What you need

• timber pallet
• nails and hammer
• piece of scrap timber
• sheet of plywood
• a roll of weed mat
• scissors
• staple gun
• 4 to 5 bags potting mix
• flowering plants
• gardening gloves
• drill
• dynabolts

Step by step

Step 1
Nail a scrap piece of timber along the entire length of the bottom of your pallet (with no gaps), to hold the soil in.
Step 2
Nail sheet of plywood to the back of your pallet.
Step 3
To make two sacks to sit side-by-side in pallet, cut weed matting into four rectangles of equal size, to fit in pallet. Place two rectangles together and, using a staple gun, staple along three sides to make a sack. Repeat with other rectangles.
Step 4
Lean pallet against wall, place sacks inside, and fill with potting mix, making sure it is compacted. Once filled, fold over top of sack and staple closed.
Step 5
Place pallet on the ground in a spot where it can be kept flat for a couple of weeks.
Step 6
Cut holes in weed matting, and dig holes in potting mix so plants will fit in. Remove plants from their pots, soften mix around the roots, and position one plant in each hole.
Step 7
Water thoroughly, ensuring water gets to the plant as some weed matting is not water permeable. Allow to rest on the ground for one to two weeks until the plants have had time to develop root strength.
Step 8
Rest vertical pallet garden up against a wall or fence in your yard. Or, using a drill and dynabolts (anchors that fix to concrete), attach it to the wall. Then sit back and enjoy the view!

Words and image: Fairlady magazine