Natural Solutions: Recycle Old Pallets to Create a Vertical Garden

Recent times present a lot of concern for our landfills. 

This has lead me to re-think my recycling and purchasing practices so that I can reduce my carbon footprint and not contribute to our local landfills.

In that quest, I found a fun gardening idea for the use of a pallet to create a vertical garden in my yard and wanted to share what I did. My husband found several pallets on garbage day and brought them home for me to work on.

1. First, I gave my pallet a facelift—secured any loose boards with a hammer and nails.

2. Then with some landscape fabric and a staple gun, I completely covered what is normally the top of the pallet with landscape fabric, securing it with staples along the edge and in the middle. I put two layers on—each going in opposite directions to create a secure backing for my pallet garden.

3. I then turned the pallet over, since the side with the landscape fabric will be the back, and proceeded to create pockets of the fabric below the three or four sections that normally act as the feet of the pallet.  These will be my planting areas, and the pockets will hold the soil and moisture and the plants.

4. BEFORE FILLING with soil and plants, set the pallet up against whatever fence or house area you will be displaying it.  If you are concerned about it blowing over, using ties to secure it to your fence might be beneficial.  I also decided to raise it off the ground a bit with some bricks to prevent the bottom row from rotting out.

5. I then proceeded to fill each of those pockets with potting soil and laid out my plants to create an attractive design. Pay attention to the sun requirements of where you will be using this vertical garden, and pick plants that will work well. Lots of the stores have their annuals at very reduced prices, so this became a cheaper project than I originally expected. I'm not sure if perennial plants will survive in this planter. I think it depends on how warm it will be kept during the winter.

6. Then keep watered and watch your dull area turn into one of beauty.

HAPPY GARDENING!