You can never have enough herb garden ideas in your plot, whether that's a collection of small pots grouped together or a large planter brimming with your pick of favourites. As well as a pretty display and gorgeous scent it means you will also have a daily supply of fresh herbs to hand for cooking with.
Once you get your herb garden up and running you will end up with a collection that will last for years, and with flowering and aromatic herbs a magnet for pollinating insects too, it will benefit your garden all round, especially if you're growing vegetables.
And, even if space is tight in your garden landscaping ideas, a herb garden is still possible. With options ranging from vertical garden walls to simple, upcycled containers it's a garden feature that's accessible to anyone.
Article continues below1. Build a beautiful display with repurposed containers
This display is full of life and colour and would make a gorgeous addition to a relaxed, bohemian-inspired scheme. And if you're after cottage garden ideas, it ticks that box, too.
Part of its charm is all down to the mix of rustic planters used – from metal buckets to a vintage watering can. Such containers can often be picked up for cheap at secondhand stores or online marketplaces – or you may even have them tucked away at the back of your shed. Just ensure you give them a good clean and dry before using, to keep your herbs healthy and happy.
When arranged together across different levels, the result is stunning. We particularly love the addition of nasturtiums here too, with their bright orange blooms.
2. Label your herbs with DIY signs
Not only are plant labels useful, but they can also add a pretty touch to your displays. And it's easy to make your own with a bit of exterior paint and a touch of creativity.
You could use small, sawn-off pieces of log, or offcuts of timber attached to sturdy twigs pushed into the soil. Or how about decorating large pebbles and nestling them beneath each plant? Wooden spoons are also a thrifty option.
Or, perhaps you want to paint your signs when painting your garden fences, in which case make sure you know the best fence paints for the ultimate results.
As an alternative, this pack of 50 Plant Labels from Amazon are bio-degradable so will still tick the eco-friendly box.
3. Incorporate potted herbs into your outdoor kitchen
Have you invested in an outdoor kitchen? Or, perhaps you're in the midst of planning one. Whether you're going for a simple setup with just the essentials, or a sleek layout with all the latest mod cons, potted herbs make a welcome addition to any outdoor cooking space. Picked fresh, they're a great way to elevate your grilled goodies.
Arrange them along the back of countertops in matching containers for a contemporary look. Or, to make more space for food prep, use shelves up high to your advantage. Just ensure they're close enough to be within arm's reach, so you can give your cooking an easy flavour boost.
Start your herb garden
This pack of 6 plug herb plants are ideal for planting in pots
Ideal for smaller spaces this herb planting set includes three varieties of seeds
This specially blended compost is organic and designed for use in herb gardens
4. Surround a seating area with fragrant herbs
Up the sensory appeal of your cottage garden patio ideas by surrounding a bench or bistro set with herbs.
Tall varieties, such as fennel and borage, can be used as a soft screen to cocoon the zone and up the sense of privacy. Oregano, chives, rosemary and thyme make other lovely choices for planting nearby, with their pretty blooms in purple hues. And the best part is, you can enjoy the delicious fragrance as you enjoy the view.
For even more whimsical charm, consider adding an archway over your seat – it'll make the perfect base for a climbing rose.
5. Repurpose glass jars to pep up your fence or wall
If you need small garden ideas for your herb patch, thinking vertically can open the door to plenty of options.
An easy craft project like this which uses recycled jars and leftover wood, is good for the environment, too. Plus, it's a great way to add interest to a blank wall. To make it, you'll need some hose clamps, such as this 4 pack of adjustable stainless steel ones from Amazon, some screws to secure them, washed-out glass jars, a piece of board, and a hook for hanging it up. You could even use leftover decking – wood or composite – to achieve this.
You could always spray paint the exterior of the jars too – perhaps in a bright white for a Scandi-chic aesthetic, or for a touch of luxe, a cool copper.
6. Pack a pretty planter with your favorite herbs
Not got much space? You can still enjoy show-stopping herb garden ideas on a smaller scale by planting up a gorgeous container with your favourite varieties.
Firstly, choose a garden planter to suit your scheme – whether that's a ceramic beauty like this bumblebee design, a contemporary corten steel look, or something else entirely. Then, when it comes to planting, the trick is to choose a mixture of heights, textures and colours and arrange them so you can see each one clearly.
7. Fill a hanging basket
Hanging basket ideas work well in any space and are particularly good for balconies and terraces where there tends to be an expanse of wall to hang things from.
