DIY Herb Planter

We recently built a raised herb planter right at the base of the steps leading from our deck to the pool. It’s so convenient to have fresh herbs right outside our back door. Maid on Maidstone’s official DIY coordinator, my husband Robbie, is sharing his plans for a DIY herb planter so you can build one too!

Always have fresh herbs on hand with this DIY Herb Planter!

Supplies needed to build a DIY herb planter

One 12 foot long 1×6″ pine board cut into two 42″ pieces and two 24″ pieces
One 8 foot long 1×6″ pine board cut into two 40″ pieces
Four 12 foot 1×4″ pine boards – three boards cut into two 43″ pieces and two 27″ pieces each; the remaining board cut into two 46.25″ pieces and two 24″ pieces
One 12 foot long 1×2″ pine board cut into one 40″ long piece and two 43.5″ long pieces
One 6 foot long 1×2″ pine board cut into two 30.25″ pieces
Four 4×4 wood blocks
screws
miter saw
power drill
potting soil
paint

How to build a DIY herb planter

We repurposed wood from an old fence for this project. The sides of the herb planter are constructed from 1×6” boards. Cut two 42” long pieces from the 12 foot 1×6” board for the front and back of the planter and two 24” long pieces for the sides. Then cut two 40″ long pieces for the bottom of the planter from the 8 foot 1×6″ board. Screw the front and side pieces together at a 90 degree angle with the front and back pieces overlapping the sides. Then attach the bottom pieces to the sides. We used some 4×4″ wood blocks as feet on the bottom of the planter so that it would be raised off the ground for good drainage.

There was a gap of several inches between the two bottom boards so we ran a 1×2” board measuring 40” long down the center to prevent dirt from washing out. You can see this in one of the pictures below. Cut this piece from the 12 foot 1×2″ board.

The sides of the herb planter are covered with 1×4” boards cut to 43” across the front and back and 27” along the sides. Screw them in place leaving a 0.75″ gap in between each board. It will take three to cover each side of the planter.

Next cut the remaining portion of your 12 foot 1×2″ board into two 43.5″ pieces. Then cut the 6 foot 1×2″ board into two 30.25″ pieces. Attach the 43.5″ long boards to the front and back of the planter, on top of and level with the highest 1×4″ board. Then attach the 30.25″ boards in the same manner to the sides.

corner of herb box — A close up of the corner construction

Next use your remaining 12 foot 1×4″ board to cut two 46.25″ pieces and two 24″ pieces. Lay the 46.25″ pieces flat along the front and back of the planter and the 24″ pieces along the sides. Then screw into place. This is how the herb planter looks fully constructed.

After it’s built, just add a coat of paint and plant your herbs. Herbs should be watered daily, especially when the weather’s hot. You should also check a couple times a week to remove any dead growth, and trim any overgrown herbs. If you don’t plan to use the cuttings right away, you can dry your cuttings and store them until you’re ready to use them. Daily maintenance is a simple way to keep your herbs healthy.