Beginner
40 inch wide × 48 inch tall × 4 inch deep
1 – 2 hours
Pallet Vertical Garden
A shipping pallet turned into a living wall. Perfect for small spaces, patios, and herb gardens near the kitchen.
Estimated time
1 – 2 hours
Lifespan
2–4 seasons
Soil needed
3–4 cubic feet of potting mix
Weight empty
20–30 lbs
Weight full
80–120 lbs
Best for
Herbs, strawberries, lettuce, and trailing flowers on fences or patios
Placement
Strap or screw it to fence studs or wall posts — a wet pallet is top-heavy. Choose a sunny spot.
Parts to Buy
| Part | Quantity | What You Use Them For |
|---|---|---|
| Heat-treated pallet (HT stamp) | 1 | Frame — HT only, never MB |
| Landscape fabric | 3 ft × 6 ft | Back and pocket liner |
| Potting mix | 3–4 cubic ft | Fills pockets |
| Staples | 1 box | Attach fabric |
- ·Optional: 2×4 legs to make it freestanding
- ·Optional: drip irrigation line across the top
Steps
- 1Check the pallet stamp — use only HT (heat-treated), never MB. No stamp = don’t use it for food.
- 2Pull loose staples and sand splinters before you plant.
- 3Staple landscape fabric across the back and bottom, folding it into each slat gap to form pockets.
- 4Lean the pallet against a wall at a slight angle and strap or screw it to studs or fence posts so it cannot tip.
- 5Fill each pocket with potting mix.
- 6Plant small plants only — herbs, strawberries, lettuce, and trailing greens. No tomatoes or heavy vines.
- 7Water from the top until the bottom pockets drip. In summer this usually means daily watering; a drip line across the top slat makes it easier.
Tools needed
- ·Staple gun
- ·Scissors or utility knife
- ·Tape measure
- ·Work gloves
Common mistakes to avoid
- ·Using pallets stamped MB — they are treated with methyl bromide
- ·Using a pallet with no stamp at all — only HT is safe for food
- ·Not backing the pallet with landscape fabric — soil falls out
- ·Planting heavy crops like tomatoes — they pull the pallet over
- ·Forgetting to water — vertical gardens dry out fast
Maintenance tips
Water daily in summer, or run a drip line across the top slat. Refresh potting mix each season. Replace rotting slats as needed.
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