How To Make A Wall Garden Out Of Pallets | Step-By-Step

If you want more plants but have limited floor space, a pallet wall garden is a handy solution. With one sturdy pallet, some fabric, and a few basic tools, you can hang dozens of plants on a fence, balcony, or bare brick wall. This guide walks you through how to make a wall garden out of pallets, from choosing a safe pallet to mounting and planting it so the structure stays stable and the plants thrive.

We’ll cover how to pick safe wood, which side of the pallet to use, how to line and fill it, and what to plant where. You’ll also see layout ideas and maintenance tips so your pallet wall garden stays lush instead of turning into a sagging, dry board of soil.

How To Make A Wall Garden Out Of Pallets Step-By-Step

The basic method for how to make a wall garden out of pallets looks simple at a glance: clean the pallet, add a backing, fill with soil, and plant. The real success comes from a few small choices that keep the wood safe and the soil in place. Before touching soil or plants, focus on choosing the right pallet and planning where it will hang.

Materials You Will Need

Gather everything in one place before you start. That way you can build the pallet wall garden in one smooth session without stopping mid-way for parts.

Choosing Safe Pallets For A Wall Garden

Pallet safety comes first, especially if you plan to grow food. Many shipping pallets carry stamps that show how the wood was treated. Look for the IPPC mark with a country code, a number, and a treatment code. For garden use, the code HT (heat treated) is the one to look for, while MB (methyl bromide) is one to avoid due to chemical residue risks reported by pallet treatment guidance and safety bodies.

HT means the pallet was heated to high temperature to control pests without fumigation. MB indicates treatment with methyl bromide gas, which many safety guides warn against for furniture and garden projects. If you spot MB anywhere in the stamp or if the pallet looks heavily stained, coated, or smells of chemicals, skip it and find another. When in doubt, a clean, unpainted, HT-stamped pallet is the safest bet for a pallet wall garden.

Many extension services and safety organisations stress simple rules: avoid pallets with oil stains, unknown spills, or missing stamps; avoid bright rental pallets; and skip pallets with broken boards or large cracks, as those can fail once loaded with wet soil. The Penn State Extension pallet safety guide is a handy reference if you want extra detail on markings and handling.

Checking Size And Shape

Once you find a safe pallet, match its shape to your wall. Standard euro pallets are tall and narrow, while others are shorter or wider. Hold the pallet against the wall, fence, or balcony rail where you plan to mount it. Check that you can still open doors, windows, or gates nearby. Mark the top edge and sides with a pencil so you know exactly where fixings will go later.

If the pallet feels too tall, trim the bottom or top with a saw so the structure lines up with existing features. Keep at least three full horizontal slats; they create natural pockets for planting and spread the weight of the soil across the frame.

Preparing The Pallet For Planting

Before filling the pallet with soil, give it a quick makeover. This makes your wall garden safer to handle and helps it last longer outdoors. Lay the pallet flat on the ground with the side you want facing out on top.

Cleaning And Sanding

Brush or wash off dirt, cobwebs, and debris. A scrub with mild soapy water and a rinse works well, as many pallet garden projects from gardening groups suggest. Let the pallet dry in the sun. Once dry, run your hand across the edges and slats. Sand any rough areas, especially around the outside frame and the front slats, where your hands and arms will brush past while watering or harvesting.

If you want to paint or stain the pallet, do it now. Use finishes rated for outdoor use and let them dry fully before adding fabric or soil. A light colour reflects heat and can help keep roots cooler on hot walls.

Attaching The Fabric Backing

The fabric backing turns the pallet into a giant pocket planter. Cut landscape fabric large enough to cover the entire back, the bottom edge, and part of the sides. Lay the pallet face down so the back is up. Starting at one corner, staple the fabric along the back edges, pulling it tight as you go.

Wrap the fabric under the bottom and up the sides, making sure there are no gaps where soil can pour out. Use extra layers along the bottom third of the pallet, as this area holds most of the weight of the soil mix. When you reach corners, fold the fabric like gift wrap so there are no openings. The front side of the pallet stays open, with the slats forming horizontal planting pockets.

Mounting A Pallet Wall Garden Safely

A pallet filled with damp soil is heavy, so mounting matters. Check the surface you plan to use: brick, block, timber fence, or balcony structure. Use suitable screws and anchors, and avoid flimsy posts or weak rails. If you rent, look for options that lean against a wall with supports at the base, so you drill fewer holes.

Fixing To A Solid Wall Or Fence

Hold the empty pallet against the wall and mark at least two fixing points on the top frame and two lower points. Drill pilot holes through the pallet frame first. Then add wall plugs and long screws for masonry, or exterior wood screws for timber. Tighten until the pallet feels snug, without crushing the wood.

Leave a tiny gap between pallet and wall so air can move behind the boards and water can drain. If you expect strong winds, add metal brackets on the sides or a cross brace under the bottom edge.

Leaning Designs

If drilling is not an option, a leaning pallet wall garden can still work. Add a simple wooden foot or planter box at the base so the pallet rests at a slight angle. Attach the pallet to this base with screws, then secure the top with light ties or hooks to a fence or railing. This stops the pallet from sliding while still limiting permanent fixings.

Filling The Pallet Wall Garden With Soil

Now the frame is ready, you can turn the empty pallet into a vertical planter. A pallet wall garden behaves more like a tall container than an in-ground bed, so potting mix is the right choice. Look for mixes made for containers or hanging baskets. These drain well but still hold moisture around the roots.

