Turn Old Tree Stumps And A Wood Pallet Into A Beautiful Garden Planter Box

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Have you been clearing trees off your property recently? Perhaps a storm has left you with a yard full of stumps. You're probably wondering what to do with all these remnants. Stumps make great firewood, sure, but they can also be used to create an attractive and practical garden planter box. For example, this brilliant HGTV DIY repurposes an old tree stump into an adorable planter by hollowing it out. Of course, this uses just one stump and only fits a few plants. If you have more than one stump, there's an arguably easier — and super cute — option. Border a wood pallet with half stumps and fill it with soil to make a raised bed. Because your plants aren't growing in the ground, this gardening style makes it easier to control weeds, pests, and disease. Plus, water drains away quickly, preserving your plant's roots.

You'll need to manually remove the stumps from the ground to preserve their shape. Dig around the stump with a shovel to expose the roots. Cut the roots using loppers or a hand saw. Roll the loose stump out of the hole or pull it out using a hand winch. You'll also need a pallet, either upcycled or new. Build your own pallet using this Greaton Unassembled Heavy-Duty Pinewood Pallet Kit for about $46. If you're using a used pallet, keep in mind the precautions to take when using wooden pallets for your outdoor DIYs. Some pallets are coated with harmful chemicals. Get a few bags of good quality garden soil — a 40-pound bag of Garden Magic Organic Potting Top Soil Blend costs about $24 — and a roll of Petgrow Heavy-Duty Landscape Fabric. Toolwise, you'll need a hand saw, chainsaw, or axe to split the stumps and an electric drill.

These planter boxes are impossible to move easily once set up, so determine where you want them to go before doing anything else. You could build this compact planter box in an area of your yard that's too small for a traditional garden. For example, not sure how to use your side yard? This is a simple idea to liven up your space. If you have tons of stumps, create rows of planter boxes for a robust vegetable garden that fills a large backyard. Don some protective gear, including safety goggles, heavy boots, and gloves, and cut the stumps in half lengthwise. Determine how tall you'd like your planter boxes to be — at least twice the height of your pallet is ideal — and trim the half-stumps to size. Lay your pallet in place on the ground.

Line the cut stumps around the edge of the pallet. Screw lengths of scrap wood to the inside perimeter of the logs to hold the border in place. Line the inside of your new planter box with landscape fabric, screwing or stapling it in place. Now all that's left to do is fill your raised bed with soil and your preferred plants. You can use your garden as is or improve its functionality with some smart approaches. For example, installing a simple PVC piping DIY raised bed watering system will keep your plants hydrated all year round. You could also experiment with companion planting, where beneficial plants are grown next to one another, or use a Snurfado Seed Spacer Tool for Square Foot Gardens to make the most of the small space.