Create a Stunning Herb Container Garden

Make it easy to snip a handful of fresh herbs while you're cooking — keep this fragrant herb garden on the deck or patio.
Fresh Herbs on Concrete Patio by Door

Herb Container Garden

Make it easy to snip a handful of fresh herbs while you're cooking — keep this fragrant herb garden on the deck or patio.

Materials Needed:

  • container for planting
  • potting soil
  • herbs
  • trowel
  • watering vessel or hose
  • garden labels (optional)

Know Your Herbs

Before you begin, learn the growing requirements for the herbs you've selected. We've chosen plants that can be placed relatively close together for this small herb garden. Species that will grow tall can be placed in the back of the container. Also, decide where you'll place the container — most herbs grow well in full sun to partial shade.

Herb Plants, Potting Soil, Small Shovel, Watering Can and Container

Materials for Herb Container Garden

Before you begin, learn the growing requirements for the herbs you've selected. We've chosen plants that can be placed relatively close together for this small herb garden. Species that will grow tall can be placed in the back of the container. Also, decide where you'll place the container — most herbs grow well in full sun to partial shade.

Select a Container and Provide Drainage

Based on the number of herbs you want to include in the container and the spacing required, determine the size of the garden's container. The container needs to have drainage so water won't collect in the base. This project uses an artificial conch shell and drilled drainage holes in the bottom.

Artificial Conch Shell With Herb Garden

Arrange Potted Herbs in Container

Based on the number of herbs you want to include in the container and the spacing required, determine the size of the garden's container. The container needs to have drainage so water won't collect in the base. This project uses an artificial conch shell and drilled drainage holes in the bottom.

Add Potting Soil

Fill container halfway with potting soil.

Arrange and Plant

Arrange the plants in a pleasing composition according to their spacing requirements — take into consideration their mature size. Place taller plants in the back and shorter varieties in the front.

Placing Herbs Into Potting Soil

Plant Herbs in Container

Arrange the plants in a pleasing composition according to their spacing requirements — take into consideration their mature size. Place taller plants in the back and shorter varieties in the front.

Top Off the Container

After all the herbs are in place, fill the rest of the container with potting soil to about an inch below the rim.

Adding More Potting Soil to Herbs

Top Off Herb Container Garden With Soil

After all the herbs are in place, fill the rest of the container with potting soil to about an inch below the rim.

Pack Soil

Pack down the potting soil with the back of the trowel or your fingers.

Packing Soil Into Container Garden

Press Soil Firmly With Shovel

Pack down the potting soil with the back of the trowel or your fingers.

Water

Water the newly planted herbs liberally.

Watering Herb Container Garden

Water Newly Planted Herbs

Water the newly planted herbs liberally.

Label (Optional)

Add labels to your herb garden so you and others can keep track of what's growing. Place the container near the kitchen door or on a back porch so you can easily get to your new herb garden while cooking.

Labeling Herb Garden

Label Herbs in Container

Add labels to your herb garden so you and others can keep track of what's growing. Place the container near the kitchen door or on a back porch so you can easily get to your new herb garden while cooking.

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