Transcript Gardening with Pallets

1449511 Alberta Ltd.
©Ann Edall-Robson
2014
 Pallet
 Must not be treated wood
 Heavy-duty garden fabric
 Heavy-duty stapler
 4-6 30L bags of potting soil
 4-6 cell packs of bedding plants
 Safety goggles
 Gloves
 Trowel
 Hammer
 Duct Tape
 Hammer nails flush with boards on both the front and
back of pallet
 Measure and cut garden fabric
 Leave a 12” flap of fabric on all four sides of the pallet
 Staple the fabric to the sides, bottom, and back of the
pallet
 Leave the top end open
 Back of the pallet has fewer stringers
 Fold back the flaps and secure using staples and duct
tape
 Make sure all staples are flush with the wood
 Once full, the pallet will be very heavy
 Prevent strain by placing pallet as close to its intended
placement as possible
 Prepare for frost and harsh weather
 When empty, place the pallet on a riser and tuck a tarp
underneath one end
 To protect your plants, simply cover them with the
handy tarp!
 To save money, seeds may be sown in the pallet or
grown indoors until they are ready to be transplanted
 Plan plant placement
 Start with the bottom stringer
 Fill with soil
 Add first row of plants
 Secure in place with more soil and gentle tamping
 Move on to the next opening
 Pour more soil in and push it to snugly secure the
bottom plants
 Repeat steps until the pallet has been filled
 Keep pallet horizontal for about two weeks to allow plants
to settle and their root structure to become secure
After two weeks, lift the pallet into an upright position
 Dirt will settle to the bottom
 Add more dirt and plants to the top opening if needed
 Cucumbers, tomatoes, or peppers do well in the top
opening
 Treated wood may effect plant growth and the taste of
any vegetables or herbs
 Trailing plants are happiest in the top openings,
whereas climbing plants are best suited to the side
edges
 Consider the sun and shade needs of your plants
 Start at the top board
 Water the board above each row of plants
 Water will drip down into the soil below each board
 Watch for soil compaction and replenish as needed
 The more you harvest your herbs and lettuce, the
faster they will grow
 This holds true for flowering plants
 Any plants that die should be left in the pallet for the
duration of the growing season
 Removing them disrupts the root system of other plants
 Remove plants that are infested with bugs or fungus
 If dead plant is unsightly, cut the base of the stem,
leaving the root system intact
 In the fall
 Leave behind some of the roots, leaves, and stems as
mulch to retain moisture
From Our Home To Yours
Photography by DAKATAMA