Raised beds are popular bed variants to relocate gardening to a small space or to protect your back. Numerous herbs and flowers can be planted without the need for a garden, which is what makes the small beds so attractive. However, raised beds can be quite expensive due to the materials required. For this reason, the use of Euro pallets is a good way to build a raised bed yourself at low cost.

materials and tools

To create a raised bed from Euro pallets, you need fewer materials than you might think. Since you don't rely on solid wood, expensive plastics or even stone raised beds, your costs are kept in the low range, which makes this variant so attractive to many people. It is also possible to get all the materials from the hardware store, which of course appeals to you as a do-it-yourselfer. The following list gives you an overview of the necessary utensils that you need for a square raised bed with a side length of 1,344 millimeters:

  • 4 Euro pallets for the frame of the raised bed
  • 12 angle connectors made of stainless steel, best in the dimensions 50 mm x 50 mm x 40 mm
  • Sufficient stainless steel screws, quantity depending on the number of holes in the bracket, in the length between 60 mm and 90 mm
  • Weather protection paint in the color of your choice
  • vole grid
  • durable pond liner
  • cordless screwdriver
  • Drill with suitable bits if you are not using self-tapping screws
  • staple gun
  • staples
  • 1 euro pallet for the outer paneling (optional)
  • Plywood panels for outer paneling (optional)
  • 4 stainless steel transport rollers if you want to move the raised bed throughout the year (optional)
  • abrasive material (optional)

When choosing the screws, you can decide whether you want to use classic or self-tapping ones. If you don't have a drill, self-tapping screws are recommended, as they will drill into the wood by themselves. The weather protection paint is not only needed to protect the wood from the weather, but also to give your raised bed the finishing touch. With regard to the cladding, you can either use additional Euro pallets or cut plywood panels. Alternatively, you can omit the paneling entirely, allowing for more storage space for plants. In return, a disguise looks more appealing in many cases. You have a choice here.

Tip: Of course you can vary the size of the raised bed by using more pallets. All you have to do is buy flat connectors that can be used to connect other pallets.

Building a Euro pallet raised bed: instructions

If you have decided to build a raised bed from Euro pallets, you will be amazed at how effectively this variant works. A big advantage of this project is the low amount of work and time, because with a helping hand you can assemble the raised bed within a few hours and then fill it. You can even set it up alone, as the angle connectors can be screwed together without any problems. The following instructions explain in detail how to connect the Euro pallets together so that you can finally enjoy a functioning raised bed:

preparation

1st step:

Pick a time of year when it's not too wet. Moisture can still severely affect the untreated Euro pallets. Since the pallets are not light, one alone weighs 25 kilograms, they have to be stored during assembly so that they are not exposed to too much moisture. Therefore, it is best to build from spring to autumn on dry days. Alternatively, you can of course make the raised bed in your workshop, garage or other dry, covered place.

2nd step:

Now place the Euro pallets lengthwise on the side. The entire length is used for the raised bed and don't worry, you don't have to saw anything here. Choose a level surface, because then the Euro pallets will not fall and you can work in a relaxed manner. The pallets are placed so that they form a square. To do this, one pallet is connected to the other via the underside, so that the pallet is visible from the wide side at each corner. In the end, each side will be 1,344 millimeters long and the raised bed will be 800 millimeters high.

Place the Euro pallets lengthways.

Connect pallets together

1st step:

Connect the first two pallets to each other using the angle connectors. To do this, take three angle connectors for the corner in the interior and mount them at the top, in the middle and at the bottom. Make sure that you do not mount the angle brackets directly on the edge of the pallets, as this can easily damage them or even bend them. If you do not use self-tapping screws, you must prepare appropriate drill holes before this step. Put on the angle connector and screw at least two screws into the wood on each side, this ensures sufficient stability. This is where another pair of hands can come in handy.

Assemble the angle connectors. The first two pallets are connected to each other.

2nd step:

Connect the rest of the Euro pallets in the same way. Now you should have a square raised bed in front of you, which is held together with the angle connectors.

The Euro pallets are now connected to each other.

3rd step:

Check for crooked digits. In this case, you would have to undo the work again and reassemble the corresponding pallet. This is important because it is the only way to ensure that there are no weak points in the construction that would later give way under the load of earth. Give yourself enough time for this, because the more closely you check the frame, the more durable the bed will be.

lining the interior

1st step:

Now you can proceed with the interior of the bed. To do this, cut a sufficient amount of the vole mesh so that at least two inches can be bent inwards at the edges. More than five centimeters is recommended as this offers more support. Now staple the grid with enough staples. Then use gentle pressure to check whether the grid is secure and repair any weak points.

Staple down the vole screen.

2nd step:

Now line the inner walls of the bed with the pond liner. Since the bed will be on the ground, you don't need foil there. The pond liner must sit over the grid and cover all of the wood so that it does not swell from the moisture in the soil. Fold the foil over the edge of the pallet and staple it in place. This is necessary so that too much soil cannot get onto the wood when gardening.

Attach the pond liner to the inner walls.

3rd step:

If you are afraid of injuring yourself on the plates, you should use sandpaper or other abrasives to sand down sharp edges and surfaces. This reduces a possible risk of injury. However, this step is not a must.

Paint with weatherproof paint

Now paint the sides of the pallets, which will later face outwards. Use the weather protection paint for this. Let them dry for the time specified by the manufacturer. Please note that colors can come out very differently on pallets, especially if you buy pallets made of different types of wood. If you want a unified look, the pallets should be made of the same wood. Here it is worthwhile if you buy the pallets from a manufacturer or dealer. Although used pallets are cheaper, they can vary greatly in the type of wood.

Paint the outside of the pallets with weatherproof paint.

You are now finished with the construction of the raised bed. If you wish, you can either finish off the upper edge with strips of another Euro pallet or with plywood. You could also use the resulting compartments for flower boxes, garden tools or otherwise. Enclosing the compartments gives a uniform look, but covering them with pond liner can also be appealing, giving space for additional plants. Here you can let your imagination run wild.

The raised bed can now be planted.

Equip a raised bed with rollers: instructions

If you want to transport your Euro pallet raised bed without any problems, you should definitely equip it with transport rollers. The raised bed weighs a whopping 100 kilograms even without soil and plants, which is impossible to transport, especially in old age or with physical impairments. If the raised bed is equipped with transport rollers, you can move it around on the property with little effort. Attaching the wheels works as follows:

  • turn the raised bed on its side when finished
  • mount the rollers on one corner at a time using screws
  • make sure that you mount the rollers in the middle of the corners
  • this does not put too much strain on one side
  • then, with the help of a second person, turn the bed onto the rollers

If you choose this variant, you will have to design the interior lining a little differently, as the bed is elevated and not directly on the ground. If you were to fill it with soil, part of it would fall out again, which is not desirable. The following solution is recommended:

  • After you have attached the vole screen, cover the entire interior, even the floor, with pond liner
  • attach them as described above
  • Now carefully perforate the foil at the bottom to create drainage holes
  • then fill the bottom with gravel or rocks to aid drainage
  • the rocks or gravel should be larger in diameter than the holes

This way no soil falls through the grid as the drainage layer acts as a further buffer for the soil. Alternatively, you could just position the stones on the grid, but without the pond liner, the weight could become too much for the grid. As a precaution, play it safe with the foil.

Category:

Garden design