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How to Make a Better Strawberry Pallet Planter
This post contains affiliate links. Click here for the full disclosure statement.
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May 6, 2013 · 126 Comments

How to Make a Better Strawberry Pallet Planter

Container Gardening· Garden Projects· Gardening· Kitchen Gardening· Popular Posts· Top Posts· Videos

Use a wooden pallet to make a Strawberry Planter

Full written and video instructions on how to make a strawberry pallet planter using a single wood pallet. Once made, you can paint it and use it for years to grow berries in your garden or on the patio. It’s a great handmade planter that not only looks great but is functional and inexpensive to make. Full video at the end.

For this project you’ll need a heat-treated wood pallet, a handful of tools, and an afternoon to put it together. Plant it with strawberries in spring and by summer you’ll be picking fresh berries from your patio.

A Little Background on the Project

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.

How to build a better Strawberry Pallet Planter. Grow strawberries on your deck or small garden #lovelygreens #growstrawberries #organicgarden

Berries dangle down for easy picking

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.

How to build a better Strawberry Pallet Planter. Grow strawberries on your deck or small garden #lovelygreens #growstrawberries #organicgarden

It’s important to use safe pallets

First of all, choosing pallets for diy projects involves a bit of know-how. You need pallets that are in good condition, without rot, and which have not been treated with chemical insecticides. Most people are probably not aware of this but pallets that cross international borders must be either heat treated or sprayed to stop the spread of foreign pests.

Whether you think this is a good idea or not, you certainly do not want pesticide-soaked furniture or objects in your garden let alone your home. Not only can it kill off insects that eat your crops but it can indiscriminately kill all the beneficial insects too. There’s also the possibility of your plants absorbing these chemicals into their tissues and into your tasty strawberries!

To help you find the right type of pallet for your project I’ve put together a diagram of what to look for when you spot one. By international law, a pallet must be stamped twice with certain information which includes whether it’s been sprayed. Keep clear of any pallets that have been printed with the letters MB.

Pallet safety! Look for this information before using pallets for home and garden projects #pallet

Pallet Size

For this project you will also need to look for a pallet that has six or nine planks making up its main surface. The reason for this is that the first major step will be in slicing the pallet up into three equal sized pieces (both six and nine are divisable by three). If there’s such a thing as a pallet with twelve planks then all the better because that means you can build an even larger planter.

For this tutorial I’ve tried to use a series of photos to illustrate the various steps. As a beginner wood worker, it’s easier for me to understand what I’m meant to be doing if there are visuals – I hope they’ll help you too. After the main construction sequence I’ve also listed more in-depth instructions.

How to Make a Better Strawberry Planter

The dimensions of my pallet planters are: 47″ wide, 16″ across, and 19″ in height

You will need the following materials:

  • A suitable pallet as described above
  • A Hand Saw or Jigsaw
  • Electric Drill
  • 4 cm (1-5/8″) Screws and 8cm (3″) Screws

Optional:

  • Heavy duty Splitting Wedge and Hammer
  • Non-toxic paint and paintbrush

How to build a better Strawberry Pallet Planter. Grow strawberries on your deck or small garden #lovelygreens #growstrawberries #organicgarden

Step 1: Cut the pallet into three equal pieces

The easiest way to do this is to cut lay the pallet so that the long planks are in parallel with your own position. If your pallet has nine planks, like mine did, then count over three planks and then saw the wood between the third and fourth planks. Saw right in the middle, to keep things easy and to ensure that all of your proportions remain correct. Continue another three planks and cut again. Remember that you’ll have to saw in the exact places on both the front and back of the pallet.

How to build a better Strawberry Pallet Planter. Grow strawberries on your deck or small garden #lovelygreens #growstrawberries #organicgarden

Step 2: Trim and remove excess wood pieces

You’ll have three pieces of pallet now, all of the same height and width. Two of the pallets will be formed from the top and bottom and will have chunky blocks securely fixed to them between one of three planks on the front side and the single one left on on the other. You’ll want to trim off the excess wood jutting up from each one of these wooden blocks. Please refer to images for step one and two. Though I chose not to do it in this project, you could also remove that single plank on the back side. If you do this then you could have a deeper planter – it’s up to you.

The piece that made up the centre part of the pallet also has thick wooden blocks sandwiched between its front side and stubby planks on the other. Pull these blocks and stubby planks off but keep them in reserve – you’ll need them to complete the project. If there are nails sticking up after removing these pieces then either hammer them flat or remove them completely.

How to build a better Strawberry Pallet Planter. Grow strawberries on your deck or small garden #lovelygreens #growstrawberries #organicgarden

Step 3: Fix the two end pieces to the middle part of the pallet. Screw in from the other side of the middle (bottom) piece. 

The two end pieces will be the sides of your planter and the middle piece is the bottom. Though the image shows the structure right way up, it’s actually easier to flip it over in order to fix the bottom piece to the sides. You’ll want to screw or nail the bottom piece into the wooden blocks still attached to the side pieces.

How to build a better Strawberry Pallet Planter. Grow strawberries on your deck or small garden #lovelygreens #growstrawberries #organicgarden

Step 4: You should have three to four of these pieces that were removed from the centre piece of the pallet. Separate them into individual blocks and planks.

