Pallets are the perfect starting material if you are feeling crafty or handy. In this simple project, you can turn a pallet into an attractive planter. I finished this project on a sunny Saturday with a toddler helping, so it is achievable, and the end results look great.
1. Get a pallet
As you are probably asking a business for a free planter, beggars can't be choosers. There are different styles and sizes of pallets, but any of them are usable for a planter. The ones that work best will have regular slatting on one side, and fewer slats (usually three) on the other side.
2. Make the planting space.
Stand the pallet up the way that you would like it to be as a finished planter. This will work best if you can lean it against a wall while you work.
Then you need some extra wood to fill in the shelves. What you want to do is have three slats that go across, forming the sides, and then nail in some pieces beneath those to hold the soil in place. You can use scrap wood for this, or pick up pieces at Home Depot or a similar store for a few dollars. I used extra pieces of wood from another dismantled pallet.
3. Make it pretty.
It doesn't need to be perfect as it is going outdoors, but you may want to sand the outside of your planter. I just roughly sanded mine to get off any big pieces, but didn't worry too much about making it perfectly smooth.
Then I painted it with aqua paint. I recommend looking at the rejected paint tins at your local hardware or decorating store. You can often find a selection of colors at reduced prices that way, and keep in mind that the paint type you choose will influence how it lasts under a variety of weather conditions.
If you want to be really crafty, paint on labels for the plants (herbs) that you will plant.
4. Make it a planter.
First, you need to make it soil proof. I didn't place my boards tightly enough to hold in the soil, so I lined the inside of the shelves with bags.
As the plants are being given small spaces and I wanted my herbs to thrive, it was important to consider how they will have enough water. You can buy expensive potting moisture beads or use florist's gel, but the cheaper solution is to use a diaper. Open it up (patterned side down) in the bottom of the planting area. They are designed to hold moisture, and so will help keep your plants from drowning on rainy days or drying out on hot days.
Then add your soil on top of that.
5. Add your plants.
Choose a variety of herbs to plant. Keep in mind that the top row will have both the most room to grow and the most sun, and the spaces will get smaller and shadier the lower down you go in the planter. Some plants grow much taller than others, and some like sun more than others. Check the tags on your plants to know where to best plant them.
6. Secure your planter.
Depending on where you want your planter, you can choose to bracket it to the wall, lean it back enough to hold steady, or secure with surrounding flower pots. Just make sure it's not going to fall over on you.
7. Enjoy.
This project will make both an attractive and practical addition to your yard, patio, or deck.
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