How to Build a Raised Garden Bed From an Old Shipping Pallet (page 1 of 2)

Make a moveable container garden with a wooden pallet, old shutters and casters.

By Joanne Palmisano, Salvage SecretsMore in Outdoors

Courtesy of Susan Teare

A garden on wheels is beneficial throughout the growing season. In spring, keep the garden in direct sunlight so the plants get a healthy start. Then in summer when it is too hot, roll the garden to a less scorching spot.

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Tools and Materials

Chop saw, level, drill, tape measure, shovel or trowel, paintbrush, scissors, staple gun, sturdy wood pallet, four 4-inch caster wheels, decking screws, no-VOC paint, landscaping fabric, compost, planting soil, bag of drainage stones, recycled wood (not pressure-treated), four pieces of 40" x 48" x 8", four pieces of 2x4 approximately 8" high, four recycled plastic shutters for decoration (optional).

Add Wheels

Measure the bottom of the pallet. Mark equal distances in four corners for the wheel placement. It’s best to add wheels that turn in every direction.

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Paint the Pallet

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

Attach the Sides

Cut the 8-inch boards to create sides for the pallet, make sure they fit on the edges of the pallet. Use pieces of 2x4 in each corner to secure the sides to each other. Once all four sides are attached to one another it, 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.