This is easier said than done if you don’t have the right tools. Since pallet wood that has been heat treated can be brittle if you try to pull the plank off with the tongs of a hammer. If you have a heavy Splitting Wedge then I recommend that you use it to separate the block and the plank and sever the nails in two. If you’re planning on doing any more pallet projects you could really save yourself a lot of tears and invest in one along with an Iron Mallet. If any of your pieces have bits of nails sticking out then try to hammer them flat.

How to build a better Strawberry Pallet Planter. Grow strawberries on your deck or small garden #lovelygreens #growstrawberries #organicgarden

Step 5: Use planks to create the sides and the blocks for feet

If you’ve followed the directions in step 1 and sawed in the middle between the long planks, then the little planks leftover from step four should all be approximately the same length. They will also be the same width you need to create the shorter sides of your planter. If your original pallet was the same size as mine then you’ll have four of these planks to make up two pieces for each side. The bottom planks for each of the shorter sides can be created by re-using the bits of wood you cut off the side pieces in step two. For a more pleasing and symmetrical effect, line the small side planks up with the planks along the front and back pieces.

Attaching the wooden blocks as feet can be a bit tricky and in the end I drove very long screws in sideways to attach them to the bottom of the planter. Putting feet on the piece will help with drainage and slow down the process of the bottom rotting. I think they also make the planter look nicer.

I can foresee some people finding pallets of slightly different sizes to mine and being left with less small planks and blocks in this step. In fact it’s more likely that you’ll end up with three of each rather than four, especially if you’re using a smaller pallet. In this case you’ll be cobbling together more scraps to make and additional side piece and having to find a fourth block to use as the last foot. In this case I’d look at removing one of the inner blocks from the side pieces to use.

How to build a better Strawberry Pallet Planter. Grow strawberries on your deck or small garden #lovelygreens #growstrawberries #organicgarden

Step 6: Project Completed

Well almost. Turn your planter right way up and have a look at it. Does it feel sturdy? Are the feet wobbly? Are there extra bits of wood sticking up that you could trim back? Once you feel the planter is complete then either plant it up as is or use a non-toxic outdoor wood paint to paint the exterior. Being wood, this piece will eventually rot down but some tlc now can help extend its life.

How to build a better Strawberry Pallet Planter. Grow strawberries on your deck or small garden #lovelygreens #growstrawberries #organicgarden

Learn how to plant a Strawberry Pallet Planter over here

Step 7: Plant it up

Soil and compost will erode through any unprotected opening in the sides or bottom of the planter. Putting down your choice of barrier materials will help keep that soil where it’s supposed to be. I chose to line the bottom of my planter with scraps of wire then a layer of Landscaping Fabric or plastic that will let water out but keep matter in. Since I placed my planter against a hedge I also chose to roll the black material up the back since I won’t be planting any strawberries on that side. On top of the fabric and running up the sides I used straw as an organic erosion barrier.

For full planting instructions for this planter, including a video, visit this article.

Grow strawberries in small spaces with this project tutorial on how to build and plant up a better Strawberry planter using a single wooden pallet #gardening

Update on 14/07/2013
Here’s a before and after shot of how my planter looked on the day of construction and how it looks today. In two months the plants have grown enormously and I’m picking ripe berries every day. I’ve planted my container with two types of strawberry and the most prolific are the ever-bearing variety that should produce fruit for most of the summer.

strawberry-pallet-planter-project

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  • DIY Wooden Table made with Pallet WoodDIY Wooden Table made with Pallet Wood
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mark Ailstock says

    January 20, 2019 at 1:17 am

    Could you attach the feet to the bottom before attaching the sides ?

    Reply
  2. Stephanie says

    October 11, 2018 at 8:16 pm

    Hello
    Love this idea. Question what ratio of compost to manure to use. For beginners it would be nice to explain the thickness and mixtures.
    Thank you. I love berries of all kinds!

    Reply
    • lovelygreens says

      October 16, 2018 at 8:41 am

      I’ve tried different mixes throughout the years and to be honest, pure garden compost or pure, but fully composted, farmyard manure will do. Strawberries are hungry feeders and love being planted in pure compost. Saying that, the multipurpose compost you’d buy at garden centres often only has limited nutrition. Homemade stuff is much better.

      Reply
  3. MICHELE says

    July 8, 2018 at 5:35 am

    I stumbled upon this project while searching for ways to grow strawberries in containers. The video was such an inspiration I found a pallet and made a box this weekend. It’s lovely to look at, sturdy and functional. The only addition I made was to add casters to the feet so I could move it around my patio to follow the sun through the seasons. Thank you and I will be revisiting your site for more inspiration.

    Reply
    • lovelygreens says

      July 9, 2018 at 10:01 am

      Casters are a great idea — really pleased you found the tutorial useful! Happy strawberry growing 🙂

      Reply
  4. Shelley Balderas says

    July 2, 2018 at 1:02 am

    I love your idea,,thank you for posting it and doing the step by step instructions to that is very helpful!!! I’ve been trying to figure out something to do with pallets because I knew there was a way to make things such as this and you handed me a plan on a silver platter,,thank you very much now I can’t wait to get this started,,I just have to find some pallets and I think my husband can bring some home for me!!!!

    Reply
  5. Bright Steve says

    April 30, 2018 at 1:14 pm

    Thank you, Tanya, for all these great posts and tutorials. I’m reading your blog and applying them. My garden is transforming!

    Reply
    • lovelygreens says

      April 30, 2018 at 2:21 pm

      You’re so welcome Steve — happy gardening!

