Start a pallet garden by picking an HT-stamped pallet, lining the back, adding potting mix, planting snugly, watering, and keeping it flat 1–2 weeks.
Want a fast, space-smart way to grow herbs, greens, or flowers on a patio wall or balcony rail? A pallet planter turns one sturdy shipping frame into a tidy vertical bed. This guide walks you through safe pallet selection, simple prep, the best soil blend, smart plant choices, and care that keeps roots happy from spring to frost.
Planting A Pallet Garden Step By Step
Here’s the full process from curbside find to lush wall of color and flavor. You’ll prep the wood, add a breathable liner, fill with container mix, pack in plants tightly, water well, and let roots set before standing it upright.
Pick The Right Pallet
Scan the side stringer for the international stamp. You’re looking for the IPPC logo and a code that ends with “HT” for heat treatment. Skip any pallet stamped “MB,” which signals methyl bromide fumigation. Pass on wood with oil stains, strong odors, or mushroom growth. Straight boards and tight nails make life easier.
Safety Checks Before You Start
Brush off dirt, then sand splinters so fabric won’t snag. Wear gloves. If you want extra protection for edibles, add a heavy plastic liner behind the slats so soil never touches the wood. Seal cut ends with exterior paint if you trim the frame.
Tools And Materials
- One 40×48-inch pallet in good shape, HT-stamped
- Landscape fabric or burlap (breathable), plus a heavy plastic backer if desired
- 1×3 furring strips or scrap boards for a solid back (optional)
- Exterior screws or a staple gun with 1/2-inch staples
- Quality potting mix (not garden soil), 4–5 cubic feet
- Starter plants or seedlings; slow-release fertilizer
- Drill/driver, tin snips or scissors, utility knife, sandpaper
Pallet Markings, What They Mean, And Best Uses
Check the stamp before you bring wood home. Use this quick guide to decode it and decide if it’s suitable for edible crops or only for ornamentals. For background on code parts and treatment types, see the ISPM 15 mark details.
| Mark | Meaning | Edible Use? |
|---|---|---|
| HT | Heat-treated to kill pests; no fumigant | Yes, preferred |
| MB | Treated with methyl bromide fumigant | No, avoid |
| KD | Kiln-dried for moisture control | Yes, if also HT |
| DB | Debarked | Yes, if also HT |
| Unmarked | No standard stamp present | Skip for edibles |
| EPAL/EUR | European pallet program marks | Check for HT |
Line The Back And Sides
Lay the pallet face down. Stretch landscape fabric across the full back and wrap the sides, leaving the front slats open. Add a solid panel (scrap boards or corrugated plastic) if you want a firmer back. Secure with staples every 2–3 inches. Punch small drain holes along the bottom edge.
Fill With The Right Mix
Use a light, peat-free potting mix made for containers. It holds moisture yet drains fast, which stops soggy roots and rot. Blend in a slow-release fertilizer per label. Avoid topsoil or heavy bed soil; weight and poor drainage are the usual reasons pallet planters fail. For a deeper dive on safe pallet handling, Penn State has a helpful brief: pallet safety guidance.
Pack Plants Tightly
Start with the pallet still flat on the ground. Pour mix into each cavity and press it in with your hand so it locks together. Tuck plants close so roots knit the pockets. Water across the surface until runoff appears. Refill sunken spots and water again. Leave the piece flat for 7–10 days so roots grab before you tip it upright.
Stand It Up And Secure It
After roots set, lean the pallet against a wall with 2–3 inches of airflow behind it. Screw it into studs, a fence post, or a masonry anchor. Level it side to side so water spreads evenly. Add a tray or gutter under the base to catch drips if it sits over decking.
Best Plants For Pallet Pockets
Go with compact, shallow-rooted picks that thrive in containers. Think fast greens and herbs, trailing edibles, and low-growing flowers that spill between slats. Tall crops with heavy fruit need cages or deeper beds, not a narrow cavity.
Edibles That Shine
- Leafy greens: lettuce, arugula, baby kale, spinach
- Herbs: thyme, oregano, basil, cilantro, chives, parsley
- Small fruiting plants: alpine strawberries, dwarf chilies
- Trailers: nasturtium, thyme, strawberries
- Microdwarf tomatoes in the top row only (staked)
Flowers For Color And Pollinators
- Trailing lobelia, calibrachoa, and sweet alyssum
- Petunias and dwarf marigolds
- Pansies in cool seasons; zinnias in warm spells
What To Skip
Crops that need deep soil or heavy support—full-size tomatoes, corn, potatoes, pumpkins—are tough in narrow slots. Large root crops split the mix and slump the face.
