Crate idea!

Little boxes of fragrant herbs and pretty plants are a brilliant way to cheer up a dull corner. They’re perfect for balconies too.

This herb box will cheer up a corner

INFORMATION Materials:

* Wine crate

* Herbs/plants – we’ve used thyme,

lavender, rosemary and viola

* Moss

* Cellophane

* Old cardboard box

Size: Varies

Skill level: Easy

These boxes make great gifts for gardening enthusiasts and are often used at weddings for decorating entrance doorways or under-used nooks and crannies. The herbs give a wonderful scent, and combined with some colourful garden plants they can make a striking display. They’re a great way of upcycling old wine or cheese boxes and if you’re a gardener yourself then you can easily grow the contents for an even cheaper make. We used a wine crate for our herb box, but cheese boxes, fruit crates or even old wheelbarrows will work just as well. (If the box is a bit grotty, then just choose your favourite colour and paint it.) The plants will live quite happily in the box, or can be planted out in the garden for an even longer life.

How to make the herb box

1 For this project the plants and herbs will need to stay in their containers. If your wine crate is deeper than your plant pots, tear up strips of cardboard to place on the bottom of the crate. Build up the layers until the tops of the plant pots are almost level with the top of the crate.

2 Arrange the herbs and plants together inside the box, placing the pots on top of the cardboard.

3 Use scrunched-up cellophane to fill in any gaps around the plant pots and to wedge the herbs and plants securely in place within the box.

4 Use moss to line the top of the crate as a decorative layer. Simply tear strips from the moss and press it into the top of the plants and around the edges of the crate. Spray the moss with water to keep it looking green and fresh for longer.