      Reply
  6. AbbeyDove says

    April 28, 2018 at 5:09 pm

    Thanks so much for posting this. The guide to the codes on the pallets is especially helpful!

    Reply
  7. Michael Stephens says

    April 1, 2018 at 12:17 pm

    I loved you idea so much I built a whole raised garden out of pallets. I followed your design for first planter. Boxed off area for the raised garden and built square planter as well with no gaps. I am really happy with the way it looks and hopefully will be enjoying fresh produce soon.
    Thanks for the inspiration.

    Reply
  8. Becky says

    April 12, 2017 at 4:50 pm

    How many plants could you get in your planter? I would like to try and don’t know how many to order. Thanks!

    Reply
  9. Michele says

    April 2, 2017 at 1:04 pm

    What a great post!!! Former strawberry grower here who lost the lot due to some construction…..summer is never the same. I never would have thought of this and am so excited with the idea of strawberries again. This gives me the incentive to have a go. Thank you so much for this

    Reply
    • lovelygreens says

      April 3, 2017 at 10:32 am

      So pleased to share the idea — happy strawberry growing Michele 🙂

      Reply
  10. Croydon Gardener says

    January 10, 2017 at 10:42 am

    What an outstanding and detailed post! Love the idea and you did a really good job at building the planter!

    Reply
  11. sandos Huang says

    September 20, 2016 at 4:18 am

    Hi my name is sandos it is brilliant idea .Thanks for the lovely video n I’m.going to use the wooden pallet .how do I subscribe do send me your lovely news to me

    Reply
    • lovelygreens says

      September 20, 2016 at 3:44 pm

      Thanks Sandos! There’s a subscribe link in the right column for my bi-weekly newsletter.

      Reply
  12. Laura says

    May 29, 2016 at 11:50 pm

    My daughter and husband are making one of these as her 4H project. Thanks for the great tutorial!

    Reply
    • lovelygreens says

      May 30, 2016 at 10:05 am

      I’d love to see a photo of your finished project! Have a great time making it and hope she wows the 4H judges 🙂

      Reply
  13. Katrina says

    April 30, 2016 at 7:22 pm

    Lots of hungry birds & raccoons in my area – any ideas for how to keep them from devouring all the berries?!

    Reply
    • Linda Melton says

      May 18, 2018 at 1:11 am

      Before the plants put on berries, scatter small, round, red, plastic Christmas ornaments around the planter, as if they were berries. The birds and critters will check them out. By the time you have ripe berries, they will have checked the ornaments and found them inedible. They will have lost interest in your planter. Works for tomatoes, too.

      Reply
      • lovelygreens says

        May 18, 2018 at 3:09 pm

        Interesting idea but scattering small plastic anything will be a hazard for animals and the environment. Stones painted red could work the same way though.

        Reply
  14. Vinny says

    April 22, 2016 at 3:13 am

    AWesome. When you put the soil, did u just pour it in and mix the seeds in it?

    Reply
    • lovelygreens says

      April 22, 2016 at 3:01 pm

      I’m literally planning a ‘planting-up’ video and blog post. But to answer your question, I used plants.

      Reply
  15. masood says

    March 5, 2016 at 8:30 pm

    i am also straberry lover and you really help me… if u tell me what is the proper sunlight for this plant than i can start working on it

    Reply
  16. Joe says

    January 14, 2016 at 3:26 pm

    a facebook page called living off the grid totally ripped you off on this. They even use your pictures. Not that it will do any good, but I ripped them for it. On the up side, it did lead me to your blog. I like it an have subscribed and liked your facebook page.

    Reply
    • lovelygreens says

      January 14, 2016 at 3:41 pm

      These online plagiarists make me so angry. Thank you for finding my site and tutorial though Joe, and for letting me know.

      Reply
  17. Patricia says

    October 3, 2015 at 7:45 am

    Question – How do the squirrels take this? I have a ton of squirrels, rabbits and people who walk by and love strawberries. I can deal with the people but the rabbits and squirrels I am not sure about.

    Reply
    • lovelygreens says

      October 3, 2015 at 9:00 am

      We don’t have squirrels here so I’m not able to help you with advice on that account. As for rabbits, slugs, and snails though – keeping the berries off the ground has helped!

      Reply
    • Linda says

      May 18, 2018 at 1:18 am

      Scroll back up. I posted a really good tip using red Christmas ornaments.

      Reply
  18. Jacinta says

    October 2, 2015 at 9:46 pm

    Thank you, this is such a great idea! Curios to knw if has the timber has started deteriorating at all?

    Reply
    • lovelygreens says

      October 3, 2015 at 8:59 am

      2.5 years on and my first one is still going strong!

      Reply
  19. Mike says

    August 31, 2015 at 1:06 am

    So this was initially created in 2013. Are you still using this planter? Did it function as well as in ground?

    Reply
    • lovelygreens says

      August 31, 2015 at 12:07 pm

      Since then I’ve made another and they’re both going strong! I grow in the ground as well and would say that if you have the right compost mix in the container then your plants will be just as productive as in the garden.

      Reply
  20. Anonymous says

    May 18, 2015 at 8:54 pm

    I'm getting pallets as we speak for strawberries, and it made me think of another question. Do you or anyone else know if asparagus be grown in a raised bed like this?

    Reply
    • Tanya from Lovely Greens says

      May 28, 2015 at 8:24 am

      Personally I wouldn't do it myself. Asparagus crowns need a lot of space underground and the dimensions of this planter wouldn't be the best. If you do try growing them in it, I'd love to hear how you get on though!

