Pallet planter boxes diy: you need to try this one!

How to Make a Raised Wooden Planter from a Leftover Pallet

This pallet planter boxes DIY is one in a series of DIY pallet projects that I’ve been sharing and I must confess, I’m so enjoying doing them. Pallet DIYs are so quick and easy and because the pallet forms the frame or structure of the item you’re making, there’s no need for complicated woodwork techniques of lots of tools. Wooden pallets are a great way to reuse materials for your garden while creating a custom planter that fits your needs. With free pallets often available from local stores, this simple project can turn leftover pallet wood into a functional and gorgeous planter box.

In this step-by-step guide, I’ll show you how to use wooden pallets and a few common tools to build your very own planter boxes. I didn’t even bother with a tape measure for this one as you can embrace the rustic look and do it all by eye.

Tools and Materials Needed:

• Old pallet (Methyl bromide-free pallets (avoid toxic pesticides treated pallets)
• Pry bar / crowbar
• Saw
• Impact driver or power drill with drill & screwdriver bits
• Wood screws
• Safety glasses
• Screws

Step 1: Preparing the Pallet Wood

When making pallet planter boxes, the first step is to check the old pallet for any nails or screws that might be sticking out and any giant splinters etc. Inspect the pallet to ensure it hasn’t been treated with toxic pesticides, such as methyl bromide. Look for a stamp that says “HT” (heat-treated) to ensure the wood is safe to use in garden beds. Also, check the pallet isn’t damaged, is solid and secure and won’t fall apart when you start cutting it up! 

Step 2: Cut the sides for the DIY pallet planter

The beauty of this pallet DIY is its simple design and minimal tools or effort. It really is one everyone can have a go at. 

First step is to cut the sides of the DIY pallet planter. Do this by popping the pallet on its front with the back facing up and cut along the red lines marked in the images above. Then flip the pallet over and cut along the red lines marked on the image of the front of the pallet. ​Once these cuts are complete, you should have two sides as shown below…

Step 3 – Cut the ends of the DIY pallet planter

​Take the leftover piece from down the centre and remove the back parts as you only need the front at this point. Hold it up on end next to one of the side pieces and measure the height you need to cut to create an end panel (image 1 below). See image two below for what the piece looks like before cutting.

NOTE: Unfortunately, it wasn’t exactly half the height for mine, so I needed to make two cuts, which will give you a piece of pallet resembling the first image below.  Cut two extra pieces as shown in the second image below, these will complete the end panels.

Step 4: Attach the ends to your pallet planter box

Now comes the fun part—assembling your pallet planter boxes

Line up the sides of the planter (the two long pieces), and, once happy, screw the single short pieces into the ends to secure the planter and form the base structure.

Next, attach the end panels with wood screws, I added quite a few screws to each one for extra support and stability. I also used long screws to ensure they held well even when the planter is full and heavy.

Step 4: Make the legs

I knew I wanted legs on my DIY pallet planter to lift the soil and plants up off the ground. This will keep their eventual contents from getting eaten so easily by slugs and snails as well as keep the wet soil up and off the decking where it could cause issues later down the line. I made the feet by removing the three large blocks of wood that were in the middle section of the pallet that I removed and cutting three slats to attach to them. (Image 1 above) I screwed the blocks and the slats together to make them easier to attach to the base of the DIY pallet planter (image 2 above). Then I screwed them onto the base (image 3 above).

Finally, I cut some of the last remaining offcuts into little legs and screwed them onto the side of the pallet planter for extra sturdiness and balance.

What next?

The great thing about this style of DIY pallet planter is that you don’t need to reinforce with wooden stakes for additional support because the frame is so sturdy.

I love the rustic look of unpainted pallets, so I plan to leave this one untreated for now, but if you want to get yours looking smooth and sleek, follow the next steps. Once the box is assembled, give it a thorough sanding with an orbital sander. This will smooth out any rough edges and give the planter a polished finish. Apply a non-toxic wood preserver to the entire structure. This helps prevent rot and extends the life of your gorgeous planter box. The last step is purely cosmetic but equally important! You can paint or stain the wood to match the décor of your front porch or garden. For the bottom of your planter, you can either use leftover planks of wood or a single piece of plywood. Cut it to fit snugly into the base. The next step is to line the inside of the planter with plastic sheeting or plastic bags. This lining will help protect the wood from rotting and prevent soil from escaping through any gaps. Staple the plastic securely with a staple gun.

Pallet planter boxes DIY

Making your own project using free pallets is not only a sustainable practice but also a rewarding one. In under an hour, you can have a beautiful and functional wood pallet planter box that enhances your outdoor space. Good luck with your project, and enjoy watching your garden flourish!

If you enjoyed this project, you might also like the vertical herb pallet planter I made recently.

This DIY garden tool storage was another fun project I completed recently. Read the tutorial here…

Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to pop over and see behind the scenes of all my DIYs and home improvement projects over on Instagram.