How to Build a Raised Bed from 1 Pallet! (FREE and Easy)

[@HuwRichards]

Also I forgot to mention to use pallets which have been heat treated😁 Look for the HT symbol!

[@sesiliakarmini9073]

hi huws hello,apa kabar 😊

[@thegreenman4898]

are heat treated pallets free of nasty preservatives hugh? dont want to be picky but i wouldnt use those corner blocks for it, its basically the same as particle board with nasty glue, but if the boards are clean its a good idea to re-use them.

[@jecriggs]

@@thegreenman4898 Heated Treatment (HT) is, as the name implies, a process whereby lumber is heated in a closed chamber until it reaches a core temperature of 56°C for at least 30 minutes in order to kill pathogens such as insects, fungi, or micro-organisms. There are no chemicals involved.

[@eleanorwilliams9245]

Other safely made pallet types are KD which is kiln dried or DB which is debarked. The one to absolutely stay away from is MB which has Methyl Bromide which is a strong pesticide and absolutely not safe to work with or be near plants intended to be eaten. If the pallet doesn't have the initials HT, KD or DB on it, just steer clear to be safe - and thanks for another fabby video! :) :)

[@sukywao623]

Thanks for mentioning the HT factor. Regards.

[@hannahmakingrivendell4347]

This video is so wholesome, my heart is so full. Green things growing, salvaging wood, careful workmanship, frugality, a beautiful world

[@gugushabangu4097]

I think you spoke to my soul with your comment!

[@hannahmakingrivendell4347]

Life is too short to be sarcastic.

[@autumnrenee1605]

Right?! I think I love him

[@sheriuffer8773]

Y❤

[@Connor-w9y]

Calm down lol

[@batty_babette]

Thank you!! This is perfect for me. I barely have any money at all and I really, really want to make a garden this year. I managed to get a pallet from a neighbor so I'm looking forward to following your instructions. 😁

[@ronyerke9250]

When I was a youngster, my brothers and I used to collect bent nails from construction sites and straighten them. They were a bit dodgy to use, but if we took the extra time to be careful, it could be done. I remember getting my fingers pinched quite a few times until I started using needle-nose pliers to hold them. We used to make little shack-like forts from scrap wood with those nails.

[@autumnusrey7609]

Ron Yerke that sounds so wholesome and awesome

[@charlesroberts6490]

When I was a youngster my dad saved all the rusty and bent nails whenever he demolished anything . When he reused the screws he rubbed them on a bar of soap so they would screw in easier .

[@-themercyseat]

@@charlesroberts6490 nice! The ol bar a soap trick. Happy building cheers

[@jazbaali7341]

Your comment is a prove that not long ago children lived lives full of nurturing and wholesome experiences 😊

[@Tomasz_Piekarski]

And I remember from my childhood that we were making washers for the insulating the roof from beer crown caps. You needed to put one cap on an anvil and hammer if flat. Then it was ready to be used on a rooftop. :-)

[@pamelabrogan3983]

Saw another how to build a raised bed with wooden pallets (heat treated lumber) and so happy to have come across this exciting video. Have 8 pallets to start with and looking forward to making them. First time for this female to build and I'm positive all will be well. Thanks for such a great tutorial. P.S. Lowe's gives away free pallets. I kindly asked a gentleman to separate the HT marked ones from all the others and he so generously did so. Such a blessing!

[@nymalin]

This is so good, thank you for showing with this level of detail! Makes it a whole lot easier for a beginner to get started. Thank you!

[@patriciarussell8450]

Love how you share freely and show just how to. I purchased a pallet buster so I need to get it ready for some pallets. My worm beds are being eaten by the worms so this is a perfect project. Thanks Huw for helping us learn.

[@DjSkipAlexander]

Hi ya the pallet splitter works better if you put it on the 3 runners going the opposite direction. That way it gives you straight nails and slightly more pallet wood with less broken planks/strips. This was a tip I found after breaking loads of pallets. Thanks for your videos

[@PLSmith-lr1ki]

(From a 74yr old) That really inspired me Huw; however what I've learned is that there is a range of types of pallet construction some of which were an absolute nightmare and defeated me. Providing a video as you suggested, about splitting pallets would be really helpful. The strongest ones had been nailed probably by machine and proved impossible to deconstruct. I agree the one you demonstrated with was easy so I suggest other watchers would be well advised to get that flimsier type of pallet to use for raised beds. Then its as much fun as you had and removing and re-using nails is very satisfying.

