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This terrific raised garden bed was created using three recycled timber pallets, saving them from landfill and creating a great space for growing.
The project
Workshop member Lester had a plan to turn three spare pallets into planter boxes.
He was concerned that, once filled, the planter boxes could bulge at the sides due to soil pressure. With no idea where to start, he reached out to the Bunnings Workshop community for advice.
Pallet enthusiast and Workshop member LePallet suggested, "Because of the planter size, you will have to take into consideration the amount of soil you are putting in, and the weight of the finished product. You may want to install caster wheels for easy moving. On the structural side of things, screw a timber brace in the middle from the inside, and put one about 100mm from the top so it will be hidden by the soil around it. I've also put timber posts in each corner in past builds, and then screwed the pallets from there."
After finishing the build, Lester reached out to the Workshop community for advice on staining, as he'd heard that stains and treated timber can be harmful when the plants and herbs grown in these planters are consumed.
Workshop members suggested using a water-based stain, or lining the box with corflute or black plastic.
"There's a lot of debate about the risk of contamination. A lot of people use builders plastic to line the inside of the beds as a precaution," says greygardener.
How to build a raised garden bed using pallets
Create your own planters using recycled pallet timber with MitchellMc's step-by-step guide that's ideal for beginners.
More pallet planters
Workshop member LePallet joined two D.I.Y. pallet planter boxes together and finished the timber with a home-made stain.
Workshop member DiamondDave is teaching his son “the use of recycling and getting the satisfaction of building something from scratch” through a series of recycled pallet projects, including this fantastic planter box.
