DIY Standing Pallet Planter

We want to make something productive out of something that ordinarily would be thrown out. For this project we decided to take a pallet and create a planter. This project is suitable for garden lovers and is simple enough to be completed in an hour and a half.

Step 1: Gather Materials

2 pallets. Pallets vary in dimension. For this project you will need two identical pallets in structure.

- 1 pallet to make a planter

- 1 pallet for scrap wood

A Sawzall (we used an electric saw to complete the job faster)

2 in galvanized screws

Measuring tape

Angular Aluminum Support Beams

Hammer

Crowbar

Step 2:

Planks need to be removed so that there is room for flowers to grow and blossom. For this step we removed 2 boards total. Counting from the bottom we marked the 3rd and 5th plank to be removed. Again, pallets vary in dimension so your project may vary.

Step 3:

Use the hammer and crowbar to remove the marked planks of wood.

Step 4:

We are going to cut pallet 1 in half. To do so, cut the pallet in half vertically so that the pieces of wood that are horizontal are hanging 2 inches past the vertical 2x4. We measured our pallet to be 23 inches across and 48 inches tall

Step 5:

We will start to make the bottoms of shelves that will hold dirt and flowers.

With pallet 1, measure the space between the two vertical 2x4’s

Step 6:

Then cut the same measurement (ours was 16 ¾ inches) from the horizontal pieces from pallet 2; cut as many as the number of shelves you want to have on your pallet planter plus one extra for a base plate to stand the pallet up on.

Step 7:

Taking the boards we just cut in step 6 that will serve as the bottoms of the shelves, drill holes with a ⅜ inch drill bit about 2-3 inches apart. This will serve as drainage for the plants.

Step 8:

Next, cut the angular aluminum support beams 2 inches shorter that the length of the shelves.

For the sake of making the project simple, we cut our angular aluminum support beams to be 15 inches long since the length of the shelves were about 17 inches long.

Step 9:

Drill 2 pilot holes on each side of the "L" on the angular aluminum support beam. There should 2 pilot holes on each side that mirror each other. Altogether, there will be 4 holes.

Step 10:

Attach the metal support beams to the shelves.

Take the “L” shaped aluminum support beam and place it on a shelf Attach the aluminum support beam using ½ inch galvanized screws so that the “L” shape is right side up.

Flip the shelf upside down to attach to the pallet The other side of the support beam will be attached to the back pallet 1 in the empty spaces of the horizontal planks.

Step 11:

Attach the shelves to the pallet.

The shelves go in the open spaces underneath the horizontal boards.

Step 12:

Next, take the thickness of the pallet and add four inches to the total length.

We will use this measurement to make feet so that pallet 1 can easily stand on it’s own.

The thickness of our pallet was 4 ¾ inches.

For the sake of making this project simple we rounded the measurement to 5 inches.

5 in + 4 in = 9in Cut 2 boards 9 inches long.

These boards will serve as feet to support the pallet.

Step 13:

Flip pallet 1 that has been cut in half upside down. This will make it easier to attach the feet that will help pallet 1 stand by itself.

Step 14:

There should be an open space at the top of the flipped pallet.

Take a shelf and drill pilot holes in the corners about 1 in away from the edges.

with the same shelf use 2 inch galvanized screws to secure the shelf to the pallet and close the open space.

Keep pallet 1 flipped upside down

Step 15:

Place the feet perpendicular to the base plate so that they are centered and screwed into place using 2 in galvanized screws.

Step 16:

Flip pallet right side up, the product should stand on it's own.

Step 17:

Sand any rough edges.

Step 18:

Paint as desired.

For this design we used various metallic spray paints.