      Reply
  21. Debbie says

    April 18, 2015 at 3:50 am

    I love this idea. Your directions are very detailed and should be easy to follow. What are the dimentions of your planter, I didn't notice them above. Of course it probably would vary according to the pallet.

    Reply
    • Tanya from Lovely Greens says

      May 28, 2015 at 9:36 am

      It's 47" wide, 16" across, and 19" tall

      Reply
  22. Anonymous says

    April 8, 2015 at 9:54 pm

    Just finished building my planter. My pallet was set up differently then yours however I figured it out and it looks awesome! Now I am waiting for my strawberries to arrive and it to be warm enough to plant. Super stoked! The tutorial was great. Thanks for posting!!

    Reply
  23. Anonymous says

    April 1, 2015 at 9:54 pm

    In Step 6 near the top – with the black cat, I read it at first as, '… Place your panther…' ! 😀
    I must have a go at this with the one of the pallets I collected before breaking my leg!
    Thank you
    Joh
    🙂

    Reply
  24. Anonymous says

    March 22, 2015 at 5:12 pm

    Any chance of the final dimensions of the planter? (height, width depth) Thanks!

    Reply
    • Tanya from Lovely Greens says

      March 25, 2015 at 11:22 am

      It's all dependent on the size of pallet you begin with. The width will be the standard width of a pallet, and the height 1/3 the height of it.

      Reply
  25. Anonymous says

    March 16, 2015 at 3:31 pm

    Where would you place this in relation to a home – north, south, east or west side? Thank you for sharing your idea. I had given up on my strawberry patch, but this has renewed my enthusiasm.

    Reply
    • Tanya from Lovely Greens says

      March 18, 2015 at 9:43 am

      Strawberries need sunshine to produce fruit – mine is situated on the south side of the house.

      Reply
  26. Anonymous says

    February 6, 2015 at 6:28 pm

    I also appreciate the info on chemicals. This is the first post regarding re-using pallets for projects, that I have seen, that makes any mention of how the wood has been treated. Great tutorial, thank-you!

    Reply
    • Tanya from Lovely Greens says

      March 18, 2015 at 9:43 am

      My pleasure and have fun making one of your own!

      Reply
  27. binabug says

    January 25, 2015 at 4:43 am

    FINALLY a re use pallet post that has real info, esp the stuff about the chemicals on them …most can't be bothered to even post this !! This is one pin that I will be able to re use over and over!!

    Reply
    • Tanya from Lovely Greens says

      March 18, 2015 at 9:42 am

      Thank you so much and I'm very pleased to share the pallet wood safety info. You're right that most people don't make mention of this which makes me think that not as many people are aware.

      Reply
  28. Dee Sewell says

    January 14, 2015 at 9:39 am

    This would be a great project for community gardens Tanya, will definitely be bookmarking and sharing this.

    Reply
    • Tanya from Lovely Greens says

      March 18, 2015 at 9:42 am

      Thank you for sharing Dee!

      Reply
  29. Anonymous says

    January 5, 2015 at 8:17 am

    i love your strawberry planter box idea.so im going to have ago at this brilliant project .thanks for your time to show us all.

    Reply
  30. Maria Halbert says

    April 10, 2014 at 12:24 am

    Thanks so much for the tutorial of the panter and how to plant them! We are doing our first garden this year and I'm super excited for strawberries! My boyfriend made the planter for me but we were wondering how many plants you planted and if you planted the strawberries only on the sides of the planter in between the slats, or across the entire surface of each layer? Sorry if that makes no sense lol I'm having a hard time figuring out how to pose the question! Thanks again!

    Reply
  31. Bobbie Jones says

    April 3, 2014 at 3:00 pm

    Love your way of creating a strawberry planter using pallets. I have this weird love for projects using pallets, but can't decide on which ones to do. This is going to the top of the list.
    Oh, and thanks for explaining treated vs untreated. I hadn't seen that yet.

    Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  32. Nancy says

    March 30, 2014 at 9:38 pm

    also looks like it will eliminate the crawling bugs-eating-the-strawberry problem I have.

    Reply
  33. Anonymous says

    March 19, 2014 at 3:12 am

    love this idea I also have got a few pallets im going to try this with and just bought everberring strawberries as well…so excited to see how they turn out

    Reply
  34. Cindy says

    February 21, 2014 at 11:46 pm

    so going to build these for my deck just bought bare root berries to plant now to get hubby to bring me pallets… lol

    Reply
  35. BETTINA KIRBY says

    February 20, 2014 at 6:05 pm

    I bet erosion wouldn't be a Problem if you used the Bottle Waterer Idea.

    Like this on link.

    http://www.pinterest.com/pin/80924124527809610/

    Reply
  36. Janise McKenzie says

    February 12, 2014 at 6:34 pm

    What do you do about the runners? I've read on other sites to keep them and then I've read to cut them. What do you with yours in pellets? I was thinking of putting this in my front yard, in front of my windowsill. But I've read birds love strawberries as much as we do. This seems easier to put a net over than growing it on the ground. Thanks for the idea.

    Reply
  37. Anonymous says

    October 20, 2013 at 10:29 am

    Thanks for this idea, I found a slightly different pallet but it came out fine for a raised veggie bed.
    sheryn

    Reply
    • Tanya @ Lovely Greens says

      October 23, 2013 at 9:36 pm

      That's great to hear Sheryn…would love to see a photo! If you have a chance, will you post it on my Facebook page?

