you occasionally forget to water your plants (life gets busy, people!), succulents are your best friend. Building a vertical succulent wall with a pallet is easier than it looks.
Modifying the Depth
Succulents have shallow roots, which is perfect. We aren’t going to fill the whole thing with soil.
- Remove every other slat on the front of the pallet. You want horizontal rows with gaps.
- Attach hardware cloth (wire mesh) or more landscape fabric to the back of the removed slats to create a shelf.
- Fill each “shelf” with a fast-draining cactus mix.
You can pack a ton of different colors and textures into this. It becomes a living piece of art. Just make sure it’s hanging somewhere sturdy. That thing gets heavy, and a falling succulent wall is a sad, sad mess.
4. The Standalone Pallet Planter (The “Chunky” Style)
Okay, this one is for when you don’t want to mess with dismantling too much. It’s lazy, but it’s stylishly lazy.
The Concept
Just stand the pallet up vertically. Place a long, narrow planter box at the base. Let vines or trailing plants grow up the pallet, or hang small pots from the slats.
- Pros: Literally takes 5 minutes to set up.
- Cons: It’s not a “built-in” solution, so the plants aren’t rooted in the pallet itself.
I did this with morning glories one year. They climbed up the slats like they were on a mission. By July, I had a solid green wall hiding the ugly fence behind it. Sometimes the simplest ideas work the best. You don’t always have to over-engineer things. 😉
5. The Dismantled Slat Window Box
Maybe you don’t want a giant, bulky palter (pallet+planter) taking up space. Maybe you just want some nice window boxes. Pallets are perfect for this because the wood is usually the perfect thickness.
Deconstruction Derby
Getting a pallet apart without splitting the wood is an art form. You will break some boards. Accept it.
- Use a pry bar and a hammer. Work from the sides.
- Once you have a stack of slats, cut them to your desired length.
- Assemble them into a simple box. You can use 2×4 offcuts for the corners if you have them.
- Drill drainage holes in the bottom. I cannot stress this enough. I once forgot this step and ended up with a floating swamp. Rookie mistake.
These look fantastic painted a bright color. I painted mine a deep navy blue, and the green leaves really pop against it.
6. The Pallet Strawberry Tower
Strawberries are the greedy little pigs of the garden. They send out runners and try to take over the world. Containing them in a vertical pallet planter keeps them in check and saves your back from weeding.
How to Build It
This is similar to the herb garden, but we’re going to make it freestanding.
- Take two pallets and stand them up, tying them together at a 90-degree angle (like a corner).
- Alternatively, take three and make a U-shape.
- Line the inside with landscape fabric, leaving the outside slats exposed.
- Fill the entire cavity with soil.
- Cut X-shaped slits in the fabric between the slats and tuck your strawberry plants in.
The berries will hang down the outside, clean and ready to pick. It’s a total game-changer. You don’t have to bend over, and the slugs have a harder time finding the fruit. I’m all for anything that annoys slugs.
Sealing and Protecting Your Hard Work
Here’s the honest truth: pallet wood is not meant to last forever outside. It’s shipping material, not cedar furniture. If you want your planter to last more than one season, you have to protect it.
- Do I use a liner? Yes, always. Plastic sheeting inside keeps the wet soil off the wood.
- Do I seal the outside? I do. Use a plant-based, non-toxic sealer or stain. You don’t want chemicals leaching into your veggie soil.
- Will it rot eventually? Yeah, probably. But that’s the fun of it. You build it, you use it for a few years, and when it finally gives up, you toss it in the compost pile (or use it for fire pit kindling) and build a new one.
Wrapping This Up
So, there you have it. Six ways to turn trash into treasure. The best part about using pallets is that every project is unique. You’re not buying a mass-produced plastic box; you’re building something with character. Something that will have minor imperfections and knots and maybe a random blue paint streak on one board from its previous life.
I’ve got two pallets sitting in my driveway right now waiting for me to stop writing and start building. I think I’m going to try a combination of the herb garden and the strawberry tower. Or maybe I’ll just stand one up and see what happens. That’s the beauty of DIY—there are no rules.
Now go raid that alley behind the grocery store. Your garden is waiting.
