One of the advantages of flipping houses (which my husband and I have done for years) is the cast off building materials acquired after a project is complete. My favorite finds include drawers, old wooden windows, cabinets, and lumber that can be repurposed for many projects. I love the idea of using reclaimed drawers for new purposes such as herb planters. Wall shelves, shadow boxes, organizers, doll houses and garden planters are a few more ideas to make using old drawers.
To make an herb planter, begin by examining your reclaimed drawer bottom. It may need reinforced to hold the weight of the soil and moisture. There is nothing worse than saggy drawers. The wood may have been treated, stained or painted, so line the bottom and sides of the drawer with a plastic barrier or liner to keep chemicals from leaching into your potting soil. This also keeps the wood from rotting. To clean up the top edge of the lining I added plastic trim to conceal the cut edges and provide a line for potting soil depth.
For drainage I bought a ½ inch conduit nipple and washer in the electrical section of our local home improvement store. Simply drill an appropriately sized hole in the plastic. Fasten the conduit tight on top of the plastic and let the conduit nipple protrude a little from the bottom so the water will drip down and not weep across the drawer bottom. I also added a little silicone for extra waterproofing.
Attach legs to the height you prefer. I found a frame from an old canvas laundry hamper at a thrift store to use as a base for my planter. Old picket fence slats, boards, furniture legs or ornamental iron are also great options to create the stand for an herb planter. Another alternative is to make the planter legless, adding two handles so it can be carried from garden to table with ease. Use your imagination and have fun designing your planter.
If desired, add hooks or knobs for drying herbs. For convenient harvesting, attach a container to hold scissors, string and other supplies. Paint and decorate your planter or leave it the way it is, knob and all.
Place a small piece of screen on top of the drainage hole and fill the drawer with potting soil. Plant the herbs according to instructions. If your drawer is not very deep remember the soil could dry out quicker. Place the planter in a convenient location and enjoy fresh herbs throughout the seasons.
Using drawers for planters is a great way to recycle and a fun way to create interest in the garden. Happy gardening!