Upcycled container herb garden made easy
Growing an herb garden can be done quite easily if you have a yard, patio, balcony or a window. With these tips you too can easily create an upcycled container herb garden anywhere.
Do you desire to grow your own herbs but do not have the space or time for traditional herb gardening? Looking for ways to cut down on your grocery bill? Today I am going to show you just how easy it is to upcycle a container for an easy small scale herb garden.
Today I am joining a group of talented friends sharing their diy containers.
Thank you to Kippi at Kippi At Home, for putting this together.
Have a small space and need more ideas for container flower gardening? This is all the inspiration you need.
Why grow an herb garden in a container?
The definition of herb is “any plant with leaves, seeds or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume.”
Growing an herb garden is frankly one of the easiest, low maintenance and most prolific ways to begin your gardening journey.
You do not need to be a master gardener to grow a beautiful, bountiful herb garden.
They do not need much room to grow and can grow virtually in any pot or container.
Having your own herb garden is a great way to save money by harvesting at home.
Harvesting your own herbs is inexpensive and can be preserved for later use in several different ways.
If you are a renter or have a small space, an herb container garden is perfect solution.
Not only are they wonderful in the kitchen, they are beautiful, fragrant plants.
Some herbs serve as natural pest repellents which helps them be more resistant.
These are just a few of the benefits and reasons to plant a container herb garden.
What herbs do best in containers?
You may be curious about which herbs to best in container.
Though herbs are easy to grow, there are ones that are best suited for containers.
You should consider which herbs you will actually use once harvested.
Here is a list of those that do best:
- Basil
- Chives
- Cilantro
- Cumin
- Dill
- Mint
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Thyme
Before you choose which nerbs you are planting you need to know what will do well if planted together.
Some herbs need different sunlight and watering, so it is good to know these things prior to planting.
Basil,oregano,rosemary,sage and thyme prefer dryer conditions and have shallow roots ideal for container gardening.
While cilantro, cumin, dill and parsley prefer cooler weather and moist soil.
Mint will literally overtake your container so it may be best to plant it alone in a separate container.
Choosing your upcycled container
In my rental yard there are two raised beds but when I really looked at one for the herb garden I realized it was not in good shape and would take more money than I wanted to spend here.
So I decided on a budget gardening idea.
Herb gardens can be grown in the ground like traditional gardens, raised beds, pots or containers.
Take into consideration the time you have to devote to your herb garden and the space you have.
Even though I have a large yard, it is a rental and I did not want to invest a ton of money in something that is not mine.
Also in the past when I have planted herbs in my traditional garden some of them over took the garden because I did not plan well.
Shopping my garage for anything that could be used for an herb garden, I came across two large oval, galvanized tubs that were once used for parties to hold beverages.
Some items that you may have that would make great upcycled containers and easy diy gardening for your budget herb garden:
- galvanized containers of varying sizes
- old whiskey barrel cut in half
- old galvanized buckets
- large wooden containers
- old large baskets
Be sure when choosing your container that it is at least a foot deep and a foot wide to allow for growth.
These are perfect for an upcycled container herb garden with just a little prep.
Prepping your container
Now that you have decided on your container there is some prep work in order to assure that your herbs will have the best chance at growth.
Step One:
Because you are using something not traditionally made for gardening you must first add drainage holes to your container.
Use a drill to make the holes unless you are like me and can not find your drill bits, use a hammer and a screwdriver to gently make holes.
Place your holes at least three inches apart, creating at least four drainage holes or more depending on the size of your container.
Step Three:
Place a barrier of some kind at the bottom of the container to keep the soil from washing out when watering. This can be done with a weed barrier cloth, rocks or a simple coffee filter.
Step Four:
Time to fill your container with soil. The soil I decided to use was Miracle Grow Garden Soil, made for vegetables and herb gardening.
You can choose which every type of soil you want to use for your container and your area.
Some people prefer to make their own mix containing, sterile garden soil, compost and peat moss or coconut coir and other additives as needed.
Step Five:
Time to plant those herbs, being sure to plant your taller herbs at least four to six per square feet and flowering herbs one to two per square feet.
If you plant your herbs closer together they will require more maintenance by harvesting them more frequently.
Once planted be sure to water regularly and consistently.
Herbs do not like to sit in water so try not to over water.
A good tip is to stick your finger into the dirt to see if it feels wet or dry. If it is dry, water and if it feels wet, hold off for a day or so and check again.
Thoughts on your diy gardening
Growing herbs in an upcycled container is the perfect thing considering budget and small spaces. Everyone, even a beginner can benefit from the harvest you glean from your little herb garden.
If you truly are new to gardening here are some resources you will need.
This little upcycled container herb garden made easy shows that even with no experience anyone can become a gardener.
To continue on your gardening journey, here are some ideas for creating flower beds in small spaces.
Be sure to visit my friends below for more inspiration for your containers.
Kippi at Home is sharing her beautiful painted flower pots.
From Farmhouse to Florida is sharing her whimsical wheelbarrow garden accent.
My Family Thyme is showing how to plant succulents in a shell.
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Till next time
Xoxo
Sonya
