This project was built and designed by Stan Sullivan.
Stan demonstrates a compact, mobile vertical herb garden that maximizes growing space on a patio while prioritizing repairability and low cost.
Watch the full video and subscribe to Stan’s channel:
Design
The build centers on a tall, narrow planter unit with staggered shelves to hold multiple herb boxes while taking up minimal floor area.
The overall approach favors modular components so individual parts can be replaced as they wear instead of discarding the entire unit.
Lumber Prep
Rather than buying expensive rot-resistant boards, Stan shows how readily available scrap lumber can be repurposed to form the legs, back slats, and planter boxes.
He emphasizes fitting workpieces together, tacking components to check alignment, and using pilot holes before fastening to avoid splitting the wood.
Joinery and Shelf System
Stan creates angled shelf cleats to support the planter boxes and offsets the placements so each shelf sits at a functional angle for drainage and planting.
The planter portion is assembled without glue so that individual boxes and cleats can be removed and replaced as needed.
Base and Mobility
To make the planter easy to move around a patio, Stan builds a simple framed base and mounts locking casters so the unit can be rolled and secured in place when needed.
He uses half-lap style joints for the base frame and applies glue there, reasoning that if the base eventually needs replacement it can be swapped as a whole.
Finishing and Durability
Stan notes that while naturally rot-resistant species are ideal for outdoor projects, untreated boards will often last longer than expected when used thoughtfully in planters.
Designing for serviceability—using screws, removable cleats, and separate planter boxes—extends the life of the project more than surface finish alone.
Practical Tips and Adaptations
The build highlights a few practical choices: use what lumber is on hand to keep costs down, avoid permanent glue where future repairs are likely, and choose locking casters for a stable mobile system.
These ideas can be adapted to different sizes, materials, or aesthetic preferences without changing the core concept of a modular, vertical garden unit.
Overall Takeaways
The project demonstrates how woodworking and gardening intersect to solve a common problem—limited growing space—by using simple joinery and thoughtful layout to create a durable, serviceable planter.
The emphasis on mobility and replaceable parts makes the design both practical for everyday use and friendly to gradual upgrades or repairs.
Get Stan’s plans here: https://www.simplyeasydiy.com/2014/03/diy-vertical-herb-garden-planter-box.html.
Matt’s Take
These are my personal thoughts and tips based on my own experience in the shop. This section is not written, reviewed, or endorsed by the original creator of this project.
I really appreciate Stan’s approach to serviceability here. Building things with repair in mind is something that gets overlooked too often in the shop. Using screws instead of glue for the planter components is smart thinking — you know those boxes will eventually need replacement from weather and watering cycles, so why make it harder on yourself down the road?
The angled shelf system is clever for drainage, and those locking casters are a game-changer for patio use. Being able to chase the sun or move the whole unit for weather protection adds so much flexibility. When working with casters on outdoor projects, I’d suggest checking the weight rating and going a size up from what you think you need — soil gets heavy when wet, and you don’t want wheels failing under load.
Stan’s point about using available lumber instead of premium rot-resistant stock makes sense for a first build. Cedar and redwood are great, but they’re not always in the budget or readily available. If you’re working with regular construction lumber like he shows, consider hitting the cut ends with some exterior wood preservative before assembly — those exposed grain areas are where moisture likes to sneak in first.