Key Takeaways
- Create a stunning and functional herb garden with a spiral design using bricks or stones.
- Utilize a pallet to make an affordable and space-saving herb garden with multiple layers.
- Build raised herb boxes using concrete blocks for a trendy and sturdy DIY option.
The list of plants you could choose to grow in your garden is longer than you can imagine. With so many flowers, plants, edibles, and ornamental trees and shrubs to consider, you might forget about one garden essential: herbs! They smell amazing, they are commonly used in cuisine of all kinds, they attract butterflies, and can make your garden look even more beautiful than it already does.
Take your edible plants to the next level with incredible herb garden ideas and make your outdoor spaces into something gorgeous that will catch the eye of everybody who sees them.
1 The Winding Herbal Spiral
A spiral herb garden is great for small spaces
Growing herbs can be super exciting. With a bit of work, you can create an herbal spiral that will not only provide you with fresh herbs but also turn your garden into something interesting with a custom-built, permanent herb planter. Most spiral designs are made with bricks, but you don’t have to limit yourself only to that option. You can also use stones or any other materials you have at hand. After all, keep in mind that every design has to match your yard's existing style.
- Start with a base of stones, bricks, or the material you've chosen and place the guideline of the spiral first.
- Pay attention to the size of the spiral, ensuring there will be room for you to move around it. Consider the lawn mower, pets, and other equipment and creatures that may need to move around in the area when you're planning your outdoor herb garden ideas.
- Space plants at least 12 inches apart to keep the spiral garden from looking cluttered.
Add layers as you go around the spiral when placing stone, brick, or whatever material you're using to build the spiral and create the rise.
2 Design a Space Saving Pallet Garden
Make your own hanging garden
A herb garden doesn’t have to be expensive or take up a lot of space. If you have a limited budget and limited space, or both, the best option is to have a pallet herb garden. Depending on the size of your pallet, you can accommodate at least eight different herbs. You also don’t have to be a DIY expert to complete this herb garden idea project. Pallets are an easy DIY solution for herb container garden ideas.
- Choose a pallet in good condition and trim away any signs of rot or damage, if present.
- Remove boards as needed to create space for plants.
- Cut landscaping fabric to size so that it will fit down inside the pallet where you plan to grow herbs.
- Use a staple gun to secure the fabric to create a pocket that will hold soil and turn the pallet into an herb planter. Make sure there are no cracks or gaps. Use multiple layers of fabric if needed.
- Fill the pockets you made with potting soil.
- Plant your herbs!
3 Build Raised Herb Boxes
Create a garden wall anywhere
This is another brilliant idea that will allow you to grow multiple herbs in your garden. From basil (Ocimum basilicum) to mint (Mentha), if you build it long enough, you will be able to accommodate plenty of different herbs to always have them at hand in your kitchen. You also do not have to limit yourself to only a few levels. If you feel like you don’t want to build it longer but still want to have more herbs, build it higher. It is basically up to you how it will look!
Paint the boxes in a color that will match the existing landscaping to create a more complete overall yard design.
4 Concrete Blocks Create a Trendy Look
Concrete blocks are an affordable and sturdy DIY garden option
You might automatically think of wood when you think about raised garden beds. However, concrete blocks are an affordable DIY and they create incredibly sturdy garden beds, which makes them perfect for making your outdoor herb garden ideas come true. Concrete is becoming more and more popular in outdoor design for just these reasons.
You can get creative and design beds that perfectly fit your space. When turned one way, concrete blocks have no visible openings. Turned another way, and these blocks have openings that can be filled in with dirt to create growing areas. Give the blocks support underneath and all the little pockets can be filled with soil and small herbs. Concrete blocks are a great way to make your herb container garden ideas a reality.
5 Design a Simple Herb Pathway
Step past fragrant herbs and different colors in a magical stroll
Imagine walking along the pathway in your garden and harvesting fresh herbs on your way. It's a dream that can come true easier than you think. Just plant as many herbs as you want along a pathway, and you'll be able to pick them whenever you desire. Many herbs are also fragrant, which will make your walks even more pleasant. Try growing herbs with beautiful aromas, such as mint, rosemary, or lemon balm, along pathways.
Use herb planters or plant herbs directly to bring this idea to life. Consider color and scent when it comes to all your outdoor herb garden ideas and you'll create something amazing.
Stone pavers, bricks, and concrete pavers are all easy-to-use DIY path materials.
6 Vertical Pockets Create a Growing Wall
Add boxes or pouches to an exterior wall to grow a vertical herb garden
Not everybody has unlimited space in their garden. Even if your garden is too tiny to plant various herbs in the ground, you can still grow plenty of them just by doing it vertically. If you haven't got the materials to build wooden boxes, create leather pockets that you later fill with the soil. The material is easy to obtain and work with and it's a simple solution that will help you grow a lot of herbs on the wall with ease. Hang the boxes or pockets in a nice pattern to create a garden wall that looks like a work of art. This is a simple herb planter solution that's highly affordable.
- Use masonry nails if hanging boxes or pockets on stone or brick walls.
- Choose plants with shallow root systems for vertical gardens.
- Try baskets or plastic pots for vertical gardens. Any container you can hang will work.
7 Stack Pots to Design a Herb Tower
The wider you start at the bottom, the higher you can build your tower
The perfect way to go vertical and create something appealing is by building a herb tower. Stacking pots is an easy herb garden idea that will allow you to have fresh herbs and a beautiful decoration at the same time. All you need is three or more planters, each one smaller than the other. Fill them with potting soil and plant herbs only around the edges before stacking them on top of each other. Only the top pot can be planted with herbs in the middle.
Herb towers are easy to create and they can be placed just about anywhere, which makes them a great option. You choose the size of the pots, so this tower truly has no limits...though it is a good idea to build the tower only as high as you can reasonably get to the herbs at the very top.
- Bury pots in the potting soil at least ½ inch deep.
- Make sure the soil is level before placing the pot. You need your tower to be level and square.
- Ensure each pot has good drainage, as rain will drain through each level.
8 Place a Herb Island Anywhere
Turn any space into a garden area
Create a little mini herb island anywhere on your property where you have a bare spot. Place a planter box of any size in the spot to create a pop-up herb garden. For the best outcome, plant your islands with varied herbs, so your project can be truly colorful. Any area can become a herb garden! Get creative with herb container garden ideas. For instance, anything that can hold soil and water without a lot of leakage will work. Fill up old boots, paint cans, and other interesting containers you don't need anymore to grow herbs anywhere.
Use pots inside decorative planter boxes to give herbs their own contained spaces and keep them separated for the best visual effect.
Creative Herb Garden Ideas
As you can see, having a herb garden doesn’t mean it has to be boring. There are tons of ways to make your herb garden look fun and interesting. You never have to limit yourself to only one idea. Try out different garden design ideas and have fun with it, because the whole point is to make your spaces your own.
Play around with outdoor herb garden ideas and soon, you'll be ready to tackle growing herbs indoors, too!
