In this article, you will learn how to create a pallet planter for growing strawberries. The inspiration for this project came from Tanya, a fan of Pinterest and strawberries. After researching various ideas on Pinterest, Tanya noticed that the most prevalent idea for growing strawberries was to use a single pallet and plant them in the slats between the pallets. However, Tanya identified a couple of issues with this method, including soil erosion and the need for constant watering.
To address these issues, Tanya came up with a new design that involves breaking down a single pallet into three equal pieces and reassembling them into a rectangular container. The container is filled with a combination of compost and farmyard manure, which helps to maintain moisture in the soil and reduce the need for constant watering. Tanya’s strawberries have been growing for two years and are extremely healthy.
Key Takeaways
- The pallet planter design involves breaking down a single pallet into three pieces and reassembling them into a rectangular container.
- The container is filled with a combination of compost and farmyard manure to maintain moisture in the soil and reduce the need for constant watering.
- When selecting a pallet, make sure it has been heat-treated and not chemically treated with insecticides.
Inspiration Behind The Pallet Planter
Lovely Greens’ Tanya was inspired to create the pallet planter after searching for ideas on Pinterest for planting strawberries in a container. She found that the most prevalent idea was to use a single pallet and plant strawberries in the slats between or along the front side of the pallet. However, Tanya saw two issues with this approach: erosion and the need for constant watering. She wanted a solution that would allow her to leave the planter for a day or two without worrying about watering it.
To address these issues, Tanya came up with the idea of breaking down a single pallet into three equal pieces and reassembling them into a rectangular container. The container is filled with a combination of compost and farmyard manure, and the strawberries are planted in the slats. Tanya’s pallet planter has been successful, with the strawberries in their second year being extremely healthy and coming on well.
The project is easy to make and takes about two hours. To make the planter, one needs a single pallet that has been heat-treated (look for the symbol HT on the stamp), some tools (such as a jigsaw, an iron wedge, a mallet hammer, and a screwdriver), and a little bit of brute force. The pallet is cut into three pieces, and the backside is tidied up before building the container. The feet are detached and reattached from the sides, and the planter is screwed together. Any little bits of wood that are sticking out can be sawn off with a handsaw or jigsaw.
Overall, Tanya’s pallet planter is an innovative solution to the common problem of planting strawberries in a container. With a little bit of effort and some basic tools, anyone can create a sturdy and attractive planter that will provide healthy strawberries for years to come.
Issues With Existing Pallet Planter Designs
The most prevalent idea for planting strawberries in a container, as seen on Pinterest, involves using a single pallet and planting strawberries in the slats between or along the front side of the pallet. However, this design has a few issues that need to be addressed.
One of the issues is erosion, where soil comes out from between the slats. The other issue is having to water it all the time, which can be a concern for those who cannot water the plants regularly.
To address these issues, Tanya from Lovely Greens came up with a new design using the same single pallet. She broke it down into three pieces and reassembled it into a rectangular container filled with a combination of compost and farmyard manure. The strawberries in their second year are extremely healthy, and the planter can be used for another year or two before having to replant.
The project is easy and takes about two hours. However, it requires a heat-treated pallet, which has a stamp with the symbols HT. Pallets with the symbols DB should be avoided as they have been chemically treated with insecticides.
The design involves cutting the pallet into three equal pieces, removing the little slats at the back, pulling off the center pieces, trimming the sides with a jigsaw, and detaching the feet. The pieces are then screwed together to form the container.
Overall, Tanya’s new design addresses the issues with existing pallet planter designs and provides a sturdy and healthy environment for growing strawberries and other plants.
Introduction to The New Pallet Planter Design
The new pallet planter design is a rectangular container made from a single pallet that has been broken down into three equal pieces and reassembled. This design is an improvement on the popular idea of planting strawberries in the slats between the pallets, which can lead to issues with erosion and frequent watering. The new design is filled with a combination of compost and farmyard manure, making it low maintenance and easy to leave for a day or two between watering. The strawberries planted in this container are extremely healthy and will continue to thrive for another year or two before needing to be replanted. The project is easy and takes approximately two hours to complete.
To make the new pallet planter, one needs a single pallet that has been heat-treated (with the HT stamp) instead of chemically treated (with the DB stamp). The pallet is cut into three equal pieces, and the slats on the front and back sides are mirrored to create three pieces with three slats and three pieces with six slats. The backside of the pallet is tidied up by removing the little slats and nails, pulling off the center pieces, and trimming the sides with a jigsaw. The feet are detached using a metal wedge or chisel and then attached to the container from the side using screws. The sides are created using leftover pieces of slots and other pieces of wood, and the planter is finished by sawing off any little bits of wood that are sticking out and painting it if desired.
Overall, the new pallet planter design is a simple and effective way to grow strawberries or other plants in a low maintenance container. With a little bit of brute force and some basic tools, anyone can create their own pallet planter and enjoy fresh produce for years to come.
