I recently saw a picture of a raised planter bed and though it was a really neat idea. I though this would be the solution for keeping rabbits out of my garden, only problem was they wanted $250 for it. After looking at the picture for a few minutes I was able to construct it in my head, only problem was getting the wood for it would be costly. I was thinking about it while
I was at work and saw a co-worker toss a pallet into a dumpster, it occurred to me that I had just found a source of free wood for this project. It took me about 6 hours in total to build the raised planter bed and I was able to make it for about 10% of what it retailed for. You will need the following for this project:
Additional note: Step 2: Prepping the Wood/PalletsYou will need to break down the pallets to use them. It is a lot easier to disassemble pallets that use nails instead of staples. You will also want to look for pallets that are newer versus older, the wood is less likely to crack when a screw is drilled into it. The first two pallets I had were assembled with nails, I was able to break them down in about 10 minutes .The second pallet, the crate one, was assembled using staples. That one took a bit more time to break down but had newer and more wood to it. After all the pallets are broken down you need to remove all of the nails and staples from the boards to get them in a safe usable condition. Step 3: Building the LegsFor the legs of the raised planter we are going to use the 2 x 4's that were used to hold the pallets together.
Step 4: Angled Sides and SupportsNow for the hard part, making the angled sides. Angled sides are better to use then a box form because it uses less wood, less soil, takes up less space and makes it lighter overall.
After step six is done we will move on to the end caps. Step 5: End CapsFor the in caps it is a good idea to use the scrap pieces that were not good enough to be used for the angled sidewalls. Step 6: The LinerFor the liner I used a heavy duty cloth liner that was a 1/16th of in inch thick. I measured out the total length and the total width with the sides, added 2 inches for an inch fold on each side. Once I had it positioned in the bed I started stapling it in place with a staple gun. Step 7: Finishing TouchesI added some rubber feet to the bottoms of the legs so the wood would not be in direct contact with the ground. I had some old rubber mat that was give to me and it works perfect for the rubber pads. Just cut it to size and and screw the pads in place. Step 8: Final Notes and Future PlansOver all I a happy with the sturdiness of the raised bed. My wife and I were able to move it into place easily. When I fill the bed I am going to put river rock at the bottom to assist with drainage, place another layer of liner over the rocks and fill with garden soil. I am currently working a smaller version that will be constructed from 2 pallets. I am also working on a way to add netting to keep bugs out, a sun screen to keep certain plants from burning up in the summer heat, and possibly a greenhouse type of cover to keep humidity in in the spring months. I hope to have a instructable posted on it in about a month or so. Until then happy gardening. 1 Person Made This Project!RecommendationsIs it safe to make raised beds from pallets?Make sure to choose pallets that are in good, sturdy condition and have not been treated with chemicals like pesticides. Ones that are safe to use will be marked with these initials that tells how they were treated: HT (heat-treated) DB (debarked)
What is the cheapest way to make raised beds?Used bricks and breeze blocks are cheap or even free. Breeze blocks laid on their side can make a good cheap and safe raised bed and form a seat to sit and garden from. Old planks nailed or screwed around a simple frame of corner stakes that have been well hammered in is cheap and very simple to make.
How long will pallet planters last?On average, the useful life of a recycled pallet as a planter box is only about a year or two. Once the pallets start to fall apart you will have to deal with rusty nails or staples; you certainly do not want anyone to step on them, especially children playing in the garden.
How long will pallets last outside?How long do wooden pallets last outside? If you want to store your wooden pallets outside, you can do so for a few months before noticing signs of mould or rot. If you're planning on storing them long-term, however, it's best to store them in a dry area, protected from sun exposure.
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