How to make a recycled pallet planter
Mark Rayner shows how to turn an old wooden pallet into a nifty space-saving upright planter.
You will need: 50mm galvanised jolt head nails, drill with 15mm drill bit, hammer, offcuts of wood or treated plywood, we used reclaimed fence palings and garden stakes, paintbrush, paint stirrer, pencil, sandpaper, a saw, good quality potting mix and potted colour. Resene Lumbersider tinted to Resene Koru and Resene Quick Dry.
To get the look: Mark painted the wooden raised bed behind the planter with Resene Lumbersider tinted to Resene Soft Apple.
Here’s another colour option: The planter could also be stained with any colour from the Resene Woodsman Penetrating Oil Stain range.
Keep it safe! To prevent the planter from blowing over in strong wind, position it against a wall or fence and fix with nails or exterior screws – we fixed the planter to the wooden raised bed behind.
Instructions
Step 1
Measure mark and cut pieces of wood to fit any gaps in the back of the pallet. Smooth any rough edges with sandpaper.
Step 2
Fix the pieces of wood into the gaps in the back of the pallet, as shown, using 50mm nails.
Step 3
Measure, mark and cut pieces of wood to form the 10 bases of each section of the planter. Ours measured 100mm x 430mm but this may vary according to the pallet used. Smooth any rough edges with sandpaper.
Step 4
Drill two drainage holes in each base, as shown.
Step 5
Attach the bases into position, as shown, fixing from the front with 50mm nails.
Step 6
Turn the planter over and fix the bases from the back using 50mm nails.
Step 7
Carefully stir the Resene Quick Dry.
Step 8
Apply one coat of Resene Quick Dry to the entire planter and allow two hours to dry.
Step 9
Carefully stir the Resene Lumbersider.
Step 10
Apply two coats of Resene Koru to the entire planter, allowing two hours for each coat to dry. Place the planter in position, fill each section of the planter with good quality potting mix and plant up with potted colour.