      Reply
  38. gorditamhh says

    September 13, 2013 at 7:45 pm

    After weeks of looking tutorials on line! thank youuuuu!!!!!!! soooo much easier with the pics!!!!

    Reply
    • Tanya @ Lovely Greens says

      October 23, 2013 at 9:36 pm

      You're VERY welcome 🙂

      Reply
  39. Anonymous says

    August 2, 2013 at 3:13 pm

    Tanya,

    I'm going to try this. What state are you located in, and what particular strawberry plant did you plant?

    Reply
    • Tanya @ Lovely Greens says

      August 3, 2013 at 6:11 am

      I'm in the UK! The strawberries I planted into the container are called Malling Opal (an everbearing variety) but I also had a nameless variety that I put in the bottom slots.

      Reply
    • Anonymous says

      August 3, 2013 at 10:21 pm

      We're located in Florida, USA. They grow strawberries here in my home town, so I sure hope this works. Thanks so much for your great idea!! We already found ourselves a pallet with the correct stamp on it! Any other tips for us?

      Reply
  40. Anonymous says

    July 25, 2013 at 2:03 pm

    i mean can i plant and leave it on its own to grow.

    Reply
  41. Anonymous says

    July 25, 2013 at 2:00 pm

    i am waiting the next post coz am very i need to starb but does reqiure attetion time is problem.

    Reply
  42. Anonymous says

    June 23, 2013 at 7:56 am

    To solve the problem of the cold, I think it would be fairly easy to frame a hoop house around the box. I can only container garden and hoop houses in the winter save my plants. Thanks for sharing this! I can't wait to give it a try!

    Reply
  43. Anonymous says

    June 8, 2013 at 7:05 pm

    Love it! have to ask my hubby to grab me a pallet from work…this would probibly work nice for potatoes too

    Reply
  44. Anonymous says

    June 5, 2013 at 9:20 pm

    Prolly dumb question but im new to gardening entirely will be attempting to make this since my son is a strawberry fiend!!!! Did u plants seed inside this box? or start seedling indoors then transplant?

    Reply
    • Tanya @ Lovely Greens says

      June 5, 2013 at 10:07 pm

      Not a dumb question 🙂 I started with bare-root strawberry plants that I potted up and grew for a month before planting inside the pallet planter.

      Reply
  45. lronglim says

    May 31, 2013 at 4:38 am

    Hi Tanya… very good idea… I have been using wooden pallets to construct many things such as (my first) chicken coop and beds for my veggies… your project on the strawberries is very good… it got my mind cracking as to my next pallet project…

    Reply
  46. Back40chickchickey says

    May 31, 2013 at 3:47 am

    Planter finished. Wow, that was the best constructed pallet ever. I think it is oak. Had a heck of a time getting it apart. Strawberries go in tomorrow. Love this idea! Thank you! My strawberries started to take over more real estate then they were allotted. Now they have their own little condo. 🙂 Thanks again for the great idea!

    Reply
  47. helen says

    May 29, 2013 at 4:38 pm

    I've just stumbled across your blog and found this post. The pallet planter is a perfect project for me and the hubby to tackle. We have ducks and they tend to root around in plants so I can grow things in here which they can't reach!

    Reply
  48. C says

    May 27, 2013 at 6:14 am

    We make stuff from pallets around our place. Thank you so much for including the info on how to check whether a pallet has been treated with pesticides!

    I also love your strawberry planter. We will be using your plan this fall when we plant more strawberries. Great idea!

    http://mamaisinspired.com/

    Reply
    • Tanya @ Lovely Greens says

      May 27, 2013 at 8:34 am

      You're very welcome C and have fun with the project this autumn 🙂

      Reply
  49. Anonymous says

    May 27, 2013 at 3:03 am

    Another option for avoiding possible contamination would be to use the pallet planter as a container for pots rather than planting directly in it…

    Reply
    • Tanya @ Lovely Greens says

      May 27, 2013 at 8:32 am

      Absolutely! Whether a pallet has been treated with Methyl Bromide or not, there's a concern about what exactly has been shipped around on the pallets and if the wood has been exposed to any contaminants.

      Reply
  50. Ryan Yanez says

    May 26, 2013 at 6:51 pm

    My wife found this on Pintrest and it has now become my project 😉 I have built one and had to modify as it did not use some of the same dimension wood as yours did so I had to "barrow" wood from an extra pallet 🙂

    The part I'm confused about is putting the starters in the planter.
    My spacing between pallet decking is wider than yours, is that okay or will soil fall out the sides?
    You said space the starters 14" apart which I get, but how much soil do I put on top of each layer?
    And as far as orientating the starters do I do it like the figure below?

    Figure 1:
    Layer3 X->-X->-X
    Layer2 ->X->-X
    Layer1 X->-X->-X

    Thanks for the help, Ryan

    Reply
    • Tanya @ Lovely Greens says

      May 26, 2013 at 9:05 pm

      If you're worried about soil spilling out you might want to line the inside of your planter with that weed-resistant material you can buy at garden centres. It lets water drain through but holds soil in and will also stop weeds from taking root in the side slats of your planter. When you've figured out where to place your plants just slit a hole in the material and push the plant through.