[@matundazanyamari6263]

I appreciate how simple you’ve made it. No fancy tools. Very intuitive☺️. I’ve never thought of using the blocks. I have a ton of them. I’ll give it a shot on my next build

[@krystalneuharth2330]

I looked at a million videos and looked all over Pinterest reusing pallets for raised beds for inspiration, and I absolutely hated all of the ideas, they never made sense, I kept wondering why people didn't do it THIS way, and finally I found your video here , and you did it, exactly how it always made sense in my mind, and it came out beautifully! ❤️

[@batty_babette]

I feel the same! Other posts/videos just make it seem so overly complicated and inefficient. His is actually what I was looking for!

[@kathycook1815]

You're the real deal Huw - absolutely no fluff - I mean, you have actually done this and all the things you present in your other videos and it is not all just a demonstration - please stay the same and you will be a success at whatever you do. Love watching your progression with your channel.

[@ralphhayward4713]

The man is a saint

[@kymaaltorendimiento5490]

Thank you for the video. I was wanting to make some raised garden beds for my wife but I had no idea how to do it. This pallet method is not only economical but very easy to do. Thanks for making the video.

[@1Maklak]

I don't have the fancy pallet dissembler, just crowbars, claw-hammer and tongs and pulling apart pallets is my least favourite part. I resorted to cutting the nails with a reciprocating saw and it works faster, with fewer split boards, but there is an extra step of removing nail heads. New nails are fairly cheap, but for straightening old ones, the cubes from pallets are good, just put the nail on top and hold it and rotate it, while hitting it with a hammer. At hardware stores, there are parts for joining things at a 90-degree angle (two 10cm flat rectangles with holes, joined at a 90 degree angle, don't know what they're called). They're cheap and they're a viable alternative to using cubes to hold the sides together. These can be reused when the wood rots. My bottleneck for raised beds has always been long reclaimed boards (I want 3.5-4m long ones), but this modular approach can work too and when making rows of these, 1.2m is a good width. It should generally be better to make rows South-North, rather than East-West, because both sides of the longer raised bed will get similar amounts of sun that way.

[@santiagofantoni2643]

I found friendly nails once, was such a nice expirience. I will never forget those guys.

[@lucyswannsunsafespace7313]

This 😂

[@hellsbellez]

RIP Paul Conquering Bear, my baby made me several of these years ago when he was still alive. Wonderful repurposing of pallets!

[@acousticnewbie3861]

Thank you! Needed to make bed for my allotment using free pallets. My favourite youtuber!

[@Pete.Ty1]

Hello Huw I have watched 1 video where instead of using a dedicated pallet splitter they took an old garden fork which had a bend tine. The tine was cut away using a hand grinder which left a gap in the fork wide enough to fit over the bottom stringer board and lever against the top slat board. Seemed to work quite well for them. Best wishes, Pete.

[@dmw2909]

I'm just starting a veg garden with raised beds, I'm planning and creating it now for next Spring. I've asked for both your books for christmas. Fingers crossed Santa brings them. Great videos, I'm slowly working through them from the start. Keep up great work.

[@2learn4ever]

Just to say thanks for this video. My hubby made his first ever raised bed and it looks a treat! We discovered he really needed the pallet buster tool 'cos what he had wasn't good enough and was hard work. A lot easier with the right tool. Might get him to make a second one now! :-D

[@kath-phlox]

This is the kind of video we like, a real help one that's easy to follow

[@CuriosityCaravan]

I love how you do everything with bare hands. Who so afraid of the splinter? Lol not you. ALS no glasses. I felt your method was the best of all I have seen. Thank you for this.

[@CuriosityCaravan]

Omg I just subbed and realized this other guy I watch for gardening stuff is you. Just older lol. You looked so innocent here and now look mature. lol thank you this is my fav pallet raised bed vid. Thx!

[@beautifuldecorating]

Book pre-ordered! Can’t wait. This is perfect timing for me. I don’t have much room or time to grow at home but this vid plus your book will hopefully bring me some success this year. I have a couple of wrecking bars too, they are great and make light work of this type of thing, but if people want to know you can get a variety of these starting from £6 ish (little ones but still worth a try) big ones £25ish from Screwfix and Toolstation. Toolstation free delivery over £10. Screwfix you have to spend over £50 for free delivery or a fiver if you spend less. I know it’s not cheap but still cheaper than buying beds and they are great tools to have. I’m always really careful where I store them so I’m not arming a thief that may get into my shed a way to get into other sheds or houses!

[@bookendkidproductions6156]

It's a very labour intensive process but so worth the effort in the end. My dad has been building with pallets since before I was born. So, over 18 years. We just found a new on-going source.

[@ecomarinebd]

I listened to the recommendations from the ducks probably 10 times in a row!

