Small Gardens Eclectic Landscape

Name: Rum KihnLocation: Midwest United StatesGarden size: Pallet is 4 feet by 4 feet and holds 2.5 cubic feet of soilHaving a tiny patio area wasn't going to stop Rum Kihn from having a garden. Although she had plenty of potted plants in the space, she wanted something more. "I love vertical gardening," she says. "But it can be difficult when you rent. The pallet is the perfect solution. It's easy to move, and you'll still get your deposit back when you leave."Photo courtesy of Rum Kihn

Vertical gardens are all the rage. This one, created out of an old wooden pallet, is wall and planter in one. I don't love these particular plants — I would go with herbs — but it's still a great idea.

Pick up a pallet. Pallets are such versatile items: Use them in the garden to create anything from benches to vertical gardens, vegetable gardens, tables, tool storage and much more. Homespun DIY elements are the opposite of what you would find in the stereotypical polished urban plot.If you want to use a pallet as a vegetable planter, make sure it hasn’t been treated with or exposed to harmful chemicals — and be warned that most of them have.Pallets can be painted or left in their natural state. Be careful with splinters from the wood, which is often rough, and if you’re using a pallet as a vertical planter on a terrace or against a wall, make sure it’s well-supported so it won’t fall over. To support plants, you’ll need to get crafty with some landscape fabric and a staple gun. Look online and you’ll be able to browse various techniques for using these to create the necessary plant pockets to turn your pallet into a planter.Remember too that when you water the plants in a vertical pallet, you’ll create runoff that might stain pale surfaces at the bottom.

Good idea for incorporating colour along a fence