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.
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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.