      As for how much soil to layer on top, I don't think it really matters just so long as you provide enough soil and compost for each plant to have a healthy root system. Also, please plant in whichever order you'd prefer and just use my tips as guides 🙂

      Reply
  51. Nicole Griffith says

    May 24, 2013 at 9:07 am

    Just finished making this and I love it I'm yet to put soil and strawberries in it but its looking great had pics to post but can't work out how

    Reply
    • Tanya @ Lovely Greens says

      May 26, 2013 at 8:59 pm

      Brilliant! Great to hear Nicole 🙂

      Reply
  52. gina delaney says

    May 19, 2013 at 2:59 pm

    Hubby brought me home some really good pallets,I already have a strawberry garden that does great so I am going to try these out on my tomatoes,peppers and zucchini,wish me luck!

    Reply
    • Tanya @ Lovely Greens says

      May 20, 2013 at 9:00 am

      Would love to see a photo of all those veggies growing in one…good luck! 🙂

      Reply
  53. Tanya Walton says

    May 17, 2013 at 9:41 am

    It looks great Tanya…..I do love both DIY and recycling projects so one that combines both is just great!!

    Reply
    • Tanya @ Lovely Greens says

      May 20, 2013 at 9:00 am

      Thanks Tanya 🙂

      Reply
  54. Nancy says

    May 15, 2013 at 9:03 pm

    What a great idea! You did an amazing job and did a great job with the post too. Thanks for the info…can't wait to see it with the strawberries filled in. 🙂

    Reply
    • Tanya @ Lovely Greens says

      May 20, 2013 at 9:00 am

      Me too 🙂

      Reply
  55. Caro (UrbanVegPatch) says

    May 10, 2013 at 6:37 pm

    Tanya, I'm so impressed with your ingenuity. I think it helps that you have the right tools to speed up the job. My son tried to take a pallet apart to build a frame for a school photo project and it took him ages! The planks just wouldn't separate as hugely long nails had been driven in. Once the pieces were broken up, we still had to deal with the nails. You seem to have avoided that problem and come up with a well designed trough for your plants. It's an idea I'd love to copy – the finished piece is rustically beautiful.

    Reply
    • Tanya @ Lovely Greens says

      May 20, 2013 at 8:59 am

      Oh yes, same here with taking a pallet apart. The wedge helps with that but it really takes a LONG time.

      Reply
  56. Sue Garrett says

    May 9, 2013 at 1:48 pm

    I look forward to seeing how your strawberries grow!

    Reply
    • Tanya @ Lovely Greens says

      May 20, 2013 at 8:59 am

      The plants are doing well so far…my only concern is that birds might try to get at the fruits so I might have to net the box eventually.

      Reply
  57. Sappergirl says

    May 9, 2013 at 4:25 am

    I had my first set of pallets and decided after seeing your post, that this would be my first pallet project. With the help of my hubby, we broke them down, then built two of these in about 2 hours. We still have to put the liner, soil and plants in, but I am very pleased with how they turned out. Thanks so much for the great idea!

    Reply
    • Tanya @ Lovely Greens says

      May 20, 2013 at 8:58 am

      Brillliant! Maybe you could share a photo of them on my Facebook page? 🙂

      Reply
  58. Anonymous says

    May 8, 2013 at 8:40 pm

    I'm def going to try this. My wife has been telling me that we don't have room for strawberries. I have so many other veggies going, but I have no fruit, so it would be nice to finally get some going……..Can't wait.

    Reply
  59. Dewberry says

    May 8, 2013 at 7:39 pm

    Wow! I'm impressed! This looks very interesting 🙂

    Reply
  60. sweetpea family says

    May 8, 2013 at 8:21 am

    What a great idea – thank you for the tutorial x

    Reply
  61. CJ says

    May 8, 2013 at 6:09 am

    That's fantastic, clever you. The tutorial is really handy, and it is so useful to know about the printed symbols on the pallets. I'm betting the strawberries will do really well in there, with so much space, fantastic soil and not too many slugs and snails. Maybe you could put something around the feet of the planter to deter them further – gravel or copper perhaps. (Last year they ate almost all of my strawbs – the ones that didn't rot in the rain that is!) A really great post, it must have taken you ages, thank you.

    Reply
    • Tanya @ Lovely Greens says

      May 8, 2013 at 9:14 am

      Love the idea of slug-deterring copper around the legs…genius! The project itself is pretty quick and should only take about an hour and a half, start to finish. Planting it up probably took another 45 minutes so really just an afternoon.

      Reply
    • Anonymous says

      May 19, 2013 at 9:19 pm

      I'm told that slugs are deterred by using epsom salts to fertilize garden plants either disolve a tsp to gallon of water and use to water or mix about 1/2 cup into soil used for planting; also told to use aluminium pie plates and stake down or fill with gravel beside cabbages or other plants that have slug issues; also, thinking might do a planter for strawberries and one for herbs on back porch; handy to kithen; and another for cucumbers and one for squash because we do the raised bed gardens and it would save space on the viney plants that use more room!

      Reply
  62. Anonymous says

    May 7, 2013 at 4:34 pm

    Looks great! Hope it works Cuz I want one too.

    Reply
  63. The Hertig Family says

    May 7, 2013 at 2:19 pm

    I was going to tear apart a pallet to build planter boxes for my veggie garden, but this seems a lot better.Great idea! Thanks!

    Reply
  64. Jo says

    May 7, 2013 at 11:06 am

    What a great tutorial. I hope you get a great strawberry harvest from it.

