These gardens are so special because their frames require minimal assembly, are readily available, and obtaining them will not cost you a penny. Pallets are everywhere!

Whether you live in a spacious villa or a tiny apartment, you can enjoy a pallet garden in any location - or during any season.

A particularly good option is building a vertical garden out of pallets, as it will take up less room while maximizing the growing space. Of course, you can always install a horizontal setup, too.

The size of a garden of this nature can vary depending on what kind of wood pallets are available - a standard pallet measures 48” × 40” × 6”.

Learning how to make a pallet garden is a fun project that you can complete in just a single weekend, but you’ll reap the benefits for many growing seasons to come. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know to get started!

What Is A Pallet Garden?

A pallet is a flat transport structure, mainly made of wood, that facilitates the handling and storage of goods.

Pallets are a great solution for small-space gardening. By combining multiple pallets and covering them with soil, you can grow vegetables, herbs, or flowers even if you do not have an open garden space at home.

Horizontal vs Vertical Pallet Gardens

You can build a garden like this in two ways: horizontally (you can only plant in the space between the pallet bars) or vertically (with your plants inside the pallet using a container). Either option is a wonderful idea and easy to construct, so feel free to choose the best way to grow your plants.

If you are looking for a new gardening option that does not take up a lot of space, then pallet gardens are a perfect choice.

What Type Of Plants Can You Grow In A DIY Pallet Garden?

Raised pallet garden beds are perfect for growing herbs, flowers, or even vegetables and fruits for your cooking.

This is one of the reasons so many gardeners are learning how to make a pallet garden from the comfort of their own home.

A word of caution - you should avoid planting deep-root plants like beets, carrots, and potatoes.

Instead, opt for plants that grow vertically and closer together. Good alternatives include lettuce, strawberries, peppers, cucumbers, and herbs.

Why Learn How To Make A Pallet Garden?

Being able to easily turn a set of old wooden pallets into a handy, eco-friendly garden bed has made pallet gardens the latest trend in gardening.

Reducing weeding time is just one of the many advantages associated with caring for this kind of garden. Given the open layout of pallets, you will also be able to easily identify each plant in your set.

Room Decor

If you decide to build a pallet garden, you do not necessarily have to grow edible vegetables or herbs.

You may just decide to create a pallet planter that can be used to grow ornamental plants to spruce up the appearance of your patio, lawn, or garden. Some people even bring pallets indoors for an added splash of decoration!

If you have the space, this is a design idea that’s sure to impress all of your guests. All you need to do is cut up the pallets to fit your space.

Saves Space In The Garden

Aside from being a nice form of room décor, another advantage of pallet gardening is that it saves a lot of space in the garden.

You don’t have to have several acres of land to grow a garden - all you need is a bare wall or a few square feet of space on the ground. This makes it perfect for someone who lives in a small-size apartment or has a small garden. So, if you love planting but you do not have the space for a garden, not all hope is lost.

A natural-looking vertical plant stand will accommodate your favorite plants and will also add some color to your balcony.

If you have kids, this kind of gardening can be an entertaining project for them! They can learn how to create a healthy and organized garden while keeping up with the fun, since it’s easy to work inside a pallet.

How to Make a Vertical DIY Pallet Garden - Step by Step

Learning how to make a pallet garden is easy and inexpensive.. You will only need a few wood pallets, some tools, quality soil, and of course, healthy seeds.

Start By Gathering the Materials Needed

Before you can start building your new DIY pallet garden, pick up the following materials:

Wood pallets (the exact number will vary depending on how many individual gardens you choose to build, but try to choose those in which the wood has not been treated with chemicals)
High-quality garden soil or compost
Seeds, seedlings or started plants
L – shaped brackets (to install the pallets on the wall)
Landscape cloth
Permanent marker

Step 1 - Preparing Your Pallets

Before you assemble your pallets, make sure you lay out your wood pallet garden frames in a sunny location. This will give them time to dry if they were in the rain or exposed to the elements.

