Monday, March 21, 2016

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!
This post contains some affiliate links that are noted.
Check out these flowers - DIY pallet planter box for those amazing cascading flower baskets.

 How to Build a Cascading Flower Pallet Planter Box

Check out these flowers - DIY pallet planter box for those amazing cascading flower baskets.

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.
Check out these flowers - DIY pallet planter box for those amazing cascading flower baskets.Nail or screw the bottom pieces to the 2x2 supports.
Check out these flowers - DIY pallet planter box for those amazing cascading flower baskets.

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.
Check out these flowers - DIY pallet planter box for those amazing cascading flower baskets.I used a 2" hole saw (affiliate) to drill holes for the petunias.
Check out these flowers - DIY pallet planter box for those amazing cascading flower baskets.Spacing the holes about every 6" or so.
Check out these flowers - DIY pallet planter box for those amazing cascading flower baskets. Check out these flowers - DIY pallet planter box for those amazing cascading flower baskets.

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.
Check out these flowers - DIY pallet planter box for those amazing cascading flower baskets.Add the first row of flowers, then cover with soil.  Check out these flowers - DIY pallet planter box for those amazing cascading flower baskets. 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.  Check out these flowers - DIY pallet planter box for those amazing cascading flower baskets. Then cover with more dirt.  Check out these flowers - DIY pallet planter box for those amazing cascading flower baskets.
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

Check out these flowers - DIY pallet planter box for those amazing cascading flower baskets.

May 20 - starting to grow

2 May 20 pallet box
I realized that the poor bush had been dead for some time, even though it had green on it.

June 6 - filling in nicely

3 June 6 cascading flowers

June 22 - tickled pink

4 June 22 cascading flower pallet box

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.  
5 July 24 palley planter box

August 24 - looking good

6 Aug 24 cascading flower palley planter

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.
7 sept 22 wave petunia pallet flower box
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!

Cascading flower pallet planter box Sept
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?

Build a simple planter box out of pallets and enjoy the blooms all summer long.


For more woodworking plans check out Hertoolbelt
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62 comments:

  1. I really like the planter box. Thank you for sharing the instructions. I would recommend using a safer insecticide than malathion. Malathion will kill the good bugs too, like lady bugs and bee's. It will also kill hummingbirds. Hummingbirds love petunias. I use a soap based spray that is environmentally friendly. Thank you again for sharing your project.

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    Replies
    1. thank you! I was worried about this too, no need to spray nasty pesticides when you can simply make your own organic mix!

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    2. What mix do you use? If you wouldn't mind sharing (:

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    3. What can I use. My petunias are infested with little flies?

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    4. Do you pinch the dead blooms or let them grow around them?

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  3. I might try this with strawberries

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    Replies
    1. Ooooh that's a great idea! I have pallets and strawberries that need transplanting. Thanks for the idea!

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    2. Ooooh that's a great idea! I have pallets and strawberries that need transplanting. Thanks for the idea!

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    3. you shouldn't be planting edible herbs and fruits, or veggies in planters made out of toxic wood from the pallets.

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    4. If you're concerned about where the pallets have been, you can easily substitute 1x4's or cedar pickets from stores like Home Depot.

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    5. Or you can line it with a plastic garbage bag, that will help hold the soil in and the moisture. Don't to poke hole or add gravel for drainage.

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    6. Maybe I should know this, but what is the harm with the wood from pallets?

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    7. Kellie, I think some are concerned that some pallets may be used to transport chemicals and don't want chemicals leaching into their food. I know where my pallets came from so I'm not too worried about them.

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    8. Ok, thanks! Good to keep in mind.

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    9. Some pallets are treated. Oak pallets are probably ok, but if you don't know for certain, I would avoid using them for edibles.

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    10. Many pallets and wood are treated. Some to protect from rot and mildew, others for other things. If you go to a lumber store you will find signs saying treated and untreated wood. Treated wood becomes a concern with food because some of the chemicals used to treat the wood might leak thru to the food.

      If you do use treated wood and are concern you can buy black gardening fabric to line the container. I fo this anyways to keep the wood from rotting or warping over time.

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  4. Great idea. Very pretty. Please use soap based bug spray if anything at all. Not all bugs are bad.

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    Replies
    1. What kind of spray? I need to do something ASAP because my flowers are covered with tiny flies.

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    2. Savers soap..available at any garden store

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  5. Beautiful! You can also use empty water bottles with the lids on as filler to reduce the amount of dirt needed.

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    Replies
    1. I do this. I have a big cauldron that I fill the bottom with bottles. It helps a lot.

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  6. I think I would take a piece of PVC pipe, the length of the box, drill some holes in it add an elbow then add another piece straight up with holes in it too. Then you could pour the water into it to water the bottom also.

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  7. Thank you for posting this! I can't wait to try this this summer! Just a suggestion - try some million bells next time you plant it! They have smaller flowers than the petunias, and are a bit more resilient to buggies - they are also less messy...I will be trying them this year for sure.

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    Replies
    1. Oh I love million bells, but I can't seem to find them around here for a decent price...I'll have to look harder.

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    2. I love Lorabell's I think that is how they are spelled.

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  8. I just finished making this using your plans and it turned out great

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  9. I just finished making this using your plans and it turned out great

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  10. where does the 1x 1 1/2 x 36" go?

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    Replies
    1. On the bottom, my 4 - 1x4's didn't quite cover the bottom.

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  11. did you also put plants in the top layer of dirt or just thru the holes?

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    1. Yes, I put about 6 petunias on top and 3 potato vines. Although the potato vines ended up growing down the back so they weren't even seen. :-)

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  12. Hi. I used this idea to make a petunia tower and it turned out great. However, all of the plants are covered with tiny flies that I think are leafminers. I need to spray them down and I need help. Can you tell me what you used? Please... thank you for this awesome idea.

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  13. Hi. I used this idea to make a petunia tower and it turned out great. However, all of the plants are covered with tiny flies that I think are leafminers. I need to spray them down and I need help. Can you tell me what you used? Please... thank you for this awesome idea.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Ricky, I used a malathion based bug spray that I got at IFA. They should sell it at any home and garden store.

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  14. I realize this is a older post so I hope that this comment is seen :) Spring is coming up quickly here and I'm very excited about this idea but the front of our home gets much more shade so I plant impatiens, they usually grow a few feet high and look gorgeous. Do you think this box would work with them or New Guinea impatiens? Or has anyone tried this before with them?I use both usually. Thank you!

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    1. It should work. It might not get as full as the last photo. Any plant that hangs (you find in hanging baskets( should work. I did a round one last year with wire and mixed different cascading plants in it and it turned out beautiful.

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  15. How do I get the printed directions for this cascading flower box

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  16. I build this flower box to so I'll give it a try. Ok just asking I used smaller broad instead of 2x4 it is a hard wood. evenif it was 2x4s ?? how does the box handle the weight of the dirt?

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  17. Beware of what type of packing peanuts you are using. I made the mistake of using ones made of potato starch which melted when I watered my plants. Lol I was quite surprised the next morning to find the soil had sunk done where I had the peanuts.

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