DIY Herb Garden: Container Ideas for Beginners
Here is a simple planter that you can make yourself and keep or gift to a friend. You can get the kids involved with this one too!
Herb Garden Necessary Materials
- Container
- Herbs, variety
- Flowers
- Ribbon
- Potting Soil
- Moss
I used an oblong container that had drainage holes. Baskets can be used too just make sure to line them with plastic and to place something under them to catch the water.
To customize this, add herbs that you or the gift recipient cook with. I used Basil, Rosemary and Parsley. These can be purchased at garden stores or nurseries. They come in a variety of sizes and prices.
Herb Garden DIY Steps
- Make sure you start with a clean container that has drainage holes in the bottom. If yours does not, then depending on the container, you can drill a few holes in the bottom. If you are using a good container that you would like to keep, then line it with plastic to help protect it.
- Fill the container 3/4 full with potting soil.
- Take your herbs out of their original container and break the bottom of the plants a little to allow for growth and place them into the soil burying them up to the crown of the plant. This is how deep they were in the original container. Do this with the flowers as well.
Make sure that after all the plants are in the container that you cover all the plants up to their crowns with soil. - Water the plants well (it's a given).
- Tuck moss in and around the plants covering the soil. This helps in maintaining moisture for the plants and it is also eye pleasing.
- Tie a ribbon around the container.
This can be kept in the kitchen for easy access or on the patio for the cook to grab. Remember, the beauty about herbs is the more you use the bigger they grow.
DIY or PAY Comparison
$12 Plants
$0.50 Potting Soil
$0 Container, Ribbon and Moss (already had on hand)
The total was just $12.50 since I had other materials on hand. That's a 50% savings since this would easily cost $25 or more at the store.
Have you made your own live herb garden?
PrintMake Your Own Live Herb Garden
Ingredients
- Container
- Herbs, variety
- Flowers
- Ribbon
- Potting Soil
- Moss
Instructions
- Make sure you start with a clean container that has drainage holes in the bottom. If yours does not, then depending on the container, you can drill a few holes in the bottom. If you are using a good container that you would like to keep, then line it with plastic to help protect it.
- Fill the container 3/4 full with potting soil.
- Take your herbs out of their original container and break the bottom of the plants a little to allow for growth and place them into the soil burying them up to the crown of the plant. This is how deep they were in the original container. Do this with the flowers as well.
Make sure that after all the plants are in the container that you cover all the plants up to their crowns with soil. - Water the plants well (it's a given).
- Tuck moss in and around the plants covering the soil. This helps in maintaining moisture for the plants and it is also eye pleasing.
- Tie a ribbon around the container.
I keep a pot on my deck with oregano and basil. I’m going to add parsley, cilantro and a few others into our summer garden as well. We have herbs at our local Walmart nursery that are less expensive and lot longer lasting than the cut versions you buy for recipes in the produce department. :)
Some herbs are easy to grow from seed – parsley, chives, and cilantro come to mind, specifically. If you grow by planting seeds vs. buying plants, you may be able to save some additional costs as well as have the opportunity to grow lots of a particular herb! Others like rosemary and thyme you’d be smartest to just buy the plant.
I think your presentation above would make a really lovely hostess or Mothers’ Day gift! Super cute!