Soil Volume, Spacing, And Layout
A standard 40×48-inch pallet has room for several short rows or a grid of pockets. You’ll need about 4–5 cubic feet of container mix to fill the frame snugly. Pack more into the lower rows since they carry the load and dry faster.
Simple Layouts That Work
- Row layout: Herbs on top, greens in the middle, trailers at the base.
- Checkerboard: Alternate colors—green lettuce next to red lettuce—for pop.
- Herb wall: One family per row (all mints in a lined bin to stop spread).
Plant Counts For A 40×48 Pallet
Use these starting numbers, then adjust to your variety’s tag. Tighter spacing creates a lush face and shades roots, which saves watering.
| Crop | Per Pocket/Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lettuce (leaf) | 3 per pocket / 24–36 total | Harvest small, replant monthly |
| Spinach | 4 per pocket / 32–48 total | Prefers cool temps |
| Baby kale | 2 per pocket / 16–24 total | Clip outer leaves |
| Strawberries | 1 per pocket / 8–12 total | Best in middle rows |
| Basil | 1 per pocket / 6–10 total | Top row, full sun |
| Thyme/oregano | 1 per pocket / 6–10 total | Great trailers |
| Nasturtium | 1 per pocket / 6–10 total | Edible blooms, trails down |
Watering, Feeding, And Light
Container gardens dry fast. Aim for steady moisture—not soaked, not bone dry. Stick a finger in the mix; if the top inch feels dry, water until it runs from the base. Morning is best. In wind or peak summer, expect daily watering.
Easy Feeding Plan
Mix a slow-release fertilizer into fresh media at planting. Midseason, supplement with a half-strength liquid feed every 2–3 weeks. Flush with clear water once a month to prevent salt build-up.
Sun And Heat
Most herbs and warm-season annuals like 6+ hours of sun. In hot zones, a bit of afternoon shade keeps greens from bolting. Dark walls radiate heat; leave airflow behind the frame so roots don’t bake.
Mounting, Safety, And Longevity
Weight adds up fast: a full pallet can top 100 pounds. Anchor into studs or masonry, not just siding. Use two lag screws near the top and a ledger or shelf under the base. If you rent, lean the piece on heavy planters and zip-tie it to a railing for backup.
Keep The Wood Sound
Recoat exposed edges with exterior paint each spring. Lift the base off wet soil with pavers. If boards loosen, back them with a strip of cedar or composite and re-screw through the slats.
Pest And Disease Tips
- Pick and toss yellowing leaves to keep airflow open.
- Bottom-water with a hose set to low flow to avoid splash.
- Rotate crops by row each season: herbs where greens grew, and so on.
- Sticky traps near the base help monitor gnats and whiteflies.
Common Mistakes And Fast Fixes
Soil Falls Out Between Slats
Add a second layer of fabric across the face, then cut X-shaped slits for plants. Pack more mix and water to settle it.
Plants Wilt By Afternoon
Shade the wall from noon to 3 p.m., add more organic matter for water holding, and mulch the surface with coco fiber.
Uneven Growth From Top To Bottom
Install a simple drip line along each row, or water from the top and mid-row, not just the very top. Check that the pallet sits level.
Cost, Sourcing, And Sustainability Tips
Many grocery and tile stores set out damaged pallets for pickup. Ask a manager; never take ones still stacked for shipping. If you prefer new wood, look for low-cost “stringer” pallets or build a frame from 1×4s spaced like pallet slats. A single bag of container mix plus six-packs of herbs keeps the starter budget modest. Reusing a frame keeps wood out of the landfill and gives you a tidy planter that fits small spaces.
Irrigation Upgrade
A 1/4-inch drip line with button emitters saves time and water. Snake one line along each row and tie into a hose-end timer. Set 5–10 minutes in spring and adjust upward in hot spells. Add a pressure regulator if your faucet blasts too hard.
Seasonal Care And Overwintering
In cold regions, pull annuals after frost, lay the pallet flat, and cover with a tarp to keep media from saturating during winter storms. In mild zones, swap warm-season plants for pansies, kale, and herbs that handle chill. Revive the mix each spring with compost and fresh media blended in across the top inch.
Why Stamp Codes And Soil Choice Matter
Heat-treated wood avoids pesticide residue issues, and container-grade mix drains fast enough to keep roots oxygenated. Both points set you up for safe, productive harvests on a wall planter, even in tight spaces.