
Pallets vertical garden ideas are a great way to bring some greenery into your home. By using old pallets, you can create a unique and space-saving garden that's perfect for small spaces.
Pallets are made of wood and can be easily repurposed for a vertical garden. A pallet can be 40-48 inches long, 40-48 inches wide, and 6-8 inches deep, providing ample space for plants.
To start, you'll need to disassemble the pallet and clean it thoroughly. This will help prevent any pests or diseases from affecting your plants.
Materials and Preparation
To get started with your pallet vertical garden, you'll need to gather the right materials. Look for a wooden pallet that's safe for planting, and check if it's heat-treated (stamped with "HT") from your local business or garden centre.
You'll also need some basic tools, such as a staple gun and staples, a hammer and nails, and sandpaper. Consider reusing old burlap bags or heavy plastic bags as an alternative to landscaping paper.
For the plants, choose herbs or flowers that are well-suited for your climate and the vertical space. You'll need potting soil, about 2.5 cubic feet for a 25 x 38 pallet, and plants with pot sizes of 4" or less to fit through the slats.
Here's a list of the supplies you'll need:
- Wooden pallet (25" x 38")
- Roll of landscaping paper (or old burlap bags or heavy plastic bags)
- Sandpaper
- Staple gun and staples
- Hammer and nails
- Potting soil (2.5 cubic feet)
- Herbs, succulents, or other plants of choice
With your materials in hand, you're ready to start building your pallet vertical garden!
Construction and Setup
Position your pallet on the ground, front side down, where you want it to stand. It will be heavy and difficult to move once it's full of soil.
You'll need to cut landscape fabric to fit the width of your pallet (plus 4" of overhang) and at least two times the length of the pallet. This will ensure a whole piece of fabric with no risk of seams ripping and soil leaking out.
Start by laying the pallet flat and filling the spaces between the slats with a high-quality potting mix, mixed with compost for added nutrients.
Construction

To start constructing your pallet garden, lay it down on the ground with the front side facing down, and position it where you want it to stand. This will make it easier to move once it's full of soil.
Cut landscape fabric that fits the width of your pallet plus 4 inches of overhang for wrapping around and stapling to the sides. You'll also want to cut it at least two times the length of the pallet to ensure there's enough fabric to line the front and back of the pallet.
A whole piece of fabric is ideal, as this eliminates the risk of seams ripping and soil leaking out.
Adding the Backing:
To add the backing to your pallet planter, start by laying it flat with the side you want to plant facing down. Roll out landscape fabric over the pallet and cut a piece that covers the entire back and at least six inches over the sides and bottom. This excess will help secure the fabric in place.

You'll want to cut the fabric about twice the length of the pallet to ensure you have enough to wrap around and staple to the sides. A whole piece of fabric is ideal, so you don't have to worry about seams ripping and soil leaking out.
Begin securing the landscape fabric to the pallet's perimeter and back with a staple gun, ensuring it's taut to prevent sagging. Fold and staple the fabric at the corners, almost like you're wrapping a gift.
Double up on staples along the bottom of the pallet to ensure the weight of the soil won't cause a breach. As you staple on the fabric, you can create "pockets" for planting by securing the fabric to the bottom of each slat as you cover the back.
Hanging Planters
Hanging planters are a great way to display your plants. You can create a unique and eye-catching display by attaching hooks to the pallet and adding planters.
The pallets provide a rustic and charming touch to any outdoor or indoor space. This is especially true when you hang the whole pallet, creating a one-of-a-kind wall garden.
You can hang the plants on the slats of the pallets or hang the whole pallet, making it a versatile option for any space. This is an excellent solution for those with limited space.
To get started, you'll need a pallet, hooks, planters, and your choice of plants. You can also use landscaping fabric and a staple gun to secure the plants in place.
Planting and Filling
Before you start planting, it's essential to fill your pallet with soil. Opt for a high-quality potting mix with good drainage, and mix it with compost for added nutrients.
Leave the pallet upright for a couple of days to allow the soil to settle. If you plant right away, your plants might sink into the planter, making it harder to add them.
To make room for your plants, cut small 2"-3" slits in the fabric, just big enough for the root ball.
Add Potting Soil
Add potting soil to each pocket of the landscape fabric, leaving enough for the plants to root and fill to the top of the pallet slats. You'll want to add enough soil so that your plants have room to grow.
To prevent soil from spilling out, line the pallets with landscaping fabric, as you would with a regular planter box. This will keep the soil in place, making it easier to manage and maintain your plants.
Cut small 2”-3” slits in the fabric to make room for the plants' root balls. The smaller the holes, the less soil will spill out, so try to keep them as small as possible.
Use a utility knife to cut the slits, and make them just big enough for the root ball. If you have trouble adding the plants, you can always make the holes larger if necessary.
Add potting soil in each pocket, filling the pallet to the top of the slats. This will give your plants the support they need to grow and thrive.
Filling It Up:
When it comes to filling up your pallet planter, the quality of the soil is key. Opt for a high-quality potting mix with good drainage, and mix it with compost for added nutrients. The quality of the soil can make or break your garden.
A good starting point is to lay the pallet flat and fill in the spaces between the slats with your soil-compost mixture. Press down gently to ensure the soil is compact but not overly dense.
Adding slow-release organic fertilizers at this stage can give your plants a boost. You can also add irrigation, stringing it through the pallet for easy watering.
For a vertical pallet garden, it's essential to choose the right plants. Succulents are a great option, but you could also plant annuals or small seasonal flowers. However, vegetables might not be the best choice due to the limited soil depth.
To add plants to your pallet, fill the pallet with soil from the top, and then cut small 2"-3" slits in the fabric, just big enough for the root ball. This will make room for the plants, and you can plant them up as you would a regular pot or raised bed.
Plant Selection and Care
Your DIY vertical pallet garden won't take a lot of time to maintain, but it does require regular watering, especially in hot weather. Water your herbs and lettuce regularly, and ensure they have enough room to grow.
Depending on your climate, your pallet planter may need more frequent watering in hot weather, especially if it's positioned in full sun. I placed mine against a tall fence for protection from the wind, making sure it was still able to get the sun and rain.
Lettuce is a cool weather crop, and it tends to bolt (go to seed) by mid-July at the height of the summer heat. Leafy lettuces, such as "cut and come again lettuce" or "mesclun greens", are good varieties to grow in a vertical garden.
Choose Your Plants
I've had great success with succulents in my vertical pallet garden, but you can also plant annuals or small seasonal flowers. These plants thrive in a pallet garden and can add a pop of color to your space.
Succulents are a great choice because they're low maintenance and can handle the limited soil in a pallet garden. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so you can choose the ones that fit your style.
Annuals and seasonal flowers are also excellent options, but they may require a bit more maintenance than succulents. They can add a burst of color to your space, but be prepared to replant them every year.
Leafy lettuces, like Nevada lettuce, Boston, and Oak leaf, are perfect for a vertical lettuce garden. They're cool weather crops that can be grown without protection or cover, starting in mid-May.
Romaine lettuce, a head lettuce, can also be grown in a vertical garden, but it's best to remove a few leaves at a time to encourage continuous growth.
Maintenance and Care
Your DIY vertical pallet garden won't take a lot of time to maintain. Water it regularly and ensure that your herbs have enough room to grow.
In hot weather, your pallet planter may need more frequent watering, especially if it's positioned in full sun. I placed mine against a tall fence for protection from the wind, making sure it was still able to get the sun and rain.
Colorful Planters

