Pallets for raised beds

[chris]

Hi folks,

Have moved into a new place, with a local farm shop selling old pallets at £2.50 each - bit expensive, as I've seen other places giving them away, or for literally next to nothing...but still, much cheaper than buying new wood - so I'm wanting to make some raised beds out of them.

My question is, what if they have been used to cart some possible toxic items around in the past, that may have seeped into the wood? Is it worth lining the inside of the wood with plastic, or something similar? I'm not too concerned about having to treat the wood, as I'm sure in a few years time I'd want to re-work the garden over a bit more anyway.

I'm guessing now would be a good time to do this, however, is now the time to fill the beds with soil/manure? If so, does it need covering then too?

Thanks!

[Bigmallly]

Hi Chris,
Have you ever tried to break up a pallet?....... They are made with pneumatic guns or something. Too much hard work for my liking. However I would put a little extra cash to & find a scaffolding company & see if they have any boards ready for throwing. Just an idea. Good luck mate.

[piskieinboots]

I know link-a-bord is a little more pricey but it does last for a heck of a long time, I have used them for several years now.

[zazen999]

Or decking...I've got pallets that have been ripped apart and:
a - the wood is a bit too thin
b - the wood can shatter as you wrestle with it

So I use them for other things on the plot - to house seed trays/cover the horseradish bed/weigh down cardboard. I wouldn't pay for them though...the money is better off on proper wood for the raised bed sides. Like decking [or wood from a reclaim yard]

[chris]

Hmm, not thought about the wear of them, and poss splitting them. Not adverse to some work to get them apart, I'll pop down and have a look.

The main thing is, we've just had a baby, so concerned about stuff leeching into the soil !

Shame I can't really use chipboard - I've a LOAD of chipboard floor boards in the garage which would have been ace if it were normal board

[zazen999]

Pallets are usually used to carry stuff that is already packaged; I can't say I've ever encountered them with stuff on them.

However, if you can do it then it's worth a try....but I gave up soon after I started.

[Bigmallly]

You could always use them to make a compost bin if you have the space.

[geoff]

Pallets are usually made nowadays with serrated nails or wire and are difficult to take apart. If you want to try, wear gloves and beg, steal, or buy an 18'' or 24'' crowbar, it will make it much easier

Pallets are used to transport prepackaged materials, and so sloudn't be contaminated;any spills should be obvious;if in doubt, don't use it

They seem a bit pricey though

[northepaul]

A sledgehammer is a good way to break up pallets...if you aim carefully that is

[chris]

popped to my local garden centre to see about greenhouses, mentioned I was after some pallets and the guy said they're happy to get rid of theirs anyway they can - so pop back after bonfire night (they've a load queued up to burn) and I can have whats left.. that's cool - as the stack to burn is hooooooooooooge already.

Am also thinking about using them for a compost bin, yep !

Had a good look at them, the wood is quite thick - and I guess from a garden centre they won't have been used to cart paint or what not around - seems its mostly pots and compost that were sitting on these particular pallets.

Didn't realise the nails were serrated -I'll pop out and buy a crowbar if I can't break them open with a lump hammer and bolster chisel

[jacob marley]

The easiest way to take pallets apart is to stand them on the edge and what i use is 2 or 3 home made wedges (made out of pallet wood)and drive themin the gap between top and bottom and they come apart very easy without wrecking to much wood...jacob

[chris]

Thanks for the tip, Jacob

[Jardiniere]

i have a little book called
"Build it with Pallets" by Joe Jacobs which i have found very useful...

[Sanjed]

i'm hoping to get that book for christmas fingers crossed.

pallets are hard work to take apart, but it can be done with a sturdy flathead screwdriver and a claw hammer if you're motivated enough. me and my friend took apart a couple the other day and i only managed to shatter 2 of the planks (admittedly one of them got a really good shattering after it annoyed me by splitting)

I'm planning to make a modular cold frame with mine, hopefully i should just be able to add layers to it to make it taller and will be able to move it easily when it's not being used.