This DIY Outdoor Herb Garden is easy enough for the first time gardener, and doesn’t need an actual “garden” to grow into a summer-long supply of fresh herbs!
As someone who loves to cook and bake, I have dozens of recipes calling for “fresh” herbs. My usual go-to here is using the dried store-bought stuff or buying pre-packaged whole leaf herbs at the grocery store. This season I decided I was going to try this easy DIY outdoor herb garden for myself, and had so much fun putting it together!
This easy window frame herb garden is both functional… and beautiful!
I love a project that:
- Can be done from start to finish in a day or two (so I don’t lose motivation, which totally happens)
- Has a completely handmade look
- Is fun and has a lasting result!
This easy DIY outdoor herb garden checks off all the boxes. From going to the greenhouse to pick the perfect plants, to finding the perfect old farmhouse window online, to getting the whole family involved (keep reading), this was so fun!
This can go from just an old window to an herb garden in 5 SIMPLE STEPS!
STEP 1: Find an old window. The more character – the better!
I went straight to Facebook Marketplace for this find – and within a matter of minutes found the perfect one! I typed in “six pane antique window” and went local in my search and was tickled pink when this one was a 15-minute drive away! My family jumped in our truck and that evening we were off to pick it up! I snagged it for $25!
If you have a local antique store or flea market – these would be great avenues to check out as well, but searching online is the way to go if you want to find exactly what you want in a short amount of time.
STEP 2: If it has glass, get rid of it.
If you were lucky enough to find a window with the frame only, then you get to skip this step!
I was a bit concerned about how to get rid of the glass… but for once I let my hubby take the reigns and trusted him. He simply chiseled out the caulking on one side of the window and most of the panes just fell out. Don’t worry – some of the glass may break, but just chip away until the glass is all removed! In just a short time, the window is ready for the next step!
STEP 3: Add chicken wire.
I purchased one roll of chicken wire at Lowe’s for about $18.00. It was a large roll, so I have plenty left for another outdoor project!
My daughter was a huge help on this part! We first measured the width and length needed to cover all the panes. My daughter got to work with the wire cutters and cut the wire to fit. This is a bit time consuming – cutting every wire – but she actually enjoyed it and this kept her occupied on an outdoor project… what a win for this mom!
My hubby stapled the chicken wire to the back side of the window and we were good to go!
STEP 4: Attach the terra cotta pots to the chicken wire with more wire.
Terra cotta pots work great for this easy DIY outdoor herb garden because they have a drainage hole in the bottom and are lightweight and pretty durable. I got these from Lowe’s for $.98 a piece!
Using the wire that was holding the roll of chicken wire together, I made some 6-inch pieces and thread it up through the drainage hole then through the chicken wire, twisting together in the back to hold the pots onto the window. My best advice: Make sure the wire is not threaded above the lip of the pot so you can’t see it!
STEP 5: Plant your herbs and label!
This is the fun part! Plant your herbs in the pots and water them.
Don’t like the store tags they come with? There are many fun options to printing labels online! I first tried Etsy.com, which had some cute options, but most were fairly more money than I wanted to spend, so I did my own and LOVE how they turned out! I bought these chalkboard labels attached to mini clothespins at Hobby Lobby for $3.99 and used chalkboard pens to mark the labels. They work great!
Total cost: Approximately $60.00, including the herbs!
Next time I make one of our favorite recipes, I’ll be ready with our fresh herbs! They smell amazing and I am loving watching them thrive in our easy DIY outdoor herb garden!
How do you grow YOUR herbs?
I’d love to hear about your ideas!
From my home to yours,
