DIY: Wine box herb garden

Loved this idea from a blog called Apartment Therapy, and thought I would give it a try with my Little from the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona. Whether you're living in an apartment or just have a really small patio/outdoor area, these wine box herb gardens can add to your outdoor decor and - even more importantly - spice up your cooking!

  



You'll need:


- Wine crates
- Power drill
- Thompson's Water Seal (In a spray can)
- Potting soil
- Herbs - seeds or starter plants

Instructions:

1. To begin with, you'll need to hunt for some wooden boxes that will work for you and the space you're trying to fill. Wine crates are all unique and give your garden a vintage, country feel. I found these 12 bottle crates at Total Wine. They only charged me $4.99 for each!

2. Clean off your crates at home. Remove any price tags, unwanted labels and unruly nails or staples. Take out the separators if your crate came with them.

3. Next, using your power drill and a small drill bit, drill holes for drainage in the bottom of your crates. Space your holes about an inch apart.

 






 4. Wipe down your crates with a damp cloth to remove any saw dust. Make sure the crates are dry, and then apply a heavy coat of Thompson's Water Seal. Allow the crates to dry outside for a full 24 hours.

5. Make sure your crates are set up on a pallet, rack or another crates to allow for proper drainage once your garden is planted.

6. Now it's time to pick and plant your herbs! Head to your local garden center and get some advice from the people there about the herbs you're interesting in and how you should group them. Some herbs need a lot of TLC and others pretty much want to be left alone for the most part. Here's a good guide to getting started with your groupings. 

In our boxes, we chose Rosemary, German Thyme and Oregano for one crate, and Cilantro, Thai Basil and Chive Onions in the other. We also grabbed a Sweet Mint to plant in it's own little pot. The first grouping needs very little water and attention. The second needs a little more care. The important part is to research the herbs and plan accordingly. Most herbs need full sun for at least 6 hours per day.

When planting, also make sure to research how much room they need to grow and thrive within the restrictions of your box garden. It's also a good idea to ask the experts at the garden center for advice on proper drainage and mulching tips.

Choose herbs that you use often in the kitchen. You'll be amazed at how fresh and flavorful herbs from your own garden are and how much they add to your dishes!