DIY Pallet Planter Boxes

I love these DIY pallet planter boxes. They are easy to build, light weight, versatile and look great whether indoors or outside. Their compact size makes them perfect for patio and balcony gardening as well. I came up with them almost by accident when I was trying to find something to do with the scraps I had left over from building pallet raised garden beds. Below I have a few simple instructions that will have you on your way to building these little planters yourself. Enjoy!

Tools & Supplies Needed

A Wooden Pallet
Heavy Landscaping Fabric
2 Inch Nails
Circular Saw
Hammer
Pry Bar

Step 1: Trim Off a Section of Pallet

The first thing you’re going to do is cut off the pallet section that will soon become your planter box. I usually choose the ends of a pallet for making planters, because the top and bottom slats are typically the same width on the ends. That being said, use your saw to cut through the pallet studs along one of the slats. More than likely, you’ll have to make cuts both on the top and bottom of the pallet to free up the section of pallet to be used.

Step 2: Pry a Slat Off the Pallet

Step one took care of four out of the five sides of your new planter. Now it’s time to remove a slat from whats left of your pallet. This slat will become the bottom of the planter box. Fair warning, if you don’t have a loose slat laying around from another project, this can take a bit of effort. The nails used in making pallets don’t come out easy, so this is where a pry bar comes in handy. Pry the slat off the pallet studs, taking care not to break the board (little cracks aren’t a big deal). If any nails are still stuck in the loose slat, remove them with a hammer or pry bar.

Step 3: Attach the Bottom Board

Now that you’ve removed a slat off the pallet, it’s time to put the bottom on your planter box. This can be done either by hammer and nail or with a nail gun. Simply nail the slat into the 2×4 studs on the bottom of your planter. You may notice that there is a bit of a gap between the side boards and the bottom. Don’t worry about that for now. Step 5 will take care of that issue.

Step 4: Cut Out & Attach Planter Box Base

Now that you’ve assembled the sides and bottom of you planter box, it’s time to give it a base for added stability. To do this you’ll need two small sections of a pallet slat measuring 1 1/2 inches in width and 6 inches in length. These sections can be cut off the remains of the pallet you’ve been working with. Once the two base pieces are cut, simply nail them to the left and right edges of the bottom of your planter box.

Step 5: Line the Bottom of Your Planter

Congratulations! You’ve built your very own pallet planter box. Now it’s time to get it ready for soil. To do this, you’re going to have to line the inside bottom of your box with heavy duty landscaping fabric (like this one on Amazon) or landscaping felt. This will take care of the gaps between the side and bottom boards and prevent any soil from washing away. Lining the planter is pretty easy. Just take a piece of fabric and cut it to be a couple inches wider and longer than each section of your new planter box. Once the fabric pieces are cut out, press them down into the bottom of each planter section, taking care to make sure those gaps are covered by fabric.

Step 6: Fill With Soil

Now that your new planter is built and lined, it’s time for soil or potting mix. Fill it to the top and moisten the soil to let it settle a bit, and you’re all set. All that’s left is for you to give some veggies and herbs a new home in your planter. Scroll down for video instructions.

Note: If you want to stain or paint your DIY pallet planter boxes, go for it! Make it your own and put your style into what you created. I didn’t include that in the instructions, because I like the natural, rustic look of the wood.

Happy Planting!