How to Build Raised Garden Beds From Pallets

When you build a raised garden bed from pallets, there's always room to grow. With its shuttered sides and wheels, this mobile planter is easy to reposition so you can give plants ideal growing conditions. Plus, a raised bed garden from pallets is environmentally friendly option that lets you upcycle older and unused materials.

Why Raised Garden Beds From Pallets Work

Whether you’re an experienced gardener or a novice digging in the dirt for the first time, this structure is built for success. It has great soil with good drainage, and fewer weeds grow inside them. Here, some of the other reasons to consider learning how to make raised garden beds from pallets.

Customize Growing Conditions

A raised bed garden with pallets lets you skip difficult native soil that might be rocky, weed-infested or heavy clay. With a raised bed, you can create an ideal soil that suits the plants you’re growing. A mobile raised bed garden from pallets has one additional feature: You can shift the garden into perfect growing conditions. Plants need more sun or maybe protection from hot afternoon sun? Need to shield seedlings from heavy rain or late frost? Simply move the raised bed.

Grow All Kinds of Crops in Raised Garden Beds With Pallets

There’s little limit to what you can grow in raised garden beds. Edible crops, herbs for drying, flowers for cutting—all of it will grow in this mobile unit.

Capitalize on Small Spaces

Because it's contained, a raised garden bed gives you flexibility to garden where there’s no soil, such as on a deck, patio or driveway. The mobility option lets you shift the bed out of the way if you’re hosting guests.

Make Gardening Comfortable

Raised garden beds from pallets take away the kneeling part of gardening. This bed is at a just-right height for stool sitting while tending the garden.

Extend the Growing Season

Soil in a raised bed garden in pallets warms earlier in spring, which gives you a jump on the garden season. It’s also easier to protect plants from frost if you’re able to roll this mobile raised bed beneath a roof overhang or onto a porch.

How to Make Raised Garden Beds From Pallets

Step 1: Determine Wheel Placement

Measure the bottom of the pallet. Mark equal distances in four corners for the caster placement.

Step 2: Attach Wheels

Use decking (galvanized) screws to fasten the casters onto the pallet. It’s best to use wheels that turn in every direction.

Step 3: Paint Pallet

Paint the top of the pallet with eco-friendly, exterior paint that can withstand water seeping through the landscape fabric and soil.

Step 4: Cut Side Pieces

Cut the plywood to create sides for the pallet, and make sure they fit on the edges of the pallet.

Step 5: Attach Sides

Use pieces of 2x4 in each corner to secure the sides to each other. When all four sides are attached to one another, attach it to the pallet by toe-nailing the 2x4 corners. Flip over the whole thing, and insert a few screws through the bottom of the pallet into the 2x4s.

Step 6: Add Decorative Sides

For a finished look, add recycled plastic shutters to the sides. Use decking screws to attach the shutters. Paint the top edge of the wood sides to match the shutters.

Step 7: Prep For Planting

Staple landscape fabric to the inside of the pallet box. Add a layer of small drainage stones on top of the fabric.

Step 8: Layer Stones and Soil

Cut another piece of landscape fabric and lay it over the stones. Add one more layer of stones, then top with compost and soil mixture.