Grow A Thriving Herb Garden With This Clever Drawer Upcycling Hack

Herb gardens are great projects that are suitable for anyone from novice to advanced gardeners. While herbs are still susceptible to many of the mistakes that beginner gardeners can make, they are still some of the most perfect plants to grow if you don't have a green thumb because they're small, simple, and regrow quickly. So, whether you're craving new basil for your summer pesto recipes or just looking for a way to start a gardening hobby, it's a great idea to start your own herb garden. And, by repurposing and simply stacking some old drawers, you can build your very own herb beds with a sustainable and creative touch. 

Because herbs tend to be smaller in size, they can do well in smaller containers. To plant your own herb garden, there are tons of hacks like upcycling glass jars to create an herb garden on a dime. So long as the container is around 6 inches deep, you can usually take a small item and plant one (or a few) herbs inside of it. 

There are also ways to make herb gardens more spatially satisfying, another benefit of the plants needing less depth than other greenery. Stacked herb gardens, like a multiple-tier planter, are super popular for gardeners who don't have much area for gardening and instead want to make use of vertical space. With the hack of using drawers, you get the benefit of a stacked planter with the ability to recycle and reuse materials you already have: it's genuinely a win-win, especially for your bank account. 

The first step to building your herb garden is to acquire some drawers. If you have a nightstand or dresser that you're getting rid of, you're already a step ahead. Otherwise, keeping an eye out at thrift stores or curb sales could be the best way to find drawers, and you can use the rest of the furniture as scraps for this or other projects. Because outdoor herb gardens should really be at least 6 inches deep, you should measure the drawers you have to ensure that your plants will have enough room to grow roots. And, if you plan to grow things like rosemary, mint, or oregano, you'll want to find drawers that are at least 8 inches deep. Average dresser drawers are 8 inches deep, so you should be set if your drawers were made for an average-sized or larger dresser. 

After you've found the proper drawers, you can choose to stack them, attach them with simple wood pieces, or lay them out side by side; any configuration is great, so long as none of the herbs are left completely in the shade full-time (most herbs need full sun, though softer herbs can grow with as little as two hours of sun per day). To stack them, start with a large drawer on bottom with a smaller one laying across the top. You can also create a frame for your drawers by drilling simple wood planks to connect two drawers.

You can customize this planter in several ways. If you don't want to put dirt directly into the drawer, arrange potted herbs inside. To create a focal point, paint the drawers in fun colors, or add garden-themed designs. You can also attach hooks to hold garden tools for easy tending.