Beds from pallets: types and how to do it yourself for a summer residence, mistakes

The neat appearance of the beds and the convenience of their processing will be appreciated by every summer resident. Therefore, the construction of beds from pallets is becoming increasingly popular among gardeners. They are suitable for greens, strawberries, flowers. If pallets are placed vertically, they can significantly save space on the site, making it original and simplifying the care of planted plants.

Pros and cons

Pallets are wooden structures used in the transportation of bulky goods. Many of them remain after the purchase of building materials and do not find application in the economy. But they can be used in the country.

The pallet bed is easy to install on the site. It is convenient to plant greens, lettuce, strawberries in it. It has many advantages:

• no weeds - pallet walls don't let them grow;
• accuracy and originality of the design;
• possibility to conveniently arrange landings, ease of maintenance;
• with a vertical arrangement of pallets, the design saves space, sometimes they are used as a decorative fence.

Pallets can be coated with water-based varnish or acrylic paints, this will make the site picturesque.

Of the shortcomings of such beds, they note:

• pallet purchase costs;
• small garden area;
• inconvenience of transportation;
• appearance of insects and slugs.

When buying, choose wooden pallets that have not been treated with chemicals so that the hazardous chemicals used in their manufacture do not get into the ground.

Tools and materials

When making structures for growing plants from a pallet, you will need: a pallet, agrofabric or other waterproof material, a stapler or nails and a hammer, soil for planting. If you stretch a canopy made of polyethylene over a bed on plastic arcs, you get a comfortable greenhouse.

How to make DIY pallet beds

There are several options for such beds. They can be regular, tall or vertical. The service life of the pallet on the site is 2-3 years, then the pallet should be replaced.

Horizontal

The pallet is placed on the selected dug area, fertilizers are applied to the soil in advance. Soil is poured into the gaps between the boards of the pallet, it is carefully compacted. Then seeds are planted in the resulting rows. No structural modification is required. Strawberries planted in such a bed will not touch the ground, deteriorate or become contaminated. Additional support will appear for the bushes.

If you are building a deep bed, you will need several pallets for it. They are installed vertically, fastened together with screws or self-tapping screws to make a deep box. The inside is lined with waterproof fabric. A drainage layer of gravel, expanded clay or brick fragments is laid at the bottom of the finished structure. Then a layer of sand is poured, and on top - a layer of fertile soil, in which seeds are planted.

Another way to install horizontal beds for summer cottages: weeds are mowed in the selected area, cardboard is laid on the resulting “pillow”, pallet structures are installed on top.The space between the boards is filled with improvised organic matter: grass, vegetable peelings, hay. It is compacted, watered and topped up with 7-10 centimeters of soil. Plant seeds are planted in the ground.

Wooden structures can be dismantled, and the formwork for the beds can be put together from the boards and filled with soil. In this case, the length of the structure depends only on the amount of material at hand.

Vertical

For vertical installation, the structure is upholstered with waterproof fabric from the inside, then drainage is laid and covered with earth mixed with peat. The soil is compacted. Lay the pallet horizontally, plant the seeds. As the plants grow, the roots will intertwine, forming a dense layer with the soil.

Important: if you raise the pallet immediately after planting the seeds, the soil from the structure will wake up and the plants will die.

Pallet is lifted vertically, compacted soil stays in place, easy to care for and harvest.

Typical mistakes

The design should not be treated with chemical compounds against decay - all harmful substances after numerous waterings will be in the soil. It is necessary to ensure that there are no traces of gasoline or technical oils on the material. No traces of rot or mold are allowed.

A bed lined with agrofiber from the inside requires moderate watering. Do not forget about the drainage layer, which rids the plants of excess moisture. Weeds do not grow around the pallet, but plants need weeding between the bushes.

Design attracts slugs - do not place structures next to cabbage, potatoes. For the winter, it is better to disassemble the structure and dry it. It can be installed in a new location next season.

Pallets are good for small beds. It is convenient to place them on a large plot, creating your own landscape design in the country. Such a bed can be equipped not only in the garden, but also on the balcony of a city apartment by vertically installing a pallet.

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