A traditional style of hanging basket will hold enough compost for you to grow a good collection of herbs. This one has a lovely mix of parsley, marjoram, sage, thyme and mint to cover all your basic herb requirements.
It's important to keep the compost moist and you will need to water them every day in hot weather. But make sure the soil does not become waterlogged by adding slits to the plastic liner so excess water can drain out. That way, your hanging herbs will be happy with their growing space.
If you want herbs that cascade over the edges of the basket, choose trailing forms. Thyme, tarragon, oregano and sage work well.
This large rectangular hanging basket is perfect for creating a mini vertical herb garden and can be hung, or wall-mounted.
8. Plant a vertical herb garden
Herbs are a good choice for vertical planting as they like it dry – you don't need to water them as much as flowers and vegetables. Plants that need more water are likely to do better near the base of a planter like this, where they can receive extra run-off from the plants above.
The best herbs to grow in a vertical planter tend to be smaller plants with a minimal root system, since they weigh less and require less soil. But it very much depends on the size of your vertical garden.
Wall planting bags such as this pack of 2 from Amazon can be a great starting point if you're just starting out with a herb garden. Take care with some herbs however, such as mint, as it can take over. Grow it in a separate pocket planter to avoid it becoming invasive.
9. Make an easy trellis display
Whether you're looking for garden screening ideas, or simply want to cover a blank wall with a garden trellis, using one for your herb garden ideas is one of the easiest options around.
Trellis is available with varying slat sizes and gap widths, allowing you to choose the best arrangement for your own hanging herb garden. There's also a huge variety of colours and finishes, ranging from wood through to metal, making it easy to find one to suit whether you have a traditional or more modern garden.
Quick to put up and creating a good-looking display once done, sometimes the simplest ideas are the best. You could even replicate this look indoors for an interesting and practical addition to your kitchen.
10. Choose a spiral herb garden
Choose a tapering herb spiral garden for a compact space-saving design that's both stylish and practical. It's a different take on vertical growing and one of the best herb garden ideas around.
A herb spiral is basically a small herb garden. The top planting area gets full sun and has better drainage, so herbs that like exposure to the sun and good drainage are planted there. The bottom area of the spiral is more suitable for herbs that need moist soil and less sun. The spiral herb garden gives you several zones with different soil characteristics and sun exposure to suit all your herb needs.
The structure is typically made of natural stone, but is also a great way to re-use brick in your garden. Gabion walls, such as the ones shown here, also work really well.
11. Grow herbs in raised beds
Herbs are some of the best plants to grow in raised garden beds as you can pack them in tightly together to get the biggest harvests. Oregano and thyme can grow in as little as 6in (15cm) of soil, but in general, aiming for around 12in (30cm) should cover it.
You don't need lots of space to include a raised bed either. Even a small patio area can accommodate a raised bed and they can be easier to look after than having lots of herbs scattered around in different pots. When working out the dimensions, bear in mind you should be able to get to the centre of the raised bed from each side without having to tread on your crops.
And, why stop at herbs. If you're considering starting a vegetable garden too, this is one of the easiest ways to do so.
12. Set up a herb plant theatre
A good herb garden is all about easy access and easy maintenance. And an approach that ticks both these boxes is choosing a plant theatre (a tiered planter) and positioning it just outside your kitchen door. Rack up your herb plants and you can both keep an eye on them and pick them as and when you need them.
What's more, a plant theatre is a great way of showing off your herb collection, as well as any other collections of plants such as succulents or spring bulbs. Raising your plants on shelves lets you stage them and position them where suits them best.
This Como Tiered Plant Stand from Cox & Cox is available in two sizes if want to try this idea for yourself. Or, if you don't want to splash out to set up a herb plant theatre by buying one, try repurposing an old wooden stepladder to create an eye-catching display. It's amazing how many herbs you can cram onto one.
13. Plant up a metal bucket
Galvanised metal containers are a good choice for herb gardens. Choosing a bucket makes life easy as it's portable, so you can move it from the kitchen door to an outdoor cocktail bar, outdoor fireplace idea or barbecue area for handy garnishes as needed.
Check which herbs are happy being planted together before you start. A mix of thyme, rosemary, parsley, sage, chives, and basil will work well. Try interspersing with some salad leaves too for variety.
14. Repurpose an old chest
If you've discarded some furniture as part of your home renovations, rather than taking it to your nearest recycling centre, why not upcycle it into a stylish herb garden idea instead.
