You’ve gone to the nursery to source soil and seeds for your fabulous new herb garden. You’ve got the whole set up in mind and you can’t wait to be able to season your roast lamb with fresh rosemary from the backyard (delicious!). But the only problem is, you don’t have the space… Well, allow me show you the most perfect vertical herb garden ideas.
When it comes to growing a garden, one of the most common misconceptions is that you need a lot of space to work with. But the good news is that you don’t need a huge backyard to grow your favourite herbs.
You can start your herb garden even if you have a small backyard or live in a tiny apartment. This vertical trend allows you to create your very own herb garden on any wall – even inside. By planting upward instead of outward, you’ll be able to make enough space for any combination of herbs.
The best part is that you can DIY a vertical herb garden all by yourself. As you’ll see, the process is fairly simple. Think tin cans, clay pots, wooden planters, bamboo baskets, classic terracotta pots, wire frames and more. There are so many options that will help you save on both space and money.
Ready to find an option that’s best for you and your family? Explore 20+ vertical herb garden ideas below.
1. Start with something
When you read the words “DIY vertical herb garden” you might think you need to head to Bunnings and spend a fortune. But you don’t! All plants need are a place to live and a little bit of love. So save yourself the big bucks and use what you have lying around at home. This could be simple old pots or containers – anything will do!
2. In the sun
We all know that herbs love their sun. So to keep them happy, make sure they’re in a bright warm spot. You’ll also want to make sure they get the right irrigation, as well. To help with this, you can use removable pots. They’re also a great help for when it comes time to replanting.
3. Use recycled materials
Here’s another one for all of you avid recyclers. This design includes used tin cans – how cool? You can leave them as they are or you can wrap them with paper or paint them with any colour you like! It adds so much colour and life to a backyard. Simply collect used tin cans, paint them, pack them with soil, place your seed, water them and watch them grow.
4. Create labels
I hate to admit this but I know that I would plant my herbs and then forget what they are straight away… I’m clearly not so much of a green thumb. But a simple organised system would make all the difference. By labelling your herbs, you can be sure you’ll always know which one is which. And that’s very helpful for when it comes time to water and care for them.
5. Simple and small
Keep things minimal by hanging little tin pots over a metal frame. The benefit of having pots with handles is that you can detach and re-attach them at any point, making it easy to water, feed and care for them.
6. Modern kitchen garden
Why grow your herbs outdoors when you can grow them right where you need them – in your kitchen, of course. You can take inspiration from this design and easily customise it to suit your style. Think colourful pots, different shapes and sizes and an array of herbs.
7. Pocket shoe garden
For an innovative little herb garden design, use a fabric shoe hanger to hold your herb pots. What a clever way to create an easy vertical herb garden. Now you’ve just got to make sure your shoes are organised!
8. Wire frames
How clever is this installation? I love how the pots have been carefully arranged on this wire frame. This is both aesthetically pleasing and incredibly practical. And this kind of setup is one that you could have outside on an exterior wall or inside near your kitchen (just make sure your plants get sun!).
9. Upcycle old pallets
It’s pretty easy to find timber pallets – just take a look on Gumtree and you’ll find businesses giving them away for free. Once you’ve got your pallets, close up the back of them with fabric. And then get to work! Add soil and then plant your favourite herbs or succulents in each row. You can even paint the plant names underneath each herb. And the great benefit of pallets is that they can be easily transported from one place to the next.
10. Make it white
If you want your vertical herb garden to blend into an exterior white wall, create the perfect white setup with planters on at least two levels to create interest and intrigue.
11. Apartment herb garden
If you’re in a tiny space, the balcony is your friend! Take this vertical garden as inspiration for your next DIY project. It makes the most of a simple metal frame which houses all different shapes and sizes of herbs that are fresh for the picking!
12. Timber boxes
This one is for those of you who like your ducks in a row… metaphorically speaking, of course… Timber planter boxes are so neat and tidy. So even if you’re not a perfectionist, they’ll have you looking like one in no time.
Make sure you’re getting the right solution for your home with this guide to planter boxes or if you’re still on the lookout, these raised garden bed ideas might be just what you need.
13. Timber ladder
I love a good ladder garden! In fact, I just love seeing a ladder put to creative use (there are so many ways you can use them). But in this case, you can create a vertical herb garden simply by leaning a ladder against the wall and hanging pots over the rungs with metal hooks.
14. Silver buckets
Keep things streamlined and simple by sticking to one colour. For instance you might go for all silver buckets hung on a timber pallet. Even better if you paint the pallet purple for fun!
15. Keep it on a cart
You’ve heard of bar carts but have you heard of herb carts? Well, now you have! Planting your herbs on a cart means that you can move it around. This is super handy if you’re a renter who frequently moves houses. It’s also great for those of you who live in cooler climates… You can simply wheel your herbs out to get some sun and bring them inside when the cold strikes.
16. Black on brick
Don’t like to blend in? Stand out with two contrasting colours. I love a black timber frame fixed onto a pale stone brick wall. Especially if the pots are black as well, to blend in and create a perfect finished product.
17. Kitchen herb garden
Why put your herbs outside when you can have them at the ready in the kitchen? Simply fill little terracotta pots to the brim with all sorts of herbs that are ready to be picked. When choosing herbs for an indoor setup, make sure you select ones that can live without 100% direct sunlight. Some great choices include coriander, basil, mint and chives.
18. Grow what you’ve got
Did you know that you can replant herbs? Yup, it’s true. This is one of the very best ways to reduce food waste. All you need to do is place your herbs in water first to let them grow roots. Once the roots have sprouted, plant them firmly in good soil, water them, and watch them grow.
19. Terracotta herb garden
Go all out with warmth by creating a terracotta wall. I like how old ceramic pots add so much character to an old brick wall.
20. DIY vertical hanging planter garden
Bored of plain old ceramic or have some dirty pots lying around the place? Give your old planter pots a makeover with a lick of paint. Think bright, bold colours like pink, green, blue, orange or yellow. Or a chic metallic like this gold hanging planter. They’ll pack a punch and add so much personality to any area of your home.
21. Rustic herb garden
If you live in an older home or have a garden full of old planting materials, you might find you have some rustic metal planters around. While old, they can still do the job of holding your herbs. After all, that’s all you need, right? Plus, if you have a cottage garden, rustic will work in perfectly.
22. Get creative with jars
Your next DIY project doesn’t have to cost you your arm or leg… You can create a vertical herb garden with items you have lying around the house. Put used pasta sauce jars and glass containers to use by filling them with soil and planting seeds. You can even use reclaimed timber to create a fixture to hoist them onto.
23. In shelving
If you’re a keen chef you might appreciate an in-kitchen vertical herb garden. Herbs are simply placed on shelves inside a cupboard which has a handy door with slots where each shelf lies. This is a very handy solution for when it comes time to prepare dinner!
24. Use landscape fabric
Don’t know where to start? No worries. Landscape fabric is an easy material that’s both sturdy and unassuming. You can fold it over a metal rod and hang it up against any exterior wall for an easy vertical herb garden.
There you have it, 20+ amazing vertical herb garden ideas. Which design did you like the best? Comment and tell us.
