Make This Simple Garden Gate for Around $20

While creating our small garden last year we found that it was necessary to put up a fence to keep the dogs out of the garden. That means we needed a secure garden gate to get in and out of the area.

At first our gate (and fence) had green plastic material as the covering, but this proved to be way too easy for the dogs to punch through. As soon as the neighbor’s dog barked, they would charge right through it. I ended up placing chairs in front of it until we could come up with something more secure.

The answer was right in front of us – take apart a pallet and use the planks for the re-worked gate.

This is how we made a simple garden gate for about $20. It might not win any style awards, but it’s functional and frugal. Two important factors for my garden creation.

Materials Needed for Your DIY Garden Gate:

• // 9 feet of 1.5 inch PVC pipe, cut into 3 – 36” lengths
• // 8 feet of 1.5 inch PVC pipe, cut into 4 – 24” lengths
• // 2 – 45 degree corner bends
• // 4 T connectors
• // 2 – 4 foot metal T posts
• // 8 wood planks for a pallet – each 4 feet long
• // PVC Pipe Glue and applicator
• // 10 feet of galvanized wire
• // 5 inch screws
• // Screw gun

Directions:

1. Cut the 9 feet PVC pipe into 3- 3 foot lengths.

2. Cut the 8 feet PVC pipe into 4 – 2 foot lengths.

3. First you will put the gate together without adding the PVC Pipe Glue.

4. Make the end that will go over the T-Post by connecting 2 – 2 foot sections with a T connector in the middle. Add another T connector at the top and bottom.

Make the end that will swing open by connecting 2 – 2 foot sections with a T connector in the middle. Add a 45 degree corner bend at the top and bottom.

Lay out the sides and join them together with the 3 – 3 foot lengths. 

Make sure that the gate lays flat and adjust as needed.

Take each piece apart and add PVC Pipe glue to all the connections, inside and out. Make sure that you are putting it back together so the gate will lay flat again. This glue sets quickly, in about 2 minutes. After that you will not be able to make adjustments.

From GardenWeb: “The act of gluing PVC is not really gluing. When you glue something you apply a product that adheres to the surface of both pieces and provides a filler material between the pieces. Technically speaking, the method of joining PVC should properly be called “Chemical Welding”.

The primer cleans the contact surfaces of both the pipe & fitting and it chemically removes the smooth glazed finish of the PVC exposing the inner core material. The Glue then melts the inner core material of both the pipe and fitting and both the pipe and fitting are fused together into one solid mass.

As the two materials fuse together they will achieve approximately 80% hardness in 5 minutes, 90% hardness within the first hour and it takes 24 hours to achieve 100% hardness.”

How does this garden gate swing? The side with the three t-connectors goes over the T-Post, allowing it to swing freely.

Attach the Wood Planks

Now you have a garden gate that any dog can walk though, it’s time to cover it. You could use chicken wire or a strong piece of fencing and attach it with wire. We needed extra strength and decided to use a pallet we acquired for free.

Lay the planks over one side of the gate so that they are evenly distributed with equal gaps at the top and in-between. This will make your gate aesthetically pleasing to look at. If the planks are long enough to touch each cross piece, you’re good to go. Attach each plank with a two screws at the top, middle, and bottom.

If the planks do not reach each cross piece begin by aligning them at the bottom and then place two screws at the bottom and in the middle of each plank so they are secure.

Place the gate on the T-post or stand it upright. Take a long length of galvanized wire and bend it in half around the side with the 3 t-connectors. Wrap the wire around each piece in a figure 8, going over, then under each plank until you get to the swing end. Make a loop to go around the second T-post so the gate won’t swing in the wind.

You’re done! You have a functional DIY garden gate for your yard. If you want to dress it up a bit, take a look at these pallet painting ideas found on my Frugal Life Pinterest Board. I’m going for one of  the daisy designs!