Five ways to upcycle your pallets in the garden
If you're looking for bespoke garden ideas that won't break the bank, then look no further than the humble wooden pallet.
Wooden pallets are typically known for its use in delivery and here at Gardenesque, we often use them for the transportation of your garden items. But for many of us, pallets can be upcycled and incorporated into your garden design.
If you’d like to give this a go but are unsure what to try, we have put together some great ideas below.
Vegetable bed
Pallets are the ideal growing receptacle for plants with a shallow root system such as lettuce, peppers, strawberries, herbs, salad leaves and cucumbers
You will need:
- Wooden pallet
- Hammer
- Nails
- Garden fabric
- Vegetable plants
- Compost
Enclose the bottom and sides of the pallet by stapling a double layer of garden fabric to prevent soil from falling through the gaps. Add garden compost to create a nutrient rich growing medium for your crops. Add vegetable or fruit plants, water them in and watch them grow.
Vertical pallet hanging garden
This is the ideal project for those that have smaller outdoor spaces but still want to grow plants. As with the vegetable bed, staple a double layer of garden fabric to contain the compost. Lay the pallet flat and pour potting soil through slats, pressing soil down firmly.
Add shallow rooted plants such as flowering annuals or succulents to your pallet planter. Water your wall garden thoroughly and leave it lying flat for a couple of weeks to allow your plants to take root.
With some screws and wall brackets, you can hang your planted pallet up to create a living wall and free floor space for entertaining.
Furniture
If you have a number of pallets, why not turn them into outdoor benches to relax and entertain on?
You will need:
- 6 wooden pallets
- Saw
- L shaped brackets
- Chalk paint
- Wood stain
To make the base of your pallet furniture, stack your pallets on top of one another to get your desired height. Then secure the pallets together using an electric drill and screws.
To attach the back pallet, we recommend 90-degree L shaped brackets in each corner. Paint or stain the pallets to create colour and protect from the elements. We advise either chalk paint or wood stain for longevity.
Dress with cushions and throws for added comfort.
Wildlife hotel
Our gardens can be safe habitats for wildlife and even small steps, like introducing homes create shelter and can make a big difference. Many of these insects and animals are useful to the gardener, controlling those bugs that can cause damage to plants or crops.
You can easily build a wildlife hotel using your old wooden pallet. To make you will need:
- 3 wooden pallets (depending on the size you want your hotel)
- Stones or roof tiles
- Leaves
- Straw or bamboo
- Bricks
- Broken plant pots
- Bark chippings
- Cable ties
Place the first pallet upside down in your garden. Then place each pallet on top of the other, securing in place with cable ties. Fill the gaps between your wooden pallets with the stones, roof tiles, leaves, bamboo, bricks and bark chippings, to create a unique habitat for the wildlife you hope to attract. Sit back and see who moves in!
Bar
A garden bar is a great idea for socialising with friends or if you want a quick drink to relax after a long day.
All you need is a couple of painted pallets and patio slabs, or wood, if you prefer. Stand the pallets up and fix together before securing to your wall, then place the patio slabs on top to create a beautiful and unique shelf/bar to display your finest tipples or glasses.
Looking for more easy garden inspiration?
