3 Ways To Use Pallets to Transform Your Garden

With gardening and home improvement projects undergoing a surge in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, UK residents are more than used to getting their hands dirty in the garden. And, as professional landscapers battle long backlogs, homeowners are finding increasingly resourceful and cost-effective ways to upcycle and spruce up their green spaces without professional help. If you are hankering after a back garden makeover, you might be surprised what you can achieve with that most unlikely of DIY garden tools – humble pallet wood.

Build decking with pallets

One of the most ambitious things you can do with leftover wooden pallets is build decking for your garden. Surprisingly, you don’t have to be a pro to build a basic ground-level deck, and the task can be achieved fairly easily with a friend. To lay a simple deck, you will need to measure and cut separate boards of wood and assemble these with joists. Pallets are particularly useful for this task as they are made up evenly aligned slats or planks. For extra assurance that you are working with straight lines and even heights, use a green laser level for accurate levelling and alignment. Be aware that you may also need to invest in gravel and weedkiller for your decking foundation.

Create unique furniture with pallets

Pallets made from oak or pine are highly absorbent which means that they soak up paint well. They are also relatively malleable and can be easily sawed and drilled. In this respect, pallets make great building materials for DIY garden furniture such as two-seater benches, picnic tables and footrests. Additionally, pallet wood furniture is fairly lightweight, easy to bring in and out with the frequent changes in UK weather.

To create your own unique pallet wood furniture, you will need pallets, protective garden furniture paint (and paintbrush/paint roller and tray), an electric drill, screws, and your choice of cushions and furnishings. In the case of building a two-seater outdoor sofa, you will only need three pallets to get the job done. When constructing pallet furniture, remember that it is always better to drill screws into the middle of the pallet – the densest section of wood – rather than the narrow slats.

Make a display case and other embellishments

As well as functional fixtures and furniture, pallets can be used to build a range of aesthetic embellishments for your garden, porch area, or exterior windowsills. You can easily create an array of versatile household and outdoor pieces such as spice racks, mini herb gardens, hanging flower boxes, decorative shelving, display cases, and even mini-bars or drinks cabinets to complement your BBQ area. If you are lucky enough to own a garden shed, consider attaching your pallet creations to the side of the structure. You could paint the wood to help your pallet pieces blend in with existing features of the garden, or you could be bold with colour to create vibrant contrasts.

 

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