DIY Project: Cascading Pallet Wall

By Delilah Onofrey, Suntory Flowers

If you have wooden pallets and are handy with power tools, you can create a rustic wall of flowers by planting and mounting window boxes. DGI Propagators, one of our partner growers in Michigan, did just that to obscure an electrical fixture on their property.

They mounted three tiers of window boxes and planted them with our trailing Lofos Wine Red lophospermum plants and denim blue scaevola fan flowers. The bottom two rows of window boxes were mounted and the very top were boxes that sit on a rail.

This project looks simple, but how do you make the wall secure? I gathered the following expert tips along with recommended tools and supplies:

Essential power tools

• Cordless drill/driver: For drilling pilot holes and driving screws. A variable‑speed model gives better control on soft wood.
• Impact driver (optional): Great if you’re using long screws or lag bolts for heavy boxes.
• Circular saw or jigsaw: To trim pallet boards or cut reinforcement pieces.
• Orbital sander: Smooth rough edges before mounting boxes.

 Hardware and fasteners

• Exterior‑grade screws (2½–3 in)
• Galvanized brackets or shelf supports
• Washers for extra grip
• Optional: lag bolts for heavy planters

Mounting window boxes

• Use heavy-duty brackets: Choose galvanized or powder-coated steel L‑brackets rated for outdoor use. Attach them to the pallet’s vertical slats with exterior screws.
• Mount two L‑brackets per box, spaced so they align with the strongest vertical pallet slats.
• Place brackets 2–3 inches in from each end of the window box for stability.
• If your boxes are heavy or deep, add a third center bracket or a small support shelf under each box.
• Drill pilot holes first to prevent splitting.
• Use a level to align boxes evenly.
• Add reinforcement boards: If your pallet slats are thin, screw a 1×4 or 2×4 board horizontally behind the slats where each box will mount. This gives you a solid anchor point.
• Secure boxes from below: For deeper boxes, add a small shelf or angled brace underneath to prevent sagging.

Planting considerations

• Line boxes with landscape fabric to keep soil from washing out.
• Use lightweight potting mix — moisture‑retentive but airy.
• Water evenly: Drip irrigation or self‑watering inserts help keep upper boxes from drying out faster than lower ones.

 Placement tips

• Keep the pallet slightly tilted back (10–15°) for stability and better sun exposure.
• Anchor the base with concrete blocks or heavy planters if it’s freestanding.

DGI’s presentation made me marvel at the possibilities. Alternating spillers with semi-trailing fillers is perfect – like our Lofos and scaevolas. Most bedding plants make great fillers. Spiller choices include greenery like ivy or silvery dichondra. You don’t want plants that are too tall or upright – no thrillers. Save those for your patio planters.

Consider seasonal changeouts, even filling the boxes with greenery for the winter holidays. You can start with spring plants, like petunias. Switch to heat tolerant varieties and tropicals in the summer, like basket-style mandevilla/dipladenia and vinca.

The next time I get a pallet, I’m going to consider trying this on a smaller scale.

For more information and inspiration, visit suntorygardenclub.com.

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