The more vintage the finish the better if you want to show off your plants in a quirky way, so opt for a wooden finish and distress the exterior with a sander (if it isn't already aged). Either use small pots planted with individual herbs and pop them inside the drawers, or line the drawers with a suitable plastic liner, add drainage holes, good quality compost and plant directly into the drawers.
15. Make a pallet planter
Pallets mounted on garden walls can also be a brilliant option as they will give you more space for your herb garden, allowing you to grow larger plants.
To make a DIY pallet herb garden, find a pallet that is in good condition and hasn't been painted or treated in any way – you're going to be growing food crops in it so don't want to take any chances. You can add a couple of coats of timber stain, such as this GoodHome Outdoor Mid Oak Satin Quick Dry Wood Stain from B&Q to enhance the look of it if you like.
Create planting 'troughs' or 'pockets', then line each one with thick black plastic. Old compost bags are ideal for this. Make sure you include drainage holes, then fill with good quality compost and your choice of herb plants. It's really as easy as that!
16. Make a geometric herb garden
Show off the beauty of herbs with a more formal design in your garden. Since ancient times, herb gardens have been laid out in geometric patterns, and this parterre style suits small urban gardens equally well.
The parterre idea is a formal, symmetrical pattern with low evergreen boundaries of plants such as trimmed box. In this alternative take on the design, the spaces in between the spokes of this wheel are filled with herbs to create a neat planting pattern. It takes all the headache out of the design process and is one of the easiest herb garden ideas to get a geometric layout.
Fill the framework generously, packing each section with different foliage textures, colours, or growing habits. Trim frequently to keep plants looking neat.
17. Take your herb garden ideas indoors
Whether you're making an indoor herb garden or an outdoor one, tin cans are really useful. Peel off the labels and naked tin cans look great and even better, they all match for a coordinated look, making them the best solution if you're looking for kitchen windowsill ideas that are practical, as well as pretty.
Sometimes it's worth asking at cafes and restaurants to see if they have any super-sized olive oil or tomato cans going spare too, as these come with pretty designs on them and make great planters.
Food cans are the best to upcycle into planters as they have a coating inside to stop them from rusting. However, if they're not painted or varnished and left out in the rain, then they might rust on the outside.
Drill holes in the bottom of the cans to ensure good drainage, but you can probably get away with missing this step as long as you don't overwater the plants. Instead, add a layer of grit to the base before adding the compost.
FAQs
What herbs can be grown together?
Group Mediterranean, sun-loving herbs like sage, thyme, rosemary and oregano together as they all like the same growing conditions. Choose a sunny, sheltered spot and make sure the soil is gritty and free draining so the roots of the plants are not waterlogged.
Put shade-loving herbs like mint, dill, parsley, and chives together. These herbs don't like the soil to dry out, so tend to prefer shadier conditions. Herbs such as coriander, dill, basil, and wild rocket can be quick to bolt, especially if overcrowded, or in poor, dry soil, say experts at the RHS. To be safe, you can make regular sowings to have a good supply of these crops.
Mint should always be grown in its own container, even if it's in the ground, as it's a prolific grower and can smother other herbs. By keeping it contained, you will give a helping hand to your other herbs.
How do you start a herb garden for beginners?
Herbs are so much easier to grow than many other plants, demanding little but giving so much in return. They take up much less time and space than vegetables, can be picked pretty much constantly throughout the year, and rarely need watering because so many of them thrive in hot, dry conditions. Anyone can do it, whatever the size of your outdoor space.
Look at the space you have available and decide on the herbs you are most likely to use. If you have just a few pots on a sunny patio, your choice of herbs will differ from someone planning a larger herb garden. If you want, you can start off by growing herbs on a small scale with a collection of pots on the windowsill or include them in your small patio ideas.
Some of the easiest herbs to grow include rosemary, thyme, sage, chives and basil.
How do I make an outdoor herb garden?
If you have the space, do things on a larger scale with a separate herb garden, or by mixing in herbs with flowers and vegetables.
Try planting a good herb selection among herbaceous plants in a mixed border. Tall architectural herbs like fennel work well at the back, while thyme, chives, and parsley are best at the front of a border. Herbs like rosemary and bay can be clipped to add structure.
If you want to create a separate herb garden, first draw up a plan. Remember herbs should always be planted near a garden path so they are easy to pick. You may like a natural design or something more formally laid out. Think about using small clipped box plants to create the structure if you want to go for a geometric design.
For more ways to boost your garden's appeal, check out the latest garden trends that are informing how our gardens are being designed, and think about how you could potentially use a larger herb garden idea to help zone your garden into definable spaces.
