Vertical pallet planter DIY: your herbs will love this DIY hack

If you’re looking for a creative way to make the most of your outdoor space, building a DIY vertical pallet planter for herbs is a great idea. It’s an easy DIY project that can transform an old pallet into a beautiful, functional herb garden. Whether you have a small space or a large yard, this pallet garden bed can be customized to fit your needs. I’m going to show you how to build a vertical garden using wooden pallets. It’s a perfect project for a small garden, and you can even use it for growing a variety of plants like small herbs, seasonal flowers, or even a lettuce plant.

You will need

Before getting started, you’ll want to gather your materials. Here’s a list of items to have on hand:

• Old wooden pallet (in good condition)
• Landscape fabric
• Netting (optional)
• Staple gun
• Razor blade or sharp scissors
• Pry bar / aka utility bar or crowbar (for removing any protruding nails)
• Chalkboard paint (optional, for labeling herbs)
• Garden soil
• A variety of herbs or small seasonal flowers

Step 1: Choose the Right Pallet for a Vertical Pallet Planter DIY

When selecting a wood pallet, make sure it’s safe to use for planting. Some pallets are treated with toxic chemicals like methyl bromide, which could harm your plants. Look for heat-treated pallets (stamped with “HT”) from your local business or garden centre. The type of treatment is critical, so be cautious and check local listings or ask at your hardware store. I was a bit worried about this aspect of pallet building when I first read about it, but when I investigated further I found that often the chemically treated pallets are for international shipping and are often more heavy-duty and less common in the UK, but definitely still worth checking for. I also discovered that some pallet shipping companies will paint and label their pallets for easy returns so you might see some bright red ones with ‘property of LPR’ on, these belong to La Palette Rouge who will come and collect them from you free of charge if you fill out a form on their website.

Step 2: Prep the Pallet

Once you’ve sourced your old pallet, some people advise giving it a good clean, although I must admit that I didn’t bother. It’s a good idea to check for any rough edges or protruding nails that may cause injury or damage. A pry bar can help you remove nails, and you can sand any rough spots to smooth out the surface.

Step 3: Adapt the slats

For this particular vertical pallet planter design, you need to remove alternate planks from the front/top of the pallet before adding them to the back to create eight mini planters. I used a crowbar to lever off the alternate planks and then hammered flat or removed the nails. I flipped the pallet over and attached the removed planks to the back using screws. It’s worth noting that the planters might be unevenly distributed if the planks aren’t evenly spread across the pallet, but that’s fine.

Step 4: Attach the netting

The next step is to make some little hammock-style bases for each mini-planter, as they need to be supportive enough to hold some wet compost and herbs. I happened to have some strong netting/mesh leftover from a previous project so decided to use this rather than buying something new (as you probably know, I’m always trying to do these DIY projects on the smallest budget possible!). I folded the netting up so it was two or three layers thick then stapled it to the front and back planks of the pallet.

Step 5: Attach Landscaping Fabric to your Vertical pallet planter DIY

Next, you’ll want to line the back of the pallet with landscape fabric to hold the soil in place. Cut the fabric to the length of the pallet and staple it tightly to the backside of the pallet using a staple gun. Be sure to cover the bottom of the pallet and the sides of the pallet to create a secure planting section. Don’t worry if there’s excess fabric—you can trim it later, or just fold it back on itself and staple again.

Step 6: Paint the labels

With the fabric in place, stand your pallet upright in the position you want it to be. Make sure there’s enough room in your garden to access all sides for planting and watering. If you’re using the pallet against a garden wall, ensure it’s stable.

Step 7: Fill with Compost

Now it’s time to fill your pallet with compost. Make sure to pack in enough soil to support your plants. The pallet wood will create natural divisions for different planting sections, which is perfect for organizing a variety of herbs or plants.

Step 8: Plant Your Herbs

This is the fun part! Start planting your fresh herbs or small seasonal flowers in the mini-planters you’ve created. You can grow anything from basil to thyme or even a lettuce plant for your kitchen. I saved a bunch of cash by buying supermarket herbs for £1 each, rather than garden centre herbs for £3-£5 each – result!

Step 7: 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. 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 to help reduce the ongoing maintenance (because I am terrible at remembering to water plants!!).

Tips for Success with a Vertical Pallet Planter DIY

• Choose herbs or flowers that are well-suited for your climate and the vertical space.
• If you plan to use the pallet for a vegetable garden or to grow larger plants, make sure the pallet has enough soil depth.
• 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.

Why a Vertical Pallet Planter DIY is a Good Idea

Building a DIY pallet planter is a great way to upcycle old materials and create a functional herb garden in a small space. It’s also a good idea if you’re short on space for traditional garden beds or flower beds. Plus, it’s a good condition to help keep your outdoor area green and sustainable, without the need for extensive outdoor projects. You can even part ways with old pallets you’ve had sitting around for a couple of years!

In summary, creating your own DIY vertical pallet garden is an easy way to bring a variety of plants into your outdoor space, making it perfect for herbs, small veggies, or even a flower garden. With some pallet wood, landscape fabric, and a few basic tools, you’ll have a beautiful and functional garden in just a couple of hours. You can watch the Instagram reel I made of the process here.

If you liked this one, don’t forget to check out my post on how to make DIY hanging garden storage using an old piece of wood and some Amazon hooks and my other pallet planter boxes DIY too!