    Reply
    • Tanya @ Lovely Greens says

      May 7, 2013 at 11:39 am

      Me too Jo! I'm thinking about sowing some radishes on the top as well – there's plenty of space between the plants.

      Reply
  65. Anonymous says

    May 7, 2013 at 10:54 am

    I love the idea to, but am worried about cold temps come winter. Will the plants make it without ground warmth? And no I don't have a green house 🙁

    Reply
    • Tanya @ Lovely Greens says

      May 7, 2013 at 11:38 am

      Strawberries are pretty hardy so why not give it a go? If it doesn't work out, strawberry plants are inexpensive so it's not a big loss. You could then use the planter for something different…herbs in the slots and lettuces on the top maybe? Perhaps even squash or wildflowers – the possibilities are endless 🙂

      Reply
    • Mary Ellen says

      May 8, 2013 at 11:19 pm

      I left a strawberry in a 1 gal. nursery pot in my shed this winter; it survived nicely. Still green in the spring. Gave it to my friend. (Zone 5)

      Reply
  66. Small Plot Big Ideas says

    May 7, 2013 at 8:49 am

    that is such a brilliant idea – I've been looking for a first project to tackle and this could be just the thing!

    thanks
    Richard

    Reply
    • Tanya @ Lovely Greens says

      May 7, 2013 at 11:39 am

      Am glad you like the project Richard – let me know how you get on if you end up building one?

      Reply
  67. Anonymous says

    May 7, 2013 at 4:05 am

    I just love this idea and I think it is much better than the pyramid one I was going to make. Just wanted to ask if the plants can stay out in the winter in one of these? I live in Columbia, MO and our winters can get pretty cold.

    thanks for any help
    Jayne
    [email protected]

    Reply
    • Tanya @ Lovely Greens says

      May 7, 2013 at 8:00 am

      Hi Jayne, if you were concerned about freezing temperatures, maybe move your planter into a greenhouse over the winter. Since it would take a couple of very strong people to move it once it's filled, maybe you could think about attaching wheels to the feet area instead of the blocks?

      Reply
      • Kristen says

        February 27, 2016 at 8:28 pm

        This is awesome! And I love the wheel idea! Thank you for your blog, it’s so inspirational!

        Reply
        • lovelygreens says

          February 29, 2016 at 2:45 pm

          My pleasure 🙂

          Reply
          • Linda says

            March 30, 2016 at 6:00 pm

            Wouldn’t they overwinter outside of a greenhouse with a thick layer of straw mulch as well?

          • lovelygreens says

            March 31, 2016 at 12:48 pm

            Yes, depending on your climate.

  68. Staci at Life At Cobble Hill Farm says

    May 6, 2013 at 11:37 pm

    Absolutely LOVE this!! I'll be featuring it tomorrow in my Tuesday's "Three". 🙂 You are so creative.

    Reply
    • Tanya @ Lovely Greens says

      May 7, 2013 at 7:10 am

      Thanks Staci 🙂

      Reply
  69. Fran says

    May 6, 2013 at 6:41 pm

    What a fabulous idea! I really like this as I have to create a new strawberry patch this year and this would free up a raised bed if I had a couple of these. Thank you xxx

    Reply
    • Tanya @ Lovely Greens says

      May 6, 2013 at 6:45 pm

      That was my dilemma too Fran…I wanted a good place to grow strawberries without taking up too much space. I'd love to see a photo of yours if you end up making one yourself 🙂

      Reply
  70. The Weaver of Grass says

    May 6, 2013 at 6:39 pm

    The proof of the pudding is in the eating as they say Tanya – so we shall have to wait and see now how well they fruit – but the idea looks very good indeed.

    Reply
    • Tanya @ Lovely Greens says

      May 6, 2013 at 6:43 pm

      Absolutely! I have a feeling it will do well but will post on its progress throughout the coming year.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. How to build a DIY strawberry planter out of a wood pallet says:
    April 18, 2016 at 12:27 am

    […] Tanya was a woman on a mission: she wanted to build a pallet planter for strawberries that met her standards for stability, soil capacity and aesthetics. Tanya didn’t hesitate in putting her hands to work once she realized she’d have to create her own planter design. “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,” she writes on her blog, Lovely Greens. […]

    Reply
  2. How to build a DIY strawberry planter out of a wood pallet - Trending Buzzer says:
    April 15, 2016 at 11:12 am

    […] Tanya was a woman on a mission: she wanted to build a pallet planter for strawberries that met her standards for stability, soil capacity and aesthetics. Tanya didn’t hesitate in putting her hands to work once she realized she’d have to create her own planter design. “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,” she writes on her blog, Lovely Greens. […]

    Reply
  3. 10 DIY Planters to Spark Your Creativity - Urban Gardens says:
    April 10, 2016 at 10:39 pm

    […] See the tutorial at Lovely Greens. […]

    Reply
  4. 40 Ecofriendly DIY Pallet Ideas for Home Decor & More | Handmade Ideas says:
    August 6, 2015 at 11:29 pm

    […] From LovelyGreens.com […]

    Reply
  5. Love Strawberries? 20 Top Growing Tips, Ideas and Recipes - Empress of Dirt says:
    July 29, 2015 at 4:54 pm

    […] Tanya of Lovely Greens has set the internet on fire with her strawberry planter made from wood pallets. […]

    Reply
  6. 20 Creative Pallet Planter Projects for Your Garden - Noted List says:
    June 29, 2015 at 2:12 am

