I’ll be the first to admit it: this list of ideas is just the tip of the iceberg! When it comes to designing a herb garden, the sky is truly the limit. But hopefully, these suggestions will spark your imagination and get those creative juices flowing. After all, we want a garden that’s a feast for the eyes *and* the kitchen table!
The Classic Fieldstone Herb Spiral
If you want the gold standard of herb gardening, you’ve got to build a herb spiral out of fieldstones. These are specifically designed to give you a massive, diverse harvest in a small footprint. If you set it up in a sunny, south-facing spot, it creates four distinct microclimates with different soil types, meaning almost any herb will feel right at home. Plus, the stones soak up the sun’s heat during the day and gently release it at night. You can find fieldstones online, or sometimes local farmers are happy to let you haul away stones for cheap (or even for free!). Just make sure you double-check which herb belongs in which zone before you start digging.
Pro Tip:
If you have the space, aim for a footprint of about 65 square feet (6 square meters). That way, you’ll have plenty of room for every herb on your wishlist.
A Rock Garden with a Culinary Twist
A rock garden uses similar principles to the spiral but stays closer to the ground. It’s a fantastic home for heat-loving perennial herbs. If you make it large enough, you can even tuck in some flowering perennials to add a pop of color alongside your savory greens.
Stackable Planter Blocks for Easy Customization
Concrete planter blocks (often called “wall blocks” or “hollow blocks”) come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and colors. You can keep it simple with just one block or get creative and stack them into a tiered masterpiece. They even work for a tiny herb setup on a balcony! Here’s why I love them:
- They’re super affordable and easy to find at any hardware store.
- The modular design means you can expand your garden whenever you want.
- They’re easy to move if you change your mind.
- They act as a natural barrier for “space-hogging” herbs (looking at you, mint!).
- Each herb gets its own “pot,” so you can give it specific care.
The Upcycled Pallet Herb Wall
Wooden pallets are incredibly versatile for DIY garden projects. A vertical pallet garden is a total space-saver and looks great mounted on a wall. Here’s the quick version of how to do it:
- Clean and sand the pallet (and give it a coat of paint or stain if you like).
- Use the “bottom” of the pallet as your front-facing side.
- Screw long wooden slats under the support blocks to create the bottom of your planter rows.
- Line the new “pockets” with landscape fabric or buy plastic inserts that fit.
- Fill with high-quality potting soil and get planting!
More Creative Herb Garden Ideas
Not everyone has a massive backyard to play with, but that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying fresh flavors. Here are some small-scale ideas:
- Plant herbs in individual decorative pots and group them together for a “movable” garden.
- Build a raised herb bed (your back will thank you!).
- Leave a few open “planting pockets” when laying down a new patio.
- Fill a large window box with your favorite herbs.
- Keep a mini herb garden right on your kitchen windowsill.
Spruce Up a Simple Herb Patch!
If you already have a basic patch of herbs in the ground, you can give it a major glow-up with just a few details. Try adding some cute DIY plant labels, tucking in a few large decorative boulders, or edging the bed with a rustic willow fence. Even a well-placed gravel path can turn a simple patch into a backyard destination!