Adding Soil While The Pallet Lies Flat

Lay the pallet flat, front slats facing up. Pour potting mix into the gaps between slats, pressing it down with your hands. Work from the bottom upward, filling every pocket and pressing gently to remove air gaps. Fill to just below the front slats so soil will not spill out when you raise the pallet.

Once the pallet is full, water it gently while still flat. The fabric may sag a little as the mix settles. Add more soil where needed, especially near the bottom pockets, then water again. This first round of watering helps the wall garden settle into its final shape before you stand it upright.

Choosing Plants For A Wall Garden Out Of Pallets

Plant choice can make or break the look of your pallet wall garden. Shallow-rooted, compact plants suit the narrow pockets best. Trailing plants soften the edges, while upright herbs add height and scent. Many extension guides on vertical gardening suggest mixing textures and heights so the surface looks full from top to bottom.

Best Spots For Herbs, Flowers, And Salad Greens

Use the light and water pattern to guide placement. The top row dries out fast and gets most sun, so pick tougher herbs or drought-tolerant flowers there. Middle rows suit salad greens and herbs that like more even moisture. The bottom row often stays cooler and shadier, which suits leafy greens or plants that trail over the edge.

Planting Technique For Pallet Pockets

To plant, poke small holes into the soil through each gap between slats. Ease roots into the pocket and firm the soil around them. Start with the lowest row while the pallet is still flat, then move upward. This stops plants on the top row from being crushed by your hands while you work lower down.

Many gardeners like to plant more densely than in ordinary beds, especially for small herbs and salad leaves. The wall effect looks lush, and you can always thin out plants later. Once all pockets are planted, water enough to settle soil around roots, but avoid a heavy stream that might wash soil out of the front.

Raising And Watering Your Pallet Wall Garden

After planting, leave the pallet flat for a week or two so roots can grab hold of the soil. Keep it somewhere bright but not scorching, and water gently. This rooting period helps stop plants from slipping out once the pallet stands upright.

Standing The Pallet Upright

When the plants show new growth, lift the pallet slowly with a helper. Set the bottom edge in position and secure the top to its fixings. Check for any soil that shifts and top up if needed. Adjust plants so they face forward through the slats.

Step back and look at the overall shape. Fill any obvious gaps with extra seedlings or cuttings. A few trailing plants placed near edges can hide small bare spots while the rest of the wall garden fills out.

Watering Routine

Pallet wall gardens dry out faster than ground beds, especially on sunny walls. Water from the top with a watering can or hose fitted with a gentle rose. Let water trickle through the pockets until you see it drain from the bottom. The top pockets may still dry faster, so check them more often.

During hot spells, daily watering may be needed. In cooler seasons, every few days may be enough. A simple moisture check with your finger helps: if the soil feels dry a couple of centimetres down, it is time to water. Over winter in cold regions, you can strip annuals from the pallet and replant in spring, or move the pallet under shelter if possible, following ideas shared in practical vertical garden guides such as the vertical garden instructions from a wildlife trust.

Common Mistakes With A Wall Garden Out Of Pallets

Even a well-built pallet wall garden can struggle if a few basics are missed. Knowing common pitfalls helps you avoid wasted plants and messy clean-up.

Using The Wrong Pallet

The biggest mistake is grabbing the first pallet you see. Pallets without stamps, with MB markings, heavy stains, or strong chemical smells are poor choices for any garden project. Safety notes from pallet treatment and safety guides point out that MB-treated pallets may still carry residues that you do not want near food crops or regular seating areas.

Take a few extra minutes to locate a clean HT-stamped pallet or buy one from a reliable source. This small step pays off every time you water, harvest, or lean against the wall garden.

Overloading The Structure

Wet soil is heavy. If you pack every pocket with dense compost and large plants, the pallet can bow or pull away from its fixings. Use lighter potting mix and compact plants, and avoid filling the very top row with large shrubs or tall grasses. Check screws and brackets a few times each season and tighten if needed.

Ignoring Light And Water

Many pallet wall gardens fail because the plants chosen do not match the light and water pattern. Shade lovers burn on south-facing walls; sun lovers sulk on north-facing balconies. Before planting, watch your wall for a few days and see how many hours of direct sun it gets. Match plant tags to that pattern, and water more often on hot, windy sides.

Keeping Your Pallet Wall Garden Looking Fresh

Once you know how to make a wall garden out of pallets, upkeep becomes a simple part of your weekly routine. A quick trim here, a top-up of potting mix there, and the whole structure stays productive through the seasons.

Seasonal Refresh And Replanting

In spring, clear out dead roots and spent plants, then add a thin layer of fresh potting mix and a slow-release fertiliser suited to containers. Replant with new herbs, flowers, or salad greens. In summer, pinch back overgrown stems and swap out any tired plants with fresh ones from cuttings or small pots.

Autumn is a good time to add hardy pansies, violas, and evergreen herbs that can handle cooler weather. If your climate brings harsh frost, you may move tender plants to pots indoors and let the pallet hold hardy choices until spring.

Simple Checks Each Month

Each month, run through a quick checklist: feel the soil; trim dead leaves; look for pests; check fixings and brackets; and brush away fallen debris from the wall. Small regular checks keep the pallet wall garden safe to stand under and nice to look at.

By choosing a safe pallet, lining it well, securing it firmly, and matching plants to your conditions, you turn a scrap of shipping wood into a productive, upright feature. Once you build your first pallet wall garden, it becomes easy to add a second one beside it or design a small series along a fence, each with its own mix of herbs, flowers, and greens.

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