[@bushpushersdaughter]

Fabulous use for pallets! I must say your pallets look better than any pallet I have ever received. Will be trying this, though. Thank you so much!

[@MsWatchdog]

I've watched many channels and this guy has made it look so dam easy and with very little effort, I will definitely try this, one thing I learned if anyone is on a budget it's better to go on a channel with a young kid on, they're most likely to make something with zero money!

[@alfwaibel4773]

Concern to the "feet" of the pallet - which you are using for the corners: You will face a serious problem. There are two types of used material for the feet - one is massive wood - which you could use easily, but second, and that´s what you have here - they are made of pressed sawdust with some glue component, which is not water proof. So when they are getting wet, they are instantly crumble into saw dust. Just to mention that. For the bent nails: Just use a hammer and make them straight for to reuse them. :) Beside of that - fantastic design, great idea and very skilled done! Just an additional suggestion from my experience: It´s always a good idea to use some strengthening from the inside, from wall to wall - either a strong wire, additional posts or similar. Soil, especially when wet, is a very heavy medium and can push out the walls very easy. In the end, all the walls can be bulged out without support from the inside (or maybe wih additional supporting posts from the outside, hammered into the ground.

[@HuwRichards]

Crumble into sawdust? Mine is still standing strong, watch my 17 hacks video as an example :)

[@Wings91]

Thanks Huw for such a great video, practical and educational. Watching it for the third time, while triumphantly pulling apart 3 crates, What a wonderful sound that first crack and creak of the first nail pulling out the board! (I had to saw the first two, I was so disappointed, but the third one provided that very satisfying creak, and going very successfully!)

[@rootofthevineurbangardens1823]

Building a new bed for my garden this year and my job had lots of pallets... thanks for the video💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

I was just about to mention the HT logo --- then I saw your comment! Nice bed. Steve

[@lailalovesdan]

Thank you so much for you video. My husband has tons of pallets at work so he’ll bring some home for me Monday and I’ll start this project. Can’t wait!

[@FRED-dq8jf]

Be careful. These wood could be treated. Don’t use it for vegetable plant

[@sheilaclerkin2238]

I remember salvaging timbers in exactly this way, back in the mid 70's. When my Dad was putting a veg garden in at the time as oil prices sky rocketed. All the jars of nails and screws lined up. Very satisfying work for a child 😂

[@JohnElHanafi]

This is a brilliant idea of using recycled pallets unto a more sustainable living; we've been gardening for years and it's incredibly therapeutic for us all! Kudos to your success, Richards! ~John El Hanafi

[@cindyb5947]

Thank you so much for this video I’m saving about $120 in raised beds by doing this. Can’t wait to share how they’ll look in the spring time

[@mooieplaats]

Thank you for this video. Not only you reuse a natural material, which is recyclable, and you save money. Greetings, Ingrid, Norway.

[@shubadooba7454]

Excellent video, you have a great way of breaking things down and explaining to beginners. This is gonna help a lot of people in the next two months quickly create planting space

[@erhanfindik2320]

Thank you for the video. It is a perfect guide for a beginner who isn't very handy at these kind of works. Showing all the details helps a lot.

[@MandaFox76]

Thank you so much! I have watched so many videos on how to make garden beds from pallets. And this by far is the easiest and most effetive by far!

[@txranchmom]

Heck yes im inspired! AHHH! Im so excited!!! And possibly over caffeinated but it's all good!!!

[@gardenboots7464]

Yes please, to making a video on just spitting pallets! I keep watching this one :) very satisfying. You are on track with your video content!

[@moder_nord2475]

Tiny tip: Wet the pallet first (let it sit for a while), then the boards tend to split less when you remove them! 😊

[@philipcrewe540]

Well done, what great idea, I’ve got some to make Monday, but I’ve got plenty of pallets, but you give me lots to think about

[@sunbugg]

I absolutely love this and I really love the simplicity of it all. Thank you!!!

[@rawlingeek1]

great video, you nailed it :)

[@gurbhalla]

Great work done on the same , just one thing as is major concerned if you can get free pallets from food store or simpler make it easy that they good to grow vegetables , as you eat them and even flowers

[@nancytabor8302]

I am moving and putting in a garden against advice of others they think I will have trouble keeping what I grow from others. I want to make beds like these and plant extras for a kind of front yard free tomatoes etc. knowing how to build out of pallets will really help!!

[@trishsykes449]

FINALLY - a great way to build raised beds without super-duper (💰💰💰💰💰) chop saws and the like! Thank you so much, Huw!

[@lovecara1]

This is great I am just getting the key for a plot on an allotment tomorrow so this video is excellent, Thanks for sharing.

