Cascading Flower pallet planter box

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I have a dream... that some day I can grow those amazing cascading flower baskets like the ones from Bloom Master.  My home town has been hanging those baskets for the last 5-10 years or so, and they make main street look amazing.  My Mom plants them too, and her yard looks amazing.  I bought some of the large Bloom Master pots years ago thinking the cascading flowers would look awesome hanging off the back deck.  However the sun is really harsh during the afternoon, it gets overly windy, and every year I fail.  My flower pots look ok, but not full and stunning.  So this year, I'm trying it again but in the front yard where the flowers will be more protected.  I also want to dress up a window that's a little boring.  I built a large planter box out of pallets, since it is made from pallets I won't feel bad ruining the wood.  I'll post periodic updates to show the progress of the wave petunias, hoping for amazing!
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 How to Build a Cascading Flower Pallet Planter Box

Cut List

• 4 - 2" x 4" x 40" - legs
• 2 - 2" x 2" x 15" - bottom support
• 4 - 1" x 4" x 36" bottom
• 1 - 1" x 1 1/2" x 36" bottom
• 40" long pallet slats as needed
• 16" long pallet slats as needed

(Note: if you do not have access to pallets or are concerned about where the pallets have been, you can easily substitute pine 1x4's or cedar pickets found at stores like Home Depot.) 

Step 1

This planter box is made mostly from pallet wood, for tips on disassembling a pallet.  I tried to use the oak pallet slats, because I believe they'll hold up a little better overtime than pine.

Measure and mark down 20" from the top of the legs.  Attach the 2x2 at 20" with 2 1/2" screws.  Repeat for the other set of legs.

Nail or screw the bottom pieces to the 2x2 supports.

Step 2

Cut pieces of pallet slat to 40" and attach to the legs for the front and 16" for the sides.  I originally used a brad nailer, but some of the wood started to warp when wet and I went back and used 1 1/4" screws.

I used a 2" hole saw (affiliate) to drill holes for the petunias.

Spacing the holes about every 6" or so.

 

Step 3

Now the fun part, planting the flowers.  These flowers are Wave petunias that I got at Costco, you can also rotate the flowers between regular, cascade and wave petunias.  You need good potting mix and you need to add soil moist (affiliate) to help retain water.  I put a layer of weed guard down on the bottom, because I had a few holes.

Add the first row of flowers, then cover with soil.   I realized that the box is kind of large and is going to use a lot of dirt (2 bags).  I remember reading somewhere that you can use packing peanuts as filler, hope I remember that right.  I put them in the far back where the flowers wouldn't be planted.   Then cover with more dirt.  

Add the third row of flowers, fill with dirt and plant flowers on top.

You need to water the flowers everyday, the holes let the dirt get dry.  I usually water until the water leaks from the lower holes.  I also fertilize 1/week. 

April 13 - first planted

May 20 - starting to grow

I realized that the poor bush had been dead for some time, even though it had green on it.

June 6 - filling in nicely

June 22 - tickled pink

July 24 - little set back

It was the really hot part of the summer and the foliage was very green and pretty, but no flowers.  Realized I needed to spray for bugs and the flowers came back.  

August 24 - looking good

September 22

By this time I'm super excited it made it through the summer alive.  I never made it through July with the baskets on the back deck.

Sprayed it for bugs one last time, and one week later it looked amazing!  Here is the result of the flower box in late September, gorgeous!

September 29 - Amazing!

I can't wait for next year!  I think I'll add a few more variations of plants next time.  What are your favorite cascading plants?

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