Pallet Gardening
Vertical gardens are all the rage and we are seeing them everywhere made from recycled pallets. From Pinterest to HGTV to all the decorating magazines including Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Living, pallet gardens are everywhere! They are an easy way to garden vertically and there’s so many reasons to do it: 1) space limitations, pallet gardens do not take up a lot space; 2) pallet gardens add an architectural element to outdoor decor; 3) fruits & veggie plants lend themselves to growing vertically, like cucumbers or strawberries; 4) increase your growing space. No matter the reason, gardening vertically can be fun and rewarding…. and simply put, pallet gardens look fantastic!
Many veggies and flowers are perfect for growing vertically, just be sure that what you choose has similar water requirements.
RECOMMENDED PLANTS:
- EDIBLES: strawberries, cantaloupe, cucumber, eggplant, okra, peppers-hot, peppers-sweet, squash, tomatoes, watermelon
- FLOWERING PLANTS: begonias, marigolds, petunias, celosia, verbena, coral bells, impatiens
- SUCCULENTS: portulaca, Ice plant, purslane, hens and chicks, sedums
HERE’S HOW YOU DO IT:
We’ve assembled some quick and easy instructions to get you started. We sell two sizes of pre-constructed pallets for easy growing. The pallet is made of untreated pine lined with Typar landscape fabric to keep the soil in place.
- Place the pallet on end and fill with potting soil. Be sure not to pack too full so that the landscape fabric is bulging, but tap the soil down so it levels out.
- Pick out your plants to use for planting.
- Cut or use your fingers to create a small hole or planting pocket (about the size of the roots of the plant) and sprinkle in McDonald Greenleaf fertllizer.
- Place plant in the hole and use your fingers to cover the roots with soil.
- Space plants out on each row of the pallet. We suggest about 3 inches apart.
- Finish planting by adding edibles or flowering plants to the top of the pallet.
- Water. When you water, turn it vertical with the open side up and slowly water every 2-3 days during spring, and then almost everyday during summer. Sometimes, water may need to be added directly to young seedlings when pallet is laying flat. But, be sure to allow enough time for the water to seep down through the soil to get to the bottom plants.