Requirements for the Project
To make the pallet planter for planting strawberries, one will need a single pallet that has been heat-treated and not chemically treated. The pallet should have the HT stamp, and not the DB stamp, which indicates chemical treatment.
In addition, tools such as a jigsaw, an iron wedge, a mallet hammer, and a few other bits and bobs will be required. However, a handsaw and screwdriver can also be used if those are the only tools available.
The project will require a little bit of brute force, as there will be some pulling and tugging involved.
The process involves counting the number of slats on the front side of the pallet, cutting the pallet into three equal pieces, and then reassembling it into a rectangular container. The container will be filled with a combination of compost and farmyard manure.
The project is estimated to take around two hours to complete.
Identifying Heat-Treated Pallets
When making a pallet planter, it is important to use a pallet that has been heat-treated rather than chemically treated. To identify a heat-treated pallet, look for the symbols “HT” on the stamp. If the stamp has the symbols “DB,” it means that the pallet has been chemically treated with insecticides and should be avoided.
Using chemically treated pallets can contaminate the soil and the plants, which can be harmful to one’s health. Therefore, it is crucial to check the pallet stamp before starting the project.
Once a heat-treated pallet has been identified, it can be broken down into three pieces and reassembled into a rectangular container for planting. The project requires a few tools such as a jigsaw, an iron wedge, a mallet hammer, and a few other bits and bobs. However, one could also get away with just using a handsaw and screwdriver.
Building the container takes around two hours, and it is essential to use brute force for a little bit of pulling and tugging. Once the container is complete, it can be filled with a combination of compost and farmyard manure.
By following these steps, one can create a pallet planter that is safe and easy to maintain.
Gathering Necessary Tools
To make a pallet planter for planting strawberries, one needs to gather some tools. The first tool required is a single pallet that has been heat-treated. It is important to ensure that the pallet has the HT symbol stamped on it, as opposed to the DB symbol, which indicates chemical treatment with insecticides.
Other tools required include a jigsaw, an iron wedge, a mallet hammer, and a few other bits and bobs. However, if one only has a handsaw and screwdriver, they could still get the job done. A little bit of brute force is also necessary, as there is some pulling and tugging involved in the project.
Once all the necessary tools are gathered, the next step is to count the number of slats on the front side of the pallet and cut it into three equal pieces. The cuts should be mirrored on the other side of the pallet, and the pieces should be pulled apart and turned around so that the backside is visible. The little slats in the back should be gently pried off, and the centerpiece should be trimmed with a jigsaw so that it is flush with the sides of the slot.
The feet, which are the blocks removed from the centerpiece of the pallet, should be detached using a metal wedge or chisel. The planter can then be built by propping up all three sides and screwing in the bottom into both sides of the container. The sides can be created using the leftover slot from cleaning up the backside of the pallet, and the feet can be attached by driving a couple of screws in from the side of each.
Once the planter is finished, any little bits of wood that are sticking out can be sawed off with a handsaw or jigsaw. The planter can be painted if desired. To plant strawberries, a combination of wire and straw can be used for the slats, and the planter can be filled with farmyard manure and compost.
Making The Pallet Planter
Counting and Cutting The Slats
To start making the pallet planter, the first step is to count the number of slats on the front side of the pallet. In the video, Tanya had nine slats. Once you have counted the slats, you need to cut the pallet into three equal pieces. You can use a jigsaw, handsaw, or any other cutting tool. It is not necessary to measure precisely, but make sure you end up with three pieces that have the same number of slats and three pieces that have three slats.
Mirroring The Cuts
After cutting the front side, flip the pallet over and continue cutting on the other side. You need to mirror the cuts from the front side. Once all the cuts are made, the pallet should break apart easily into three pieces. Turn them around so that the backside is visible.
Cleaning Up The Backside
Before proceeding, you need to tidy up the backside. Gently pry off the little slats that are in the back, and don’t break or damage them because they will be used later in the project. Hammer any exposed nails, but you don’t need to remove them. Next, pull off the center pieces and set them aside. Remove the blocks that are going to be the feet later on. Trim the sides of the centerpiece with a jigsaw so that they’re flush with the sides of the slat.
Removing and Preparing The Feet
The feet are the blocks that you removed off the centerpiece of the pallet. They’re pretty difficult to get off, so it’s recommended to use a metal wedge or chisel to remove them. Go right through the nails, so the pallet will actually provide you with four feet if you have the large one with nine slots.
Assembling The Container
After tidying up all the pieces, it’s time to start building the container. Prop up all three sides as best you can and then screw in the bottom into both sides of the container with an electric screwdriver. Next, use the slot left over from cleaning up the back sides of the pallet and create the sides. You’ll have enough pieces to do two slots on either end, but you’ll need to use other pieces to finish it off. In the video, Tanya cut pieces of leftover bits of slots and then fixed them on.
