Three Creative Herb Gardens for the Porch, Window or Wall
July 12, 2017
| STORY BY
JULIE SIMMONDS
| PHOTOGRAPHY BY
TARA CHATTELL
Recycled jars or cans make quick, small herb garden containers, or hang a shoe pocket organizer with soil and plants.
An herb garden is a delicious way to keep your body, mind and cooking healthy. Since herbs don’t need pesticides to keep critters away, tending to your herb garden is easy, fun and organic. We’ve put together three creative ways to make a simple herb garden for your back porch, window or wall.
1. Recycled Jars
Reuse old mason jars on old barn board for a shabby chic wall-hanging garden. Mark the spots you want your plants to hang from with chalk. Using screws, attach metal pipe clamps to the board. Insert jars and tighten clamps. Fill jars with rock and soil. Plant herbs. Affix chalkboard labels.
Materials
- Mason jars
- Rocks (for drainage in the bottom of the jar)
- Potting soil
- Herb plants
- Barn board or wooden plank
- Metal pipe clamps
- Screws & screwdriver or drill
- Chalk labels & chalk
2. Shoe Organizer
Plant your herbs in individual pockets of a hanging cotton shoe organizer. Fill each pocket with moisture retaining soil. Make cute labels from scrapbooking paper and plastic nametag covers.
Materials
- Hanging cotton shoe organizer
- Potting soil
- Herb plants
- Plastic nametag covers & pins
- Paper & marker to label the herbs
3. Recycled Cans
Create a simple window garden with recycled cans. Use rocks to create a little bed at the bottom of each can. Fill with soil and transplant your herbs. Label with a paper tag, attach with twine.
Materials
- Recycled cans with labels removed
- Rocks
- Potting soil
- Screws
- Herb plants
- Paper tags, twine and marker
Container Garden Tips
- Source herb plants such as basil, cilantro, rosemary, thyme or sage at your local garden centre. Many grocery stores offer a garden centre as well.
- If potting containers do not have existing drainage or are breathable, then include a rock bed at the bottom to help drain excess water. Only a half-inch of rock is needed.
- Fill your containers to one-inch below the top with moisture-rich potting soil.
- Use wide-mouth mason jars for large pregrown herbs.
- For the shoe organizer garden, place a small plant underneath to catch water run-off.
- Water the plants from top to bottom, creating a waterfall effect.
