If you haven't jumped on the trending raised garden bed train then you are missing out! We installed some raised beds for our herbs just last year and I couldn't believe that I had waited so long. It made a huge difference in my herb garden for a number of reasons.
- A whole lot less weeding
- Earlier planting (soil is warmer earlier in the season)
- Way less bending over
- No tilling
- Aesthetically pleasing
- No need for a big property (Even a balcony can grow herbs!)
I mean the list goes on and on. As far as herb garden ideas go, the raised garden bed is a must. Building your own raised beds is simple and can be done for next to nothing. They can be built in your backyard, in the community garden, or even right on your balcony or porch.
I definitely recommend building a raised herb garden right outside the door nearest to your kitchen. You never know when you need to run out and grab some rosemary for that special stew. Having fresh herbs and at an arms reach is luxury in it's truest form if you ask me.
18 Herb Garden Ideas And Raised Garden Beds
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1. A Layer of Mulch
2. Wired Netting and Trellises
3. Metal Brackets
4. Division
5. The Perfect Height
6. Raised Bed Covers
7. Using Flowers
8. Woven Walls and Aethestic Paths
9. On the Deck
10. Nursery Beds
11. Nice and Leveled
12. Drainage
13. Walking space
14. Spiral Herb Garden
15. Trough Garden
16. Unique Shapes
17. Vertical Herb Garden
18. Steel Raised Beds
1. A Layer of Mulch
The pathways between raised garden beds should have a generous layer of mulch. This suppresses weeds and grasses from growing up around the sides. When you do your gardening you don't want to have to worry about itchy legs or garter snakes hiding in tall grasses. Yikes!
2. Wired Netting and Trellises
A wired netting has been placed around the raised beds to stop unwanted animals from nibbling on the crops. It can also help tame rebellious plants (like mint) and keep them sprouting over the raised bed edges.
Then some wooden trellises have been added so that crops like tomatoes and beans have a place to crawl.
3. Metal Brackets
You can build your own raised garden bed with very basic materials. Some 2×4's and a few metal brackets to secure them in place. It has an industrial-chic look and is not only easy to put together, but simple to take apart if necessary.
4. Division
Divide your plants into sections easily with raised garden beds. One for beautiful flowers, another for fragrant herbs, and the other for yummy vegetables. Label the beds, or make notes in your gardening book, so that crop rotation next year is simple.
Different crops provide different nutrients to the soil. By rotating your crops each year you are giving the soil an abundance of diverse nutrients and keeping it healthy and happy.
5. The Perfect Height
You want the raised beds tall enough that you can get some good weeding done from up high. However, you don't want them so high that you can't get your shovel in there!
When it's time to add compost, having to lift your shovel way up high is definitely not ideal. Build the beds according to your height and what feels comfortable.
6. Raised Bed Covers
Use portable raised bed covers to protect specific plants from birds and wildlife. These are easy-to-make and will make a huge difference for your garden. As simple as cutting up some plastic hula hoops, attaching them to a rectangular base, and stringing the netting over top.
7. Using Flowers
When planting vegetables in your raised garden beds, you're going to need a little help to get the veggies growing. And what better than the volunteer help of the bees. Plant some flowers to attract bees to your raised garden beds and watch as delicious vegetables begin to form.
8. Woven Walls and Aethestic Paths
Divide your raised garden beds into sections without losing your natural plant vibes. A woven fence out of bendy branches makes a lovely addition to your garden that you will have a lot of fun making. Then if you want to go the extra mile for your paths, save the mulch for in the beds, and try something else.
A brick path is beautiful and easy to clean, while gravel makes for great drainage and looks lovely.
9. On the Deck
One of the great things bout a raised garden bed is that you don't need a big piece of land to have one. You can build one right on your deck or patio and grow veggies and herbs from just outside your door.
There's nothing quite like running outside onto the deck to grab some fresh oregano to add flavor to your pasta dish. Or satisfying your mojito craving with fresh mint from right outside your door.
10. Nursery Beds
While the season is starting, you can use your raised garden beds to hold your little seedlings as they start to grow. Once you've got the right soil and compost, start planting! Don't forget to put a layer of cardboard or newspaper down first.
This will stop weeds and grass from growing into your beds which your plants will thank you for later.
11. Nice and Leveled
Making sure your gardens are level makes a big difference. Even if you are on a slope, I recommend taking the time to level your gardens to be nice and even. This assures that all the plants get an equal amount of water and that you won't have any soil loss during wind or rainstorms.
12. Drainage
When building a raised bed, drainage is an important step to consider. Imagine you plant your little herbs and veggies and then a big rainstorm hits, what happens? A whole lot of water gets in your raised bed.
To prevent root rot and pooling water you should have a good drainage system. A layer of pea rocks or crushed granite underneath the raised bed will help with drainage.
13. Walking space
Give yourself plenty of space to walk in between your raised garden beds. An even better idea is to give enough space that you can fit a wheelbarrow in between the boxes. Trust me, carrying compost and soil in and out is a whole lot easier with a wheelbarrow.
Then as mentioned before, add a layer of mulch or gravel on your paths to keep everything simple and clean.
14. Spiral Herb Garden
Innovative and inspiring, the spiral herb garden is one of the more clever raised beds I know of. Because of the spiral shape, some parts of the garden will get more shade than others. Since herbs are all different from one another, this is the best way to assure that each type of herb has its perfect place.
15. Trough Garden
Recycle old feed/water troughs into industrial-style raised herb garden beds. It is a great way to reuse something that may have otherwise been tossed out. A functional and cool looking raised garden bed that your herbs will love!
16. Unique Shapes
Image: HouzzWhen thinking up herb garden ideas, you may have raised beds pop into your head. I bet you imagine perfect squares or rectangles. However, your beds can be any shape that you desire. Check out how these beds frame the statue in the middle and have a unique form to each one.
17. Vertical Herb Garden
Herb garden ideas for all types of homes, even if you only have a wall to spare. We can work with that! Raise your herb garden again and again and again until you have a whole wall of herbs releasing fragrances onto your patio.
18. Steel Raised Beds
We have seen a lot of wooden beds and we just checked out the creative trough bed, now here we have an example of a steel raised bed. These rusted garden beds have a unique color and contrast nicely against the colors of the plants.
