Featured on Studio 5 "Vertical Pallet Garden"

 Studio 5 today

I've seen several pins and even a cool facebook picture where people have created pallet gardens.

What appeals to me most about this project is, the way to grow a few select herbs, veggies and succulents without having to dig up my yard. I also love the artistic nature, texture and color the vertical pallet garden adds to your patio setting.

This project is relatively easy..... Find a pallet that needs a good home. I found mine at a construction site. Be choosy, meaning look for one that that has the right thickness. I wanted mine to be fairly narrow so it wouldn't take a lot of plants to fill it up and look full.

The next step is to determine how many plant shelves you want. These are the pallet boards you're going to leave in tact. I removed every two boards, on both sides, to ensure the planting shelves I kept were deep enough for the roots of the plants I chose to grow.

Now the pallet boards that you remove will need to be cut to fit underneath the remaining boards. After cutting the boards use your drill to make holes so the water can drain from the plants, and then attach with a nail gun. You could also attach them with nails, screws or wood glue. If you use nails or screws be sure to drill a pilot hole so the pallet wood doesn't split.

(Bottom of the plant shelf)

Last but not least, to make my pallet a little sturdier and not so tipsy, I added two slats of wood for feet nailed to the bottom of the Vertical Pallet Garden.

Now you're ready to fill up your planter boxes. I headed to my local greenhouse/nursery called "Clinton Nursery". I explained what my project was and the dimensions I needed to fill. I was very impressed with the wonderful customer service I received! I was given great advice on what plants would work, as well as great ideas I'd never thought of. My herb garden quickly took shape and because Clinton Nursery's selection was so great, I also added succulents, and cilantro, and jalapenos for a salsa garden.  Clinton Nursery has also offered to give all customers who mentioned Studio 5 a discount at check out. Be sure to stop by and see what they have to offer for your own Vertical Pallet Garden.

 Here is their address and #

1071 N 2000 W Clinton UT 801-825-3018

Once my plants were situated in the planter boxes, I decided to add a faux chalkboard look to label what I'd planted. To accomplish this I went to Home Depot and bought a 2x4 sheet of chalkboard.

This is such a time saver! I had a worker cut the chalkboard to the dimensions of the front of each pallet garden box. To attach the chalk board, I drilled 2 small holes into the top left and right corners of each chalkboard piece. Then I used small hooks that screw right into the pallet wood to hang the chalk board piece. 

Finally to give it a faux chalkboard look without using chalk, (that could run or smudge if wet,) I used my vinyl cutter, and cut the labels out of white vinyl. I love this look! Whats great about using vinyl is that it's long lasting, but removable if you decide to plant something else.

This fun, easy and useful garden project took me one afternoon, and I'm in love. Go ahead and make your own beautiful vertical pallet garden to enjoy. 

If your looking for another great spring patio or porch project, check out my Porch Trellis Chair tutorial here

Studio 5 segment!!

Today we filmed a segment on Studio 5 about how to build our "Porch Trellis Chair". We love Brooke Walker, and it was so fun to have my sister and girls there too. Tune in tomorrow at 1:00 on channel 5 to see this awesome tutorial. 

Porch Trellis Chair

I've had my Porch Trellis Chair for many years and friends who see it, love it, have threatened to steal it off my porch or have begged me to make one for them. I was surprised when I received an overwhelming support for three chairs I made for a Scout Fundraiser Auction. Once I actually replicated it, I couldn't believe how inexpensive it was to make, how easy it was to put together and how fun, unique, and versatile you can decorate/embellish it.

Here is a material list, steps, and tips for the Trellis Porch Chair

Materials                     2- dog eared cedar fence slats

4- Straight edge cedar fence slats     TIP: (total cost of the wood $10.00)

Box of 1” nails

Miter saw    TIP: (Can be cut in a home improvement store if you don’t have a saw)

1.   Build the back structure of the Chair.

-Cut the 2 Dog Eared fence slats 56” long

-Cut 5 -12” boards

-Lay the Dog Eared boards side by side

-Attach one of the 12” boards 3” from the bottom, connecting both of the Dog Eared boards.

-Starting 8” from the top of the Dog Eared boards, place 4 - 12” boards every 4”.

The back of the chair should look like this when complete.

Building the Front Legs of the Chair

-For the Front legs cut 2-17” boards.

-Then cut 2-12” boards

- Attach support pieces for the front legs by, placing the 17” boards side by side, and attach them together using a 12” board at the top of the 17” boards.

-Next attach a 1- 12” board 3” from the bottom.

Attaching the sides.

-Lay both the back structure and the front structure on its sides and attach support slats by cutting 4- 12” boards.

-Line up 1- 12” cut board with the bottom board on both the front and the back legs as shown

  

-Next line up 1- 12” board with the top board on the front of the chair as  shown.

         -Turn the chair over on the other side and repeat the same process.

       

Attaching the Seat

        -Cut 4- 15” boards

        -Take one of the 15” boards and cut it down the middle length wise.

-Attach the boards to the seat of the chair starting with the split 15” board. Next add the other 3- 15” boards. It should look like this.

       

Now the fun part, to give the chair a weathered reclaimed look; first randomly pick select spots to dry brush with grey paint.  Next, give the chair an allover coat with your favorite wood stain or glaze. I will usually l miss a few spots here and there with the stain to give the chair a worn look.

To Stencil, (you can create your own stencil using card stock and a Silhouette or Cricket Machine, or trace anything with a circle shape and cut it out yourself.) dry brush with white paint and let dry. Once the paint has dried, I go over the whole chair with a palm sander to complete the look.

Now to decorate the chair, I love to use garlands, wreaths, signs, small chalkboards, flower pots, bunting banners ect.) as shown here.  ENJOY!!