Step 1
Measure the gap between the edge of pallet and the central supporting timber. Mark the halfway point and cut along this line. This line will be the top edge of your planter. Set aside.
Step 2
The shorter section you’ve cut off will go behind the top edge of the planter to line the inside. It will be slightly offset to cover the gaps of the pallet, so you’ll need to saw off the excess at the end.
Step 3
Repeat steps 1 and 2 with another pallet to create the other long side of the planter.
Step 4
Cut two shorter sections from a third pallet for the ends of the planter – ours measure 50cm. You’ll need to cut away the overlapping edges of the pallet so the planks are flush with the supporting edge timber.
Step 5
Repeat step 1 for the sides, halving the measurement between the central supporting beam and the top. Cut this off to create the top edge of the planter sides. Cut away the supporting timber from one side of another pallet and cut along the central supporting timber to create short ‘planks’. Repeat on other side of pallet.
Step 6
Use planks to line the inside of the planter sides. Use nails to attach the planks, covering the gaps in the pallet from the inside. Use the short top edge cut off in step 1 to cover the gaps on the inside of the top section. Sand and paint or stain the planter pieces.
Step 7
To assemble the planter, cut away a rectangle from the supporting timber at the front corners of the short sides, so the sides fit together. Where the short sides meet the back of the long sides, cut away a larger section, so the privacy screen can ‘slot’ into the planter. When constructing the planter, the supporting timbers inside the short sides should sit just below the supporting timbers of the long sides; screw them together at the corners of the bottom and central supporting beams, with two screws in each corner.
Step 8
Measure the gap inside the planter, above the central timber supports. Use this measurement to cut more planks from another pallet. Nail into place inside the planter to create a ‘shelf’. Use a stapler to attach weed membrane in the top section of the planter. Position and fill with compost and plant up.
Step 9
For the privacy screen, remove the back supports of the thin-planked pallet. Cut the pallet front down to the height you’d like your privacy screen to be. Make the uprights using two of the spare pieces of supporting timber that you cut away from the in-fill planks earlier. Nail the uprights to the edges of the thin-slatted pallet with the extra length of the support sticking out at the bottom. These extra lengths at the sides will slot into the holes at the back of the planter to anchor the privacy trellis in place. Use two screws at each corner to secure the screen.