Colorful planters can add a personalized touch to your balcony or garden space. You can paint pallets in unique and fun colors to match your style.
Painting pallets is a great project for kids, and it's also a fun and educational activity. Let your kids have their own pallet garden to paint, choose plants for, and care for throughout the summer.
Pallet gardens can be used to create a unique and eye-catching display for your plants. You can attach hooks to the pallet and add planters to create a charming touch to any outdoor or indoor space.
DIY Success Tips
To create a thriving vertical pallet garden, choose herbs or flowers that are well-suited for your climate and the vertical space. This will ensure your plants receive the right amount of sunlight and water.
If you plan to use the pallet for a vegetable garden or to grow larger plants, make sure the pallet has enough soil depth. This will give your plants the room they need to grow without becoming root-bound.
A raised bed is a great option if you have a small garden and need additional planting space. It pairs well with the vertical planter for maximum gardening potential.
Placement and Alternative Uses
You can repurpose a pallet as a rack for hanging plants by screwing hooks into various places on the pallet. This allows you to make the most of vertical space and move plants around as they grow.
This method is a great way to add some greenery to a small or narrow area without having to commit to specific plants in specific places.
Positioning:
Positioning is key to a successful pallet vertical garden.
You'll want to give the roots of the plants time to establish themselves, which can take anywhere from one to three weeks, depending on the plants.
During this rooting phase, regular watering is essential to keep the soil moist.
Once the roots are established, carefully lift the pallet into its upright position.
To avoid accidents, make sure the pallet is stable, either by leaning it against a wall or using some form of support.
If you've made pockets to plant in, you can set your pallet upright immediately after planting.
Alternative Uses

If you're looking to repurpose your pallet, consider using it as a rack for hanging plants. You can screw hooks into various places on the pallet to hang planters.
A pallet garden wall is a great way to utilize vertical space and create a stunning green display. You can join multiple pallets together to achieve this.
Placing a pallet in a spot where it can lean against a wall or railing is a good idea, especially if you have a small balcony or yard. This will also serve as a privacy wall and a planter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to line a pallet planter with?
Line a pallet planter with landscaping fabric, a thin, porous, and durable synthetic material that allows water and air to pass through. This will create a pocket to hold the soil in place and prevent it from spilling out.
Sources
- https://www.littlewoollylamb.com/blog/making-a-vertical-lettuce-garden-out-of-a-wooden-pallet
- https://travis-tx.tamu.edu/about-2/horticulture/basic-landscape-design/from-trash-to-treasure/build-a-vertical-garden-from-pallet/
- https://clairedouglasstyling.co.uk/post/vertical-pallet-planter-diy
- https://www.instructables.com/DIY-Vertical-Pallet-Garden/
- https://offgridworld.com/upcycle-old-pallets-to-make-beautiful-vertical-gardens/
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