DIY Project: Vertical Pallet Garden
Struggling to find space on a small balcony or teeny courtyard to grow some herbs or vegies? This may be the solution!
For the many of us living in apartments with no real garden space to call our own, yet want to be a little more self-sufficient by growing our own food, the idea of a vertical garden is particularly appealing. These nifty things can be placed against the wall of a balcony or courtyard, freeing up valuable limited real estate for outdoor furniture so you can sit out there and admire your efforts.
If this sounds like something you would be interested in having, but you’d rather build one yourself than buy a stock-standard version from the hardware store, this DIY project could be a very satisfying way for you to spend this weekend. And it can be done for next to nothing!
If this sounds like something you would be interested in having, but you’d rather build one yourself than buy a stock-standard version from the hardware store, this DIY project could be a very satisfying way for you to spend this weekend. And it can be done for next to nothing!
Ingredients
- Small pallet
- Claw hammer or pry bar
- Nails
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
- Weed mat
- Scissors
- Blu-Tack
- Staple gun
- Potting mix
- Fertiliser
Step 1: Depending on how your pallet is constructed, you may need to remove every second board from the front with the back of a claw hammer or a pry bar, to give your plants room to grow.
If there aren’t boards in the same places on the back and the front, you may need to reattach some of the boards removed from the front onto the back, so that your plant pockets will have something to attach to on both sides. They should be pretty easy to nail in.
If there aren’t boards in the same places on the back and the front, you may need to reattach some of the boards removed from the front onto the back, so that your plant pockets will have something to attach to on both sides. They should be pretty easy to nail in.
Step 2: Measure the width, length and depth of your pallet; this will determine the size that your weed mat backing, which will cover the back and sides of the pallet, needs to be.
Step 3: Measure and mark your mat for the backing according to the dimensions of your pallet, then cut the mat to length.
See more fun DIY projects
See more fun DIY projects
Step 4: Wrap the mat around one side, across the back and then the other side, then secure in place using Blu-Tack to hold it temporarily. At this stage, you can also measure, cut and tack on a piece of weed mat for the bottom of your pallet, which will act as the plant pocket for this section.
Step 5: Staple the weed mat in place, removing the Blu-Tack as you go.
Check out these cool container gardens
Check out these cool container gardens
Step 6: Trim off any excess so that the edges look neat and tidy.
Step 7: Measure and cut your weed mat pockets to fit inside the vertical supports on either side of your pallet, rather than cutting them to the full width measured earlier. Tack them in place on the inside of both the front and back boards with the rescued Blu-Tack.
Tip: If you want to be sure that your pockets are extra sturdy, cut the matting to the full length of the pallet, then trim each end down, leaving a tongue on either side that you can then staple onto the supports.
Tip: If you want to be sure that your pockets are extra sturdy, cut the matting to the full length of the pallet, then trim each end down, leaving a tongue on either side that you can then staple onto the supports.
Step 8: Staple the pockets to the pallet to secure them in place, again removing the Blu-Tack as you go.
14 out-there places to grow edibles
14 out-there places to grow edibles
Step 9: Fill each pocket of your vertical garden with soil, tamping it down relatively firmly so loose soil doesn’t fall out the sides.
Tip: At this stage, you can also use the points of your scissors to poke small holes into the bottom of each pocket for drainage – two or three should do. Keep them small so the soil doesn’t spill out.
Tip: At this stage, you can also use the points of your scissors to poke small holes into the bottom of each pocket for drainage – two or three should do. Keep them small so the soil doesn’t spill out.
Step 10: Now you can plant out your pallet. Be sure to select plants that will thrive in the conditions of your pallet’s location. My balcony receives a fair bit of sun throughout the day, so I planted spinach at the top and bottom, and thyme, lemon thyme and rosemary in the middle. Yum!
Once all of your plants are in place, give them a good watering with a liquid fertiliser like Seasol to help them get properly established.
Once all of your plants are in place, give them a good watering with a liquid fertiliser like Seasol to help them get properly established.
Your pallet should easily be able to stand on its own, but you can also lean it back against a wall if you feel it might not be fully secure. Alternatively, with some screws, brackets, a masonry drill bit and a power drill, you can hang this little garden up on the wall to free up even more floor space.
TELL US
What produce have you tried growing at home, and how did you go with it? Share your tales in the Comments below.
MORE
Read more stories about growing your own food
TELL US
What produce have you tried growing at home, and how did you go with it? Share your tales in the Comments below.
MORE
Read more stories about growing your own food