2. Repurposed Pallet Privacy Trellis
If you love a good upcycling project, a pallet trellis is hard to beat. Wooden pallets are often free from local businesses, and they already have the slatted structure you need. With a little disassembly (or sometimes not even that), you can build a fence that looks rustic, charming, and wonderfully imperfect.
Materials: 3 to 5 wooden pallets in good condition, 2×4 boards for the frame and support posts, exterior wood screws, sandpaper, and outdoor wood stain or paint.
Time: About 4 to 6 hours once the pallets are ready.
Difficulty: Beginner. The hardest part is usually prying the pallets apart without splitting the wood.
Look for pallets stamped with “HT” (heat-treated) rather than “MB” (methyl bromide), since the latter is treated with chemicals you don’t want in your garden. Carefully remove the nails, sand the boards down to knock off splinters, and arrange them vertically between two horizontal 2×4 rails. You can leave gaps between the slats for a more open feel or butt them tight for a solid privacy wall.
This style pairs beautifully with container gardens, sunflowers, or climbing beans. If you want to lean into the farmhouse look, leave the wood raw or whitewash it. For a brighter pop of color, paint the slats in alternating shades of sage, cream, and terracotta.