Pallet Planters -- Add Color and Height to Your Garden!

A pallet planter is a great way to add height and
visual interest to your garden.  We think the brightly-
colored coleus is just stunning in this version!

Bursts of color from overflowing hanging baskets and annuals in flower beds will be seen around town soon enough.  We love flowers in all shapes and sizes, but when we come across something unique, it's even better.  Re-purposing an old pallet is a great way to dress up a less-than-perfect fence or wall, save space, and give some flowering height to your garden all at the same time!  You can use almost any flowering plants you like, and as a bonus you won't be weeding every day :)

Tools You'll Need:
Drill and hammer (only if there are broken spots in your pallet)
Paintbrush (if you want to paint your pallet)
Staple gun
Scissors
Shovel


Materials You'll Need:
Nails (only if there are broken spots in your pallet)
Pallet
Waterproof paint (if you want to paint your pallet)
Landscape fabric
Staple gun staples
Potting soil (around 3-4 cubic feet)
Flowering annuals or other small-leafed plants
Water and sun!

LET'S GET STARTED!

Step 3: Staple the landscape fabric to your pallet.

1. Use your drill to make starter holes and then hammer in nails to fix any broken spots on your pallet.  We recommend using a drill to prevent further splitting of the slats.
2. Paint your pallet with the waterproof paint if you want to -- otherwise you can move on to step three and keep a natural color.
3. Cut and then staple the landscape fabric to the back and bottom of the pallet (see picture), leaving the top open for more plants and watering if you're going to display your garden vertically.  If you are going to leave it horizontal on the ground, staple the fabric over both ends, leaving just the top open.

   

   Step 4: You cannot overstaple this project!  Make sure to
   pull the landscape fabric tight so that the soil won't escape.

4. Don't be afraid of overdoing the staples... you'll want plenty of support for the soil and plants and definitely don't want the fabric to come loose halfway through the season!  Staple everywhere you think soil could fall out of the pallet -- every two inches is a good bet.
5. Bring the pallet near its final destination (it will be heavy to move after filling with soil and plants.)
6. Fill the pallet with potting soil.
7. Plant flowers and plants tightly into the spaces so that the soil will remain where it belongs.
8. Leave your pallet horizontal for about 3 weeks, watering it just after planting and

   

   Step 6: Fill your pallet with potting soil.

   then deeply watering every few days, so that the plants can take root.
9. 3 weeks later, lift the pallet up vertically and enjoy your dressed up fence for the rest of the season!

Tips:

• To find a pallet, think garden centers and other large retailers -- places that get large, heavy deliveries!  Give us a call at (585) 225-7770 and we'll let you know if we have any.
• Remember if you're using a recycled pallet that you want a heat-treated one -- it will have HT stamped on it -- rather than a chemically treated one.  Your flowers will grow better without a chemically-treated home.
• Unfortunately, we don't recommend growing herbs or veggies in your pallet planter because you never know what was transported on it before it arrived in your garden (lots of pallets are reused over and over by different companies in different places), and if they are left outside in damp weather there can be bacteria and mold within.  Then again, if you can find a new pallet to buy (check online) then you could mix some veggies and herbs into your pallet garden too!

Try painting your pallet garden for an even more unique look.

Treeous Christmasi 'Plasitca'

The debate that divides co-workers, friends, siblings and even spouses....A lovely real cut Christmas Tree or a 'Made in China' plastic beauty (tongue firmly in cheek). I've been in the Christmas Tree Selling part of the industry for over 20 years and have heard many reasons why for both sides. Here are the key points.

Fresh Cut Christmas Trees, by far, have many more redeeming qualities then an artificial tree.

Fresh trees allow you to bring a small part of our great Earth into your home. The fragrance of many varieties are just simply outstanding. From the great evergreen scents from a Fraser or Douglas Fir to the tropical citrus aroma of a Concolor Fir. You can buy the scent in a spray bottle for your your fake, plastic tree, but it smells just that...fake (and it only lasts for a short time).

Fresh trees are a recyclable commodity. The growers replant every year to keep the earth healthy - true sustainability. Once the Christmas Season is over, your tree can be taken to many Garden Centers to be chipped for wood mulch. Ever try to recycle an artificial tree? They don't fit in your bin and with all the processes needed to make it, who knows what type of plastic it is (if it's even plastic). And then there's the wire branches....

I have heard many a spouse say 'it drops needles and makes a mess'. Well, most of us use a vacuum once a week anyways, so that's a non issue. And, just for point, a fake tree 'sheds' too....ever try to glue the needles back on for the next year?

The fresh tree only takes up space in your home for about 4-6 weeks. The artificial tree takes up space in your closet, garage, or attic all 52 weeks a year!

'Real trees cost more and more each year' is another great comment. Stop being a Scrooge. I'm sure your Christmas Gift budget can handle that $30-$50 each year. It's likely you spend that much (at least!) on your favorite beverages each month. And each year the new tree is fluffy and full. I watched my father spend 1-2 hours a year trying to 'fluff' that plastic tree every year for 5 years...and each year the artificial tree started looking more and more like Charlie' Brown's!

Be Green. Love Mother Earth. Keep the tradition of having a Fresh Cut Christmas Tree each year.

Happy Christmas. Todd.

p.s. What does the title of this blog mean? Its the Latin name (all plants, like all living things are classified in Latin) given to Artificial Trees.