[@mygripe]

I just made a mini "raised bed" with a split area for compost.

[@GavriloPewPew]

Do you have a video? That sounds brilliant

[@mrmojo4989]

Speaking of pallets. I live in the city (Chicago) and am considering ways of starting an urban farm. There are SO MANY developers that are just sitting on vacant land for future sale or developments. My idea was to have a mobile urban farm and provide a sort of custodial service to the developers, grow produce at a profit for my effort, and be able to pick up and relocate if/when the land changed hands. My idea (so as to NOT reinvent the wheel) was to make raised beds out of pallets. This way, with just a pallet-jack, I can rearrange them on the property when needed; or load them on to a truck for relocation. I want them to be wheel chair height so I can employee disabled people. I imagine I can make one bed out of every 3 or four pallets. I'd use one for the base, take wood from the others to make the sides, and use the supports from those to reinforce the main base. Since pallets are typically 48" I imagine the first 30" can be the 'in-ground' production bed, the back of the pallet-bed can be built up to provide a trellis (using even more pallet wood or something lighter) for veining crops; and herbs can possibly be planted in whatever leftover space is in between. Only thing is, I don't know if I should use a giant grow bag inside, or if the sides can be built up well enough to support the inside pressure of the dirt and water. I've calculated that 7 of these in a row would be just over the length of a standard 25 foot bed. Perhaps you could give it a try? At the very least you'll get some content out of it.

[@jeandrebuitendag337]

Love the idea. Thank you very much for sharing your brilliant planter. We'll definitely make a few of those.

[@thesecretslimmer]

They look fantastic and it's a great idea. I think I would add some metal strips to the corners to reinforced it.

[@ZZH1986]

Cool man! I already broke down all my pallets and was trying to think of what I could do with them outside. Mine are all randomly assorted so I'm going to paint and seal them, then line the inside with a barrier cloth or food safe plastic to make them last.

[@sisirajayawardene7863]

Great video as always.Many thanks for your valuable time and attention.Your channel does makes a big difference in Natural organic farming and life style.

[@DoubleQz]

Thanks for the tutorial on making raised bed. Great presentation.

[@elizabethworley7073]

Of the various tutorials on this topic, I find this video to be the easiest to understand and least stressful.

[@lavenderfae8585]

I have your book Veg in One Bed and am hoping to create raised beds for my garden but need all the tools as well. Really want to start growing my own. Thank you for sharing your valuable knowledge 🙏

[@sherry1674w]

thank you for doing this video...makes me think that just maybe i will be able to do this in my garden....since I have been desiring to have raised beds...(I can dream can't I?)

[@HomeLifeAus]

Thank you Huw for sharing your version of making a raised bed with pallets.

[@HuwRichards]

My pleasure! :)

[@skyhigheagleer6]

Please make sure that you use pallet's that you know the history of. Lots of pallets are used for chemical transportation and should not be reused

[@eveoriordan305]

ArcticCareBear is there any way of cleaning it first or something?

[@skyhigheagleer6]

@@eveoriordan305 I don't believe so, as even sanding would result in airborne particles of contaminates if the pallet has that origin

[@eveoriordan305]

ArcticCareBear ohh ok thank you but I think I’m still going to make something similar mainly because so many people have done it and it didn’t affect them so 🤷‍♀️

[@elephantsong7782]

@@eveoriordan305 thats a very ignorant viewpoint,Eve..The pesticides and insecticides used to treat pallets might not cause you to drop dead immediately but it can surely affect yr health.Imagine having a spoonful of pesticides for dinner once a fortnight.Anyway,if u insist on using them,look for the HT,KN or DB logo and STAY AWAY if it has the letters MB on them

[@eveoriordan305]

@@elephantsong7782 thanks for the advise but all I’m trying to say is that loads of people have made raised bass from wood and I didn’t seem to cause that much damage by the look of it . Sorry if I came across rude the first time 😅

[@tigpot]

Perfect. Just the information I needed for starting my first allotment. I’ve also just ordered your book from Amazon. Thank you.

[@patriciarussell8450]

Got pallet buster today getting pallets this week, thanks for the ideas and tips, you are awesome.

[@katherinerhee6025]

You are adorable and your video was so very helpful! (Our US pallets are a tiny bit different with twisted "fas-n-tite" nails that are miserable to try and remove manually.) Definitely going to do this project and look into your gardening book! Thank you!

