Build a Plant Wall with Pallets (pic intensive)

[NJCher]

So we all know pallets are easy to find and many have successfully used them as compost bins:



Here, however, is another clever idea on how to use pallets--as a plant wall:



Found on the blog Life on the Balcony, the writer provides step-by-step instructions. She photographed a second pallet planting, too:



When retrieving a pallet, be sure it does not have this symbol:



That stamp means it has been treated for int'l shipping purposes and has dangerous chemicals in it such as methyl bromide (which we all know is used to treat strawberries. :crazy: )


I think I'm going to do a few of these for my terrace walls. I would like to figure out a way to provide some drip irrigation to it. Also, as you'll note, the author says that she recommends letting the pallets sit flat for a few weeks so the roots have a chance to grow toward the back. She admits she is unable to do this herself, though, and that might be because she only has balcony space.

My plan is to make up a number of them and put them out of the way. Instead of using plants from the nursery, I think I'll use seeds. I'm in no rush, and I think using seeds will allow the plants to grow a better root system.

One plant that I think would be terrific in a set up like this would be nasturtium. Also creeping Jenny:



If anyone has ideas on how to install a watering system in these, I'd love to hear them.


Cher

[NJCher]

1. Irrigation system

I just had an idea for the water system; would like to hear what others think.

Take PVC pipe and drill holes in it. Some PVC pipe comes with such holes already drilled in it, but I think it's just the larger pipe.

Example:



Put three such pipes in the pallets. The pipes will be cut the same height as the pallets. Put an end cap on the end of the pipes.

Then take soda bottles and fill them with water or a water/fertilizer mixture. Put them upside down in the PVC pipes and let them drip through. It would look like this only the soda bottles would be going into PVC pipe, not the ground.




Cher

[beac]

2. Clever!

I wonder if you could just leave the pipes open at the top (making sure the top edge was higher than your soil) and just let them fill w/ water when it rained (and or use a hose to fill them in a dry spell)? Maybe w/ a small screen over the top to keep big debris out?

Would the bottles be sticking out of the top of the pipe in your model? If so, I'd be sure the pallets weren't in direct sun for too long or your water might get hot and burn your plants' roots.



I love the pallet wall idea. It definitely goes on my "must try" list for later this summer. :)