Raised Planter Bed from Pallets

I recently saw a picture of a raised planter bed and though it was a really neat idea. I though this would be the solution for keeping rabbits out of my garden, only problem was they wanted $250 for it.

After looking at the picture for a few minutes I was able to construct it in my head, only problem was getting the wood for it would be costly. I was thinking about it while I was at work and saw a co-worker toss a pallet into a dumpster, it occurred to me that I had just found a source of free wood for this project.

It took me about 6 hours in total to build the raised planter bed and I was able to make it for about 10% of what it retailed for.

You will need the following for this project:
3 to 4 Pallets - depends on the size of the pallets, you'll also want them similar in size. Hammer Vice Grips Pry bar/Crowbar Drill Staple Gun - 3/8 inch staples Skill saw, jig saw, or preferably a miter saw (something that will make 90º cuts and 45º cuts) Screws; I used 3 different lengths of wood screws: 1 inch, 1 1/4 inch, and 1 3/4 inch Landscaping Fabric Additional treated wood from a lumber store, unless you have planks that are the total length of the bed.  Additional note:
The Pallet wood you will need to use will need to be heat treated.  All pallets will have some marking or stamp on them indicating how they have been treated.  You will need to get some that have a HT (Heat Treated) stamped on them to make this safe for uses with a garden. Steer clear of pallets with MB stamped on them, they have been treated with Methyl Bromide and can be dangerous if used for this project, since plants will be in contact with the wood and any chemicals in it.

View the original article here

Repurposed Plate Planter

This is the perfect project for every plant lover, as well as for that person who wants to commemorate his first hotrod.  This project is almost sure to give you a conversation starter, while at the same time creating an attractive centerpiece.

View the original article here

WWII Military Mess Tray Planter

In honor of Memorial Day and all the men & women who have sacrificed their lives for our country, I have created a planter using an authentic WWII military mess tray. I picked the trays up at an Antique fair in Alameda, CA., which irionacally is on old Naval Base. These tray's were used in the 40's either by the Army or Navy. 

Tools: 

Drill

Metal Drill Bit

2 Mess Tray's - authentic ones are available on eBay. Reproduction's are available on Amazon. 

Assorted Succulents & Cactus

Assorted Grasses, Moss & Thyme

Sharpie

Safety Goggles

Funnel

Sand 

Pebbles

WWII Military Mess Tray Planter: 

To create the planter, mark each section of the tray with a Sharpie to indicate where you want the drain holes. Next, take the tray outside and place it in the dirt. Use a drill to drill holes where you have marked the tray. These holes will allow for proper drainage. These are made of really heavy duty stainless steel and it took a lot of man (women) power to drill the holes. I had to use my feet and step on the tray to drill some of the holes.

After you have drilled the holes, place the second tray underneath the one with the drilled holes. Remove the succulents and place them into each section of the mess tray as desired. Make sure you use cactus soil or an all purpose soil. You don't have much room to place the plants so you need to make sure you press down on the soil to secure the succulents. I decided to use some grasses that require shade. Unlike succulents that can withstand full sun, these grasses will start to deteriorate after a while. Eventually, you will need to switch them out. 

I recommend putting the pebbles on last and I used a funnel to pour the sand on top of the succulents & cacti that have soil underneath. 

This is a great way to put these pieces of history to use. 

View the original article here

DIY River Stone Planter

Not very many items are needed to make these planters, and they are probably one of the most inexpensive projects I've come across (always a plus). 

What to get:
-Pot or planter (I used some spare terra cotta pots wasting away in our garage, as well as a plastic one. To save money, I'd recommend checking around in storage before purchasing new planters)
-Hot glue gun
-River Stones (I found my river stones at Dollar Tree ---$1 for a pretty decent sized bag--- but they can also be found at any craft store. Or, hey!, why not gather your own while going on a nature walk or visiting any river or lake?

When your planter is done:
-Don't forget your lovely flower and potting soil for planting!

View the original article here

How to Make a Better Strawberry Pallet Planter

Over the past year I've come across scores of diy pallet projects, some of them intriguing and others not quite there yet but still having potential. One that I see time and again is the idea of using a single wooden pallet as a strawberry planter. Filled with soil and with plants inserted in the gaps they're usually leaned up against a wall but sometimes bolted on to keep from tumbling over. It's a clever idea but I've steered away from trying it myself because I suspect that they'll require constant watering and erosion control and also because I'm not convinced that they'll work long term. Almost every image I've found of pallet planters look to be newly planted rather than a tried and tested design.

Still I was interested in the idea and with the gift of eight pristine wooden pallets, I started scouring the internet looking for alternative tutorials. Ones that offered increased stability, more soil capacity and better aesthetics. Eventually, after finding nothing that really jumped out at me, I came to the conclusion that I'd have to come up with my own design. After thinking about the process for this post I'm quite sure that anyone who is comfortable using a hammer and hand-saw could complete this project too. Though I'll be honest and say it's much easier if you have a jigsaw and a few other extra tools.

For this project you will need the following materials:
- A suitable pallet as described in the next two steps
- A hand-saw or jigsaw
- Electric drill or hammer
- Two sizes of screws and nails - approx. lengths 4 cm (1-1/2") and 8cm (3")

Optional:
- Heavy duty chisel/wedge and iron mallet
- Non-toxic paint and paintbrush

View the original article here