Although pallets are everywhere, take the time to find good quality ones. Make sure they are not made from pressure-treated wood, which can contain harmful chemicals. Also, take the time to ensure that the wood is clean and that you have inspected it for any stray nails.

If you’re going to make use of your pallets as horizontal planters, you can skip steps 2 and 3 - you won’t need to do any marking or installation of landscape fabric. You can jump right to step 4, in which you will add soil and seeds after laying your pallet down on the ground in its ideal location.

Step 2 - Determine Where To Install Brackets

Before you add any soil or seeds, test the pallets against the wall where you are planning to mount them.

It will give you an idea of how it will look like in the end before you install any brackets. Using your marker, mark the wall on all sides of the pallet so you know exactly where the brackets will need to go. Then you will just need to slide the pallet between the brackets.

Step 3 - Add Your Landscape Fabric To The Frame

Once you have positioned your pallet against the wall, return it to a flat surface, so you can work on it more easily.

Unfold the landscape fabric and cut it to fit the size of the back and the bottom of your wooden structure.

How to Make a Vertical DIY Pallet Garden - Step by Step

Step 4 - Work Your Compost Into The Pallet Garden

Start preparing your garden bed by working your compost into the soil just like any normal garden, making sure it fits the wood pallet. Add enough soil until each open row is roughly three quarters of the way full.

Step 5 - Plant Seeds In The Pallet Garden

Plant your seeds in the rows between the openings of the wood pallets. If you are setting up starter plants, position the roots close enough to the surrounding soil.

If more soil is needed, this is a good time to add it and fill any voids. Label each pallet row with a permanent marker.

Step 6 - Growing In Your DIY Pallet Garden

Make sure you water your wood pallet garden regularly. You now have a compact vegetable patch that requires much less work to set up.

As you keep watering, you may experience some settling or soil loss. Always keep some extra soil on hand so that you can replenish it as needed.

How To Grow Plants In Your DIY Pallet Garden

How To Grow In Your DIY Pallet Garden

Now that your DIY pallet garden is up and running, it is time for some easy care tips.

Continue to monitor your garden for a few days after setting it up, adding soil and water as needed. Remember, the soil will likely settle out after you’ve planted but especially in subsequent growing seasons (as you harvest and pull plants, the roots will bring excess soil with them). Be sure ot add more soil every time you plant.

Water your pallet garden regularly, providing around one to two inches of water per week. The water needs may vary a bit depending on the individual needs of your plants.

You’ll be able to skip a lot of regular maintenance when it comes to caring for your pallet garden versus a typical growing environment. Not only will weeds be minimal in a pallet garden but you also can eliminate the need for mulching - the wooden slats will take care of suppressing weeds for you.

If an errant weed does happen to pop up here or there, be careful pulling it. There’s a good likelihood that the weed is shallowly rooted and so it will be easy to pull - but so will your plants. Be careful pulling weeds so you don’t uproot your plants.

You will still need to fertilize, though, especially between growing seasons as your plants deplete the pallet garden’s soil of nutrients. Use an all-purpose fertilizer or compost to keep your plants healthy and thriving.

When it’s time to harvest, you can do so as you normally would.

Final Thoughts On How To Make A Vertical DIY Pallet Garden

There are different ways to build a DIY pallet garden, and we’ve covered the easiest, most cost-effective method.

You can position your pallets in any way you want, and they will always make for a great homemade gardening project.

Whether you are new to building pallet gardens or a bit more experienced, Hydrobuilder is a valuable resource to meet all your garden needs. It is your one-stop-shop for good quality garden products.

If you are ready to start your next gardening project but do not know where to start, be sure to also check out Hydrobuilder’s growing kits to help you out!

With so many great containers and techniques to use, no two pallet gardens will be the same. Personalizing yours will give your green area a personal touch.

So, what will blossom in your pallet garden this season?

How To Make A Pallet Garden - Step By Step Guide