Attaching The Feet
There’s no easy way to attach the feet from the inside, so it’s recommended to drive a couple of screws in from the side of each with an electric screwdriver. In the video, Tanya made a planter last year, and it seems to be doing just fine and is very sturdy.
That’s it! The pallet planter is finished. If there are any little bits of wood sticking out, you can saw them off with a handsaw or jigsaw. You can paint it up if you want to. In the video, Tanya used a combination of wire and straw for the slats and then filled it with farmyard manure and compost for planting strawberries.
Finishing Touches
To complete the pallet planter project, the pallet needs to be broken down into three equal pieces and reassembled into a rectangular container. The container is then filled with a combination of compost and farmyard manure. The process takes around two hours and requires a pallet that has been heat-treated, as opposed to chemically treated. It is important to look for the symbols HT on the pallet stamp to ensure it has been heat-treated.
Once the pallet is sorted, some tools such as a jigsaw, iron wedge, mallet hammer, and screwdriver are needed to make the cuts and detach the feet. The process involves a bit of pulling and tugging, but it is relatively easy to complete.
After counting the number of slats on the front side of the pallet, the cuts are made on both sides, mirroring the cuts from the front side. The pallet is then flipped over, and the backside is visible. The backside needs to be tidied up, and the little slats that are in the back need to be gently pried up. The center pieces are then pulled off and set aside.
The feet are detached using a metal wedge or chisel, and any nails are removed. The container is then built by propping up all three sides and screwing in the bottom into both sides of the container. The slot left over from cleaning up the back sides of the pallet is used to create the sides, and leftover bits of slots are used to finish it off.
Once the container is complete, any little bits of wood that are sticking out can be sawed off with a handsaw or jigsaw. The planter can be painted if desired. The slats are filled with a combination of wire and straw, and the container is filled with farmyard manure and compost.
Overall, the process is simple and can be completed with just a few tools. The finished pallet planter is an excellent way to grow strawberries or any other plants in a container that is easy to maintain.
Planting The Strawberries
To create a pallet planter for planting strawberries, Tanya from Lovely Greens suggests using a single pallet that has been heat-treated rather than chemically treated. She recommends looking for the HT symbol on the pallet stamp and avoiding pallets with the DB symbol, which indicates chemical treatment with insecticides.
To make the planter, Tanya suggests cutting the pallet into three equal pieces and reassembling them into a rectangular container. She uses tools such as a jigsaw, iron wedge, and mallet hammer, but notes that a handsaw and screwdriver could also work.
After counting the slats on the front side of the pallet and cutting them accordingly, Tanya flips the pallet over and mirrors the cuts on the other side. Once all the cuts are made, the pallet should break apart easily into three pieces.
Tanya then removes the little slats from the back of the pallet, pulls off the center pieces, and trims the sides with a jigsaw. She detaches the feet using a metal wedge or chisel, and screws the bottom into both sides of the container.
Using leftover pieces of slots and other pieces, Tanya creates the sides of the planter and attaches the feet from the side using an electric screwdriver. She suggests sawing off any little bits of wood that are sticking out and painting the planter if desired.
To plant the strawberries, Tanya uses a combination of wire and straw for the slats and fills the planter with a mixture of farmyard manure and compost. The strawberries in their second year are healthy and coming on, and Tanya imagines they will continue to thrive for another year or two before needing to be replanted.
Conclusion and Invitation for Feedback
In this tutorial video by Tanya from Lovely Greens, viewers learned how to create a pallet planter for planting strawberries or any other desired plants. Tanya’s inspiration for this project came from Pinterest, where she found the idea of planting strawberries in the slats of a single pallet. However, Tanya noticed potential issues with this method, such as soil erosion and frequent watering. To address these concerns, Tanya came up with the idea of breaking down a single pallet into three equal pieces and reassembling them into a rectangular container filled with a combination of compost and farmyard manure.
Tanya’s strawberry plants, now in their second year, are thriving and healthy. This project takes approximately two hours to complete and requires tools such as a jigsaw, iron wedge, mallet hammer, and screwdriver. Tanya emphasizes the importance of using a heat-treated pallet rather than a chemically treated one, which can contain harmful insecticides.
To create the pallet planter, viewers must count the number of slats on the front side of the pallet and make cuts to create three equal pieces with three slats each. Then, they must flip the pallet over and mirror the cuts on the back side. After removing any exposed nails and tidying up the pieces, viewers can begin building the container by propping up all three sides and screwing in the bottom. They can then use the leftover slots from cleaning up the back sides of the pallet to create the sides of the container and attach the feet from the outside.
Tanya invites viewers to leave comments and questions in the forum below and share their experiences with making the pallet planter. She also encourages them to subscribe to her channel for regular updates on new videos.