Herb planter boxes are a great way to grow herbs and display the greenery in your home or yard. This herb planter box is easy to make and only takes a few supplies.
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Hi There! Summer is still in full swing. Well, kinda. It’s been very overcast in Portland lately which has caused some annoyed Portlanders since it is well…July! But hey, at least it’s not raining! About this time of year I am focused on my garden and getting excited for all the delicious foods I will have at the end of the summer. There is something about growing your own food and having it available to go pick some off when needed.
At the end of the summer it is so rewarding to have a big harvest full of veggies, but after that it is hard to grow food over the winter, especially in Portland were it rains all year round. Yup, I just looked out the window and it started raining <insert eye roll>.
Herbs are the answer! They are easy to grow and can be done inside so you still have something to fresh to snip off. I usually put mine in the kitchen so I can easily grab some and throw it in a pan. Herbs can be fun, delicious and they can add to your decor when placed in a herb box.
There are so many DIY options for herb planters, but I always gravitate towards the rustic planter box. There is something about that look that makes me feel like home. It can be a cute addition to the outside garden or spruce up the kitchen as it sits on the window sill.
I chose to purchase a box that was already stained a darker color, but you could use a lighter box and stain it yourself.
What you’ll need:
Wooden Box
Acrylic Paint
Stencil brush or sponge brush
Stencils
Tape
Clear plastic or ziplock bag
Herbs
Step 1: Apply stencils and paint
Start by cutting out the stencils to make your chosen word. Wipe down the box so you are working with a clean surface. Measure your box are mark the middle with a small pencil mark. Tape the center letter in your word to the middle of the box. Tape the remaining letters around it to form your word. Double check by measuring that your word is in the middle of the box.
I was not super worried about my lettering being perfect because I felt it added to the rustic vibe, but if you want to make sure the lettering is straight, use a ruler and chalk to draw a reference line.
Using the stencil brush or the sponge brush carefully apply the paint while pressing down the stencil. I painted a phrase on both sides. On one side I painted “grow” and the other “herbs”, get it? Grow herbs!
I painted “grow” with the stencil brush and “herbs” with the sponge brush. Both came out pretty similar with the sponge brush being a little more rough looking. If you want a really clean look, I would try to find adhesive stencils.
Allow the paint to dry completely and carefully remove the stencils.
Step 2: Line the box with plastic
Before you place your herb in the box it is best to line the bottom with plastic. That way any water that falls through during watering won’t cause mold.
Measure the size of the inside of your box. I am all about the low cost on projects like this so I used a ziplock bag, but any plastic will do. If you are using a ziplock bag, cut down the sides of the bag it make it bigger before cutting. Cut out the plastic and place on the bottom of the box.
Step 3: Plant herbs
Put your herbs in the planter box. I was able to fit three small potted herbs in my box; chives, sage and thyme. You can also plant the herbs directly in the box by filling it with dirt and transplanting the herbs or starting from seed.
Your planter box is done! Enjoy the smell of fresh herbs in your home and the taste in your foods. Also, this would make a great and easy DIY gift for your gardening friends.