    […] Get the tutorial here […]

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Welcome! I'm Tanya and I share ideas on growing organic herbs, vegetables, and fruit and then creatively using them in the home and kitchen. Learn more about Lovely Greens

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Instagram post 2198148631576238857_808153683 I've been hiding away these past few days. Nursing my wounds but comforted by your messages of support. Some made me smile and others had me welling up in tears. Heartfelt condolences from people who have lost their own pets -- cats, dogs, horses, hens, it doesn't matter. Animals carve their names into our hearts and losing them is painful. So much so that it takes my breath away. Louis' sister Cheebies has suffered the most these past days though. In retrospect, we should have brought Louis home for her to see before handing him over for cremation. She's been crying for him since Tuesday and searching the house for him constantly. It broke my heart to hear her distressed cries and see her wet bottom when she wet the bed last night. She does that when she's stressed, like a human child would. We're doing our best to keep her in cuddles, playtime, and love. She's sleeping peacefully on my lap for the moment. 
I've not gotten to the point where I can talk about Louis without bawling but I hope to eventually honor my little guy on my blog or YouTube. 
Most references to cats in the garden online are negative. Complaints about cats defiling garden beds or killing birds or eating hedgehog food. Having my cats in the garden gives me nothing but joy though. They're inquisitive little sidekicks as you'll have seen from many of my videos. 
So I'd like your tips and ideas for ways that cats and gardeners can co-exist without the claws coming out. Ways to keep them from using garden beds for litter trays, keeping birds safe, and creating more harmony. I'd love to hear more about your experience with catios too. Thank you for leaving your thoughts and ideas as a comment.
PS -- this is Louis in September 2018, before the first sniffles and wheezes, and when he was enjoying helping me in the new back garden. I miss him so much 💔
Instagram post 2196580331985643868_808153683 For those of you who have been following Louis’ progress and sending positive vibes, thoughts, and prayers. I need to let you know that he passed away yesterday. I honestly couldn’t be sadder. Cancer is so unfair...it takes indiscriminately and can happen to the healthiest of us, both animals and people. The best we can do is fight until there’s no more fight left. Louis lost his but will live on in my heart and will always be remembered. He was such a special fur-friend. Truly one of a kind 💔 #louiskorat
Instagram post 2195209780104961694_808153683 Today’s allotment garden harvest of parsnips, leeks, kalettes, brussels sprouts, and a couple calendula flowers. Check out the second photo for the parsnip haul — all of those planted in two short 4’ rows in May🌱
Instagram post 2194320226879766949_808153683 The mystery brassica has shown its colours! 💜 I was given this plant as a seedling and couldn't quite remember what it was. I suspected it was a purple sprouting broccoli and now we all know. Really pleased to see it sprouting this early as my other plants won't be ready until next year. I'll have to ask around to see what variety it is but it will obviously be an early cropping variety. Any guesses?
Instagram post 2193050960066926310_808153683 The greenest Christmas is one that's handmade. Don't you agree? This is a wreath I made with cuttings from evergreens, bright berries, and  trimmings from the Christmas tree. It cost me practically nothing plus it's a good excuse to get outside, no matter the weather. Are you making anything for the holidays? 🎄
Instagram post 2192329700471203649_808153683 Strawberry season may seem a long ways off but there are things you can do now to ensure a bumper harvest:
1. Spread a mulch of compost or composted manure over the soil near your strawberry plants. Or in the area you're planning on planting them.
2. If you have an established patch, leave the old foliage on to protect the plants' crowns from snow and frost. Tidy it up later in late winter to early spring.
3. ID any plants that are three years old or older. Remove them and plan to plant new plants in their place. Older strawberry plants produce a lot less berries than younger ones.
4. Order and plant bare-root strawberry plants. They're cheaper than potted plants and get planted in the winter, just as long as the soil isn't frozen. Here in Britain you can plant them pretty much from now until early March. In colder regions, wait until the soil is work-able but get them in before early April.
5. Make sure to get a mix of June bearing, ever-bearing, and day neutral strawberry varieties. That way you'll have berries from June to September.
6. If you're expecting a lot of snow, completely cover your strawberry bed with straw, dried leaves, or another dry mulch. I've seen this tactic keep strawberry plants alive through the winter as far north as Scandinavia. Remove it in early spring.

Any tips of your own? 🍓
Instagram post 2187969248177768565_808153683 I share a lot of natural soap recipes but they’re usually made with the cold-process method. It’s fairly involved and includes an aspect that beginners shy away from: handling lye. That’s why I’m so excited to share with you this rose facial soap recipe from the @nerdyfarmwife 's new book, Easy Homemade Melt and Pour Soaps. These would make gorgeous handmade gifts and you can make them and use them the same day. See the recipe and check out Jan's new book over on my website -- link in profile🌹
Instagram post 2185577709338103538_808153683 How brave is this tender little nasturtium to bloom in November? I hope it brightens your day as much as it has mine 💚
Instagram post 2184336904980200044_808153683 Even in November the small garden pond in my allotment looks lovely. Not only that but it's home to goodness knows how many aquatic animals. Frogs, aquatic snails, tiny micro-organisms that I'll never see or know. Then there's the garden birds that swoop down for a mid-summer's drink. If there's one project that I'd recommend getting done before spring it's building your own small pond. If you need instructions, I've shared how I built mine via the link on my profile 🌱
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