Some old Euro pallets become creative patio furniture or rustic balcony boxes in their second life. Hobby gardeners with a penchant for upcycling simply convert pallets into stable cold frames. This guide explains how the magical transformation works.
How do I build a cold frame from pallets?
To build a cold frame from pallets, you need 4 Euro pallets, screws, nails, chisels, jigsaw and hammer. Move the outer wooden feet of two pallets inwards, form a rectangular frame and fill the cold frame with leaves, horse manure, garden soil and compost.
Material and tool list
You will need the following materials and tools to convert Euro pallets into a frame for a cold frame:
- 4 pallets
- Screws and nails
- Chisels
- Jigsaw
- Hammer
As a cover, you will later screw an old wooden window onto the pallet frame with a hinge so that you can ventilate the cold frame regularly.
Step-by-step instructions – How to do it right
So that the 4 Euro pallets form a rectangular cold frame box, the outer wooden feet on 2 pallets are moved inwards. Here's how to do it professionally:
- Place 2 pallets upside down on the floor
- Saw the outer wooden block feet from the crossbars
- Lift out the feet with the chisel
- Knocking nails with a hammer
- Push the sawn wooden blocks inwards under the crossbars and screw them together
In the final step of assembly, place all 4 pallets upright so that they form a closed frame. Use screws to connect all side panels together.
Finish and fill the pallet cold frame – this is how it works
The special advantage of a cold frame made of Euro pallets is that you don't have to dig for the warming filling. Cover the wooden box with weatherproof foil and carry it to a sunny location in the garden. Line the designated space with vole wire and place the self-made pallet cold frame on it.
First fill the bed 10 cm high with leaves. Add a 20 cm thick layer of horse manure on top, followed by a 20 cm thick layer of garden soil and compost. Finally, attach the cover and close the cold frame for 1 to 2 weeks. After this time, the decomposition process of the filling has generated the ideal heat for the first seeds and plants.
Tip
With the right filling as a heat source, the planting season in your garden lasts well into autumn. You can sow lettuce and radishes here in September/October, which will give you a vitamin-rich, crisp, fresh harvest in November.
