Pallet collars provide an inexpensive way to add sturdy sides when a simple pallet isn’t suitable. The hinged wooden collars, fairly new to the United States, are stackable and collapsible for efficient transport and storage of a variety of materials. Although pallet collars are generally used for shipping, they have become a hot commodity among gardeners, who use them to create pallet collar gardens and pallet raised beds. Wondering how you can make a raised bed out of pallet collars? Read on for more information.
How to Make a Pallet Garden
The first step is to get your hands on some pallet collars. Your local hardware or home improvement store may be able to provide information, or you can always do an online search for pallet collars.
Plan your DIY pallet garden in an area where the ground is flat. Keep in mind that most plants need at least a few hours of daily sunlight. Once you’ve determined the best location for your pallet collar garden, break up the soil with a spade or garden fork, then smooth it with a rake.
Put one pallet collar in place. The collars are about 7 inches (18 cm.) high, but they are easy to stack if you need a deeper garden. Line the inner walls of the pallet raised bed with plastic to preserve the wood. Staple the plastic securely in place.
You may want to place a layer of damp newspaper on the “floor” of your DIY pallet garden. This step isn’t absolutely necessary, but it will encourage friendly earthworms while discouraging growth of weeds. You can also use landscape cloth.
Fill the pallet raised bed with planting medium – usually a mixture of material such as compost, potting mix, sand, or high quality garden soil. Don’t use garden soil alone, as it will become so hard and compacted that roots may suffocate and die.
Your pallet collar garden is now ready to plant. You can also use pallet collars to create compost bins, garden walls, hot beds, cold frames, and much more.