[@selinahoulden516]

Brilliant video I have an allotment and have always wanted to have a go at making these,this video makes it luck to simple to make them,ill definitely be having a go at making them

[@lorenarios3946]

I got a lot of palets that my husband brought home going to make a few myself thanks for helpful tips

[@Mo-mr8vv]

Thank you so much for this video! I think I can handle this on my own and not have to bug my hubby! This is the year I get raised beds! 🙌🏻 so glad to have found your channel! 🙌🏻🌱🇺🇸

[@James-mv9qx]

I love how KZbin struggles to automatically subtitle you're videos due to the accent, in one of your other videos, "orchard" became "hawk shirt" ;) Another great video mate, cheers from a pom down under

[@almarebelde9483]

Best video thus far... I just picked up pallets for raised bed project... thanks for the tips ❤

[@HuwRichards]

Awhh thank you so much!

[@almarebelde9483]

@@HuwRichards you're welcome! It is 7:38pm my way and boy my hands hurt! I had hammer and the bar... certainly a mans job lol... but I did it! Thanks again...

[@HuwRichards]

Hey nothing like getting stuck into it!!:) I hope you grow some lovely food in it!

[@Techknowdude]

If you want a very low cost eco friendly way of preserving the wood for longer you can use the Japanese method of shou sugi ban. Essentially you char the wood and it helps to seal it from the elements and deters pests and other things that break down the wood. I use a propane torch for weed control to char my boards and it works very quickly.

[@gabriellamckinley3495]

Excellent video. I can't wait to get my hands dirty building mine 😁

[@pnoysuede]

did in fact start my raised beds using old pallets few years ago. they still are intact and with minor repairs.

[@trishoakeswinners7313]

This is brilliant, exactly what I was looking for! Thank you!

[@houstone2k11]

Dude thank you so much! You just saved me so much money with this.

[@paulormsby316]

Great video. Make sure you use HT ( heat treated ) only. They aren't treated with chemicals.

[@meghanwalker8865]

I’m excited to try this. I wanted to this as I’m not super confident with power saws and this is pre cut wood to me! I have to figure out a way to do a cover to prevent deer 🦌 and rabbits 🐇 eating my veggies 🌽 then it will by perfect.

[@anniemorgan2979]

love this! Did you stain or add a finish to yours? Just built mine but worried about weather deteriorating the wood. What non-chemical stains can I use?

[@adronlamb9334]

Boiled linseed oil. Made from flaxseed and available at any hardware or paint store

[@lauriescott6564]

great video, making one this spring, thanks for sharing

[@twerpantine]

I use a small jigger pick to dismantle pallets, so quick and easy

[@guyh.4553]

Nice use for the spacer blocks! May I make ONE small suggestion for pallet dismantling? As you have a hammer, USE IT FOR DISMANTLING!!! Ha ha ha! Plus move the middle block up to the top or your soil will start to fall out over time.

[@debrahunter8343]

I have tools galore but I would prefer to do it simply as green as possible and better yet free! Thank you for doing everything from scratch🙋‍♀️

[@andreabrew90]

Another great video! While watching I felt as though I was part of the building :-) Look forward to your others. Keep going. You are an inspiration!

[@50shadesofgreen]

awesome job Huw !! and if you line the bed with old compost bags it will lat even longer

[@marco_sharp]

Brilliant! Thanks for the tips. Will make mine this Saturday!

[@muly1725]

Thats a quick and easy raised bed, I got plenty of pallets. Thanks and cheers!

[@Lord-Mikael-Stone]

Wish I wouldve found you earlier in the year and will definitely be purchasing your new book tomorrow. As thought veg in one bed was great

[@yolover111]

So dope what you can make free with pallets holy crap

[@BenniLkitchengarden]

Great video. I use pallet collars as raised beds. I put 2 and 3 in height.

[@alekxa90]

Excellent video. Thanks for sharing the whole process. Now I need to muster the courage to tackle this!

[@ThePatrick42044]

Those square blocks are called spacers.

[@1toshi32]

Really good video. Explained in detail and good for us dummies.

[@ziera8382]

This method definitely looks easier than other methods. Thanks!

[@pamelabrown3942]

I love this my angel. Trying to build mine. I wish UK ou could come to dallas

[@JH-xh6gn]

Could the sides be lined to preserve against the moist soil?

[@prassy82]

thanks Huw for this video. i was able to build 4ftx10ft bed out of 2 pallets following this. im waiting for your book to arrive cant wait to start

[@TheMag625]

Great video!!! This comes very handy as my son's school is planning a sensory garden with very limited budget, this is a great idea to get raised beds, thanks xxx

[@CluelessHomesteaders]

I have some raised beds for veg in thicker wood, but think I’ll make a couple of these for flowers, we can easily get free pallets here...

[@TheNorafee]

its 5 years ago but it helps me today...

[@thepsychicrose777]

Will the rusty nails not be bad for the soil??