If you can’t stand the thought of going another long winter without seeing green until spring, take a trip to your local hardware store to grab the supplies for this practical herb planter. Hung on a kitchen wall, these plants will have you tasting the flavors of warmer seasons well into the cold weather.
What you’ll need:
one 2-foot wood plank (if weathering your own, see below) yard stick or measuring tape three 12-ounce regular mouth Mason jars three pipe clamps (76 to 52 millimeter) snips three flat Phillips wood screws (#10 by 1-inch) screwdriver wall mounts medium sized rocks, for drainage potting soil three herb plants three straws
For weathering wood:
sandpaper and sanding blocks large nails, screws or drill bits old rags wood stain (Minwax Dark Walnut stain used here) rubber gloves
Steps:
1. Start by selecting and preparing the wood. In general, you will want the wood to be about 2 feet long, sturdy enough to hold screws in place and support the jars, but not too heavy to hang on a wall. An old piece of barn wood (best bets: an antique store or friendly neighbor) is nice for a weathered look, but beware that barn wood can be both pricey and heavy. If you’d like to try weathering your own piece of wood, follow the instructions below. If you already have a piece of wood that is ready to be used, clean it well with a damp cloth to be sure any dust, dirt or residue won’t rub off onto the wall when hung.
2. For weathering, start by giving the wood a good sanding with sandpaper, paying special attention to the edges and corners. Then, using a coarse sanding block, scrape deeper lines into the wood. There is no “right way” to do this, but the scrapes will look more natural if they are curvy and scattered, not straight and aligned. Use nails, screws, a drill bit or any other blunt-tipped object to create nicks and divots in the wood. Continue this process, sanding and nicking, until you’ve achieved the desired look. When finished, wipe clean with a cloth before applying one coat of wood stain with an old rag. Be sure to wear rubber gloves and work in a well-ventilated area. Let the wood dry for at least 24 hours.
3. Once the wood is prepared, measure and mark holes for the screws where the pipe clamps will be placed. For a 2-foot piece of wood, mark holes at 3 inches, 12 inches and 21 inches, and use one of the Mason jars to judge the correct height for the holes (the pipe clamp fits underneath the lip of the jar).
4. Next, prepare the pipe clamps, which may be the trickiest part of the entire project. As you’ll notice, the slots in the pipe clamps are too small for screws, so a slot needs to be widened for the screw to be able to fit. Place the screw about five slots in so that the adjustable part of the clamp is toward the front and easy to operate but not directly in the center of the jar. Small metal objects (a nail and a pair of thin scissors, for example) can be used to carefully pry a slot open and then snips can be used to cut the excess metal away. Do not use an electric drill bit to drill directly through the slots, as the drill bit will break. Prying the slots open is the most effective way, even though it does require some time and effort (and watch your fingers around sharp metal edges).
5. Once the slot in the pipe clamp is wide enough to fit a screw, use a screwdriver to secure the pipe clamps in place. Attach the wall mounts to the back of the wood at this time.
6. Next, transfer the plants to the Mason jars. For extra drainage, place a few rocks in the bottom of the jar first. Fill the Mason jars with a small amount of prepared potting soil. Remove the plants from their containers and transfer each one into a Mason jar. Slide a straw into the back of the jar and cut so that it rises just above the top, to help aerate the soil.
7. With the wood laying on a flat surface, gently slide the top of the herbs through the pipe clamp and place the Mason jar so that the pipe clamp fits right below the lip. Use a flathead screwdriver to tighten the pipe clamp so that it holds the jar securely, being careful not to tighten it any more than necessary to prevent the glass from breaking.
8. Once all three jars are in place, hang the planter in the desired location (one that gets plenty of sun) and enjoy!
Text, styling and photography by Beka Watts