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How to Turn a Pallet into an Herb Garden

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Creating an herb garden from leftover materials is not only genius, but it will also help you to green your lifestyle a bit by recycling. So how do you turn old wooden pallets into an herb garden? Here are my simple and easy instructions. It's the perfect way to add a little beauty to your life.

I love using fresh herbs in all my recipes so being able to step right outside and pick what I need is a blessing! Creating an herb garden or flower beds using repurposed pallets makes for a beautiful way to show off your plants!

Using a wood pallet to create the perfect herb garden is such a genius idea. The wood can be painted to enhance the decor on your porch, or you can do as I did and just leave it untouched. There are so many options to choose from to make it work for you.

If you have a small space or live in a smaller home with a small yard, this type of gardening is great. You can even grow tomato plants, strawberry plants, and more in a pallet garden.

How to Make a DIY Pallet Herb Garden

For this project, you will need —

Tools and Materials

Materials

  • old Pallets that are not pressure treated (due to the toxic chemicals in the pressure treated wood)
  • Landscaping Fabric for the back of the pallet (or your favorite weed cloth)
  • Staples
  • Potting Soil
  • pvc planter boxes
  • favorite herb plants

Tools

  • Hammer
  • Crowbar (optional)
  • Measuring Tape
  • Staple Gun
  • Razor Blade

Find a pallet

Free Pallets are everywhere, so take the time to find one in good condition that is not made from pressure-treated wood (due to the leaching from potentially harmful chemicals).

They come in different shapes and sizes so don’t assume all pallets are the same. Make sure it’s cleaned off and you’ve inspected it for any stray nails or splintered wood. It’s a good idea at this point to wear a sturdy pair of gloves while inspecting and cleaning the pallet.

Gather your supplies

Grab your pallet, 2 large bags of potting soil, fourteen 6 packs of your favorite herbs or more (you can do less if you want), a small roll of landscape fabric, a staple gun, and staples.

Time to put on the backing

Cover the bottom, back, and side of the pallet (both sides) with landscape fabric, leaving the spaces between the slats on the front and the top uncovered (you’ll be planting herbs in the uncovered spaces).

For standard pallets, this will be 40” x 48”, you may want to cut it a bit bigger to help get it wrinkle-free. Next, cut the fabric to cover the back, and then staple it on the perimeter. Cut off any excess fabric.

Planting time for your wooden pallet herb garden

Bring the pallet close to wherever its final spot will be and lay it down face up. If you are going to stand it up to make a vertical pallet garden, do it before you add the dirt.

You’re going to plant it while it’s lying flat on the ground.

Fill with good-quality potting soil or container mix. Don’t use ordinary garden soil or soil that is designed for planting beds, as it’s too heavy and won’t drain as well.

Be sure to add most of your soil before adding the plants. Now, go ahead and tilt the pallet up nearly vertically to allow the soil to settle without it spilling out between the cracks. Then continue to add soil until the pallet is full. If you are leaving your own herb garden flat, no need to tilt.

Now, insert your plants into the open slats making sure to get the roots covered well. You can also consider enhancing the aesthetic and functionality of your vertical garden by incorporating accessories like PVC planter boxes.

Position the plants so their root balls are securely placed between the slats and tuck them in firmly. Once you have all your plants in position, add additional soil if needed but be sure to reserve some to add once the pallet is mounted. Don’t water the vertical herb planter just yet due to the added weight.

I have also shared how to build an herb garden right in your backyard using one of these simple garden boxes. Planting a small garden is the way to go if you are just starting. It's a manageable way to have a little bit of a green thumb while learning.

If planting herbs is not your thing and you love succulents or small flowering plants, you can always turn the pallet into a flower garden. Can you imagine using white paint to paint the pallet and then adding cute flower pots all over the front covered in succulents? It would be GORGEOUS! You could even add some wire mesh to the front of it as well.

Looking for Other Fun Stuff to do with Herbs? Check out these posts

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Denise

Friday 10th of June 2022

If you follow these directions the dirt will just fall out of the slots. I’m confused

Radha

Friday 13th of May 2022

This is fun and a great idea! I too have similar versions here in my backyard.

Liz @ Books n' Cooks

Friday 6th of May 2022

I love this idea - it's so much cuter and more convenient than growing the herbs in the garden at the side of my house.

Jolene

Wednesday 4th of May 2022

I absolutely love this and people are always giving away pallets here!

Inger@Art of Natural Living

Tuesday 3rd of May 2022

This is so cute! I have pots all over and like this much better!

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