A few months ago, in early November, I created a "Herb Tree" and entered it in a competition for garden structures, winning a prize and ending up in the newspaper. This is the photo taken when it was completed, and entered into the competition:
I call it a “herb tree” but basically it’s a fancy structure to hold multiple hanging baskets, most of which I’ve planted with herbs. I was inspired by a post and hanging baskets I found at an op shop for a bargain $30 price. The base of the stand was completely rotten, so I began by dismantling it, having my husband cut some new base pieces (which needed some fancy work with the bench saw to make them interlocking), as well as cut some new blocks for the holders. I then rebuilt it myself, and also nailed it to a pallet for extra stability. I painted the pallet and the pole with free paint from the dump – first with a light green, then with a top coat of glossy enamel forest green.
Not all the baskets came with liners, so for the ones that did not, I used some wool from the last time we crutched our sheep to line the insides. Wool makes a great basket liner – it holds water but drains freely, and holds in the soil. Any dags in the wool are a bonus fertiliser!
I planted up 14 hanging baskets. They contained:
- Basil
- Dwarf Munstead Lavender
- Rosemary
- Nasturtium
- Parsley
- Pizza thyme
- Golden Marjoram
- Oregano
- Curry plant
- Chives
- Yates Tiny Tim tomatoes
- German Chamomile
- Peas (which I hope will drape down over the sides of the basket)
- Strawberries
I also created labels for each plant. I used some battens from a piece of trellis that fell apart, and cut them into 10 and 15cm lengths with the dropsaw. I drilled holes in each end, and I then painted them all with more free pale green paint. After they dried, I used a stencil from my kid's art supplies to pencil on the lettering, then painted with acrylic art paints and a fine art paint brush. I added some decorative touches to some of them. And then I sealed them with a coat of varnish. Lacing wire is threaded through the holes and over the edge of the baskets before being twisted to hold in place. The labels will make it easy for my children to identify which herb is which when they need them for cooking. Plus they look pretty cool.
My plan is to have everything on this stand be edible, and to make it easy to come along and snip a bit of this and a bit of that to add to salads or cooking.
There is room to add a few more baskets onto my herb tree stand as I am able.
The whole set up has been placed onto a barked area I created between several other garden beds, where there is just the right amount of space for it. I would prefer to put it closer to the kitchen door, but that area is very exposed and windy, while this spot is a wee bit more sheltered.
There is room to add a few more baskets onto my herb tree stand as I am able.
The whole set up has been placed onto a barked area I created between several other garden beds, where there is just the right amount of space for it. I would prefer to put it closer to the kitchen door, but that area is very exposed and windy, while this spot is a wee bit more sheltered.
The downside of hanging baskets in summer is that they dry out very fast, and have to be watered every day without fail. Some plants have done particularly well:
- Golden Majoram (which is neat, as when I've tried to grow any kind of marjoram in the past it's just died)
- Oregano
- Thyme
- Parsley
- Chives
- Mint (a wee bit of a surprise, as I always think of mints as needing rather moist conditions). It now is putting out runners through the bottom of the basket - in time it may well be a whole ball of mint!
- Geraniums
- Rosemary
- Lavender
- Nasturtium
- Sage
- Tomatoes
- Dill
- Chamomile (this is still growing, but it looks quite straggly)
- Borage
- Peas
- Basil
It was a fun project! I enjoy using free or